Hydroelectric Power Systems

Abstract

To provide a hydraulic power generation system which may achieve reduction of an amount of electric power to be used needed for driving a pump.SOLUTION: A hydraulic power generation system 1 includes: a water storage tank 10 in which water is stored; a conduit tube 20 in which the water discharged from the water storage tank 10 flows down; power generators 30a to 30e each of which has a water turbine, is disposed in the conduit tube 20, and generates electric power by flow of the water flowing in the conduit tube 20; a power supply device 80 which is connected to the power generators 30a to 30e and charged with the electric power from the power generators 30a to 30e; relay tanks 40a to 40c in which the water discharged from the conduit tube 20 is stored; pumps 50 to 52 each of which has an impeller and pumps up the water in the relay tanks 40a to 40c; and condensate pipes 70a to 70c where the water goes through from the relay tanks 40a to 40c to the water storage tank 10. Rotary shafts of the impellers of the pumps 50 to 52 are connected to rotary shafts of the water turbines of the power generators 30a, 30c, 30e.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydroelectric power generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, hydroelectric power generation systems use the energy of falling water from a high place to rotate a water turbine, and the shaft torque of the water turbine is transmitted to a generator to generate electricity. In recent years, small-scale hydroelectric power generation systems have been proposed that utilize rainwater, as well as water flowing through waterways such as water pipes in buildings, water supply pipes in factories, and drainage pipes, in addition to power facilities.

[0003] For example, a hydroelectric power generation system has been proposed in which a plurality of power generation devices are arranged in a water pipe to increase the amount of power generated, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not reuse the water that falls.

[0004] Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Documents 4 and 5, hydroelectric power generation systems have been proposed in which water flowing down a water pipe is pumped up and then flowed down the pipe again, thereby recycling the water and generating electricity efficiently. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-058406 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-118960 A [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6418623 [Patent Document 4] JP 2018-074985 A [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 6016007 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the hydroelectric power generation systems described in Patent Documents 4 and 5, the electricity required to drive the pump is generated by utilizing the energy of falling water to rotate a water turbine, leaving room for improvement in terms of more effective use of the generated electricity.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hydroelectric power generation system capable of reducing the amount of power required to drive the pump. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention comprises: A water tank in which water is stored; a water pipe through which water discharged from the water tank flows; A water turbine is disposed in the water pipe and generates electricity by the water flowing through the water pipe. Multiple A power generation device; a power supply device connected to the power generation device and charged by electric power from the power generation device; The water discharged from the water pipe is stored. Multiple A relay tank; Having an impeller, Each Pump the water from the relay tank. Multiple A pump, Water passes from the relay tank to the water tank. Multiple a condensate pipe; The condensate pipes connect the relay tanks adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, Each The rotating shaft of the impeller of the pump is Adjacent The rotating shaft of the water turbine of the power generating device is connected to the rotating shaft of the water turbine. Cage , Water is pumped in sequence from the lower relay tank to the adjacent upper relay tank. It is characterized by:

[0011] In addition, when a certain amount of water is stored in the water tank, the water may be intermittently discharged.

[0012] The water tank is provided with a water level sensor and an electromagnetic valve. The solenoid valve may open when the water level sensor detects that a certain amount of water has been stored in the water tank, thereby discharging the water from the water tank.

[0013] The water tank further includes a float and a float valve connected to the float via a connecting member. The float may rise as the water level in the water tank rises, and the float may pull up the float valve via the connecting member, thereby discharging water from the water tank.

[0014] In addition, the upstream end of the water conveyance pipe formed in an inverted U shape is disposed inside the water tank, The water in the water tank may be discharged when the water level in the water tank exceeds the apex of the inverted U-shape of the water pipe.

[0015] Furthermore, when water is not flowing down the water pipe, the power generating device may be driven by the electricity stored in the power supply device to drive the pump to pump water. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hydroelectric power generation system that can reduce the amount of power required to drive the pump. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hydroelectric power generation system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the structure of the power generating device, FIG. 2A being a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B being a cross-sectional view taken along line BB' in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the hydroelectric power generation system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the hydroelectric power generation system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the hydroelectric power generation system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the hydroelectric power generation system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a hydroelectric power generation system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a drainage mechanism for a water tank in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a drainage mechanism for a water tank in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a hydroelectric power generation system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a drainage mechanism for a water tank in the third embodiment. [Figure 12] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a drainage mechanism for a water tank in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] (First form) The hydroelectric power generation system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the hydroelectric power generation system 1 includes a water tank 10, an electromagnetic valve 11, a water level sensor 12, a water pipe 20, power generation devices 30a-30e, relay tanks 40a-40c, pumps 50-52, connecting members 60a-60c, condensate pipes 70a-70c, a power supply device 80, and a control device 90.

[0019] The water tank 10 is a tank in which water is stored. The water tank 10 and a water pipe 20 are connected via an electromagnetic valve 11. The water tank 10 is provided with a water level sensor 12 that detects the level of the stored water.

[0020] The water conduit 20 is a flow path through which water discharged from the water tank 10 flows. The upstream side of the water conduit 20 is disposed vertically from the water tank 10, and the downstream side is bent in a J shape. The water that flows down the water conduit 20 is discharged into the relay tank 40c.

[0021] Five power generating devices 30a to 30e are installed at intervals on the vertical portion of the water conduit 20. The power generating devices 30a to 30e generate electricity by utilizing the falling energy of the water flowing through the water conduit 20. The power generating devices 30a to 30e are each electrically connected to a power supply device 80.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2(A) and (B), the power generating devices 30a to 30e each include a casing 31, a water wheel 32, a bearing 35, and a power generating section 36. The casing 31 is fixed to the water conduit 20, and the water wheel 32 is rotatably supported inside the casing 31 by the bearing 35. The water wheel 32 has a plurality of blades 34 attached to a rotating shaft 33. A part of the wall of the water conduit 20 is removed, and the blades 34 protrude into the water conduit 20 at this part, so that the water wheel 32 can efficiently capture the water flow inside the water conduit 20 and rotate.

[0023] The power generating unit 36 ​​converts the rotational force of the water turbine 32 into electric power. The power generating unit 36 ​​may have any configuration as long as it is capable of converting the rotational force of the water turbine 32 into electric power, and may, for example, be configured to include a rotor having a permanent magnet and a stator having a coil.

[0024] The relay tanks 40a to 40c temporarily store the water discharged from the water conduit 20. Here, three relay tanks 40a to 40c are arranged. The relay tank 40c directly receives and stores the water discharged from the downstream end of the water conduit 20.

[0025] The relay tank 40c and the relay tank 40b are connected via a pump 52 and a condensate pipe 70c. The relay tank 40b and the relay tank 40a are connected via a pump 51 and a condensate pipe 70b. The relay tank 40a is connected to the water tank 10 via a pump 50 and a condensate pipe 70a.

[0026] The pumps 50-52 are pumps that pump water stored in the relay tanks 40a-40c, respectively. The pumps 50-52 are equipped with an impeller having a rotating shaft and blades (not shown). The pumps 50-52 may be of any type that can pump water by imparting energy to the water through the rotation of the impeller, and examples of the pumps include centrifugal pumps such as a spiral pump or a turbine pump, propeller pumps such as an axial flow pump or a jet flow pump, and a cascade pump. The pumps 50-52 have the same performance.

[0027] The rotating shafts of the impellers of pumps 50-52 are connected to the rotating shafts 33 of the water turbines 32 of the adjacent power generation units 30a, 30c, and 30e by connecting members 60a-60c, respectively, so that when the water turbines 32 of the power generation units 30a, 30c, and 30e rotate, the impellers of pumps 50-52 also rotate.

[0028] The power supply device 80 is mainly composed of a charging circuit and a rechargeable storage battery, and charges the storage battery with electric power generated by the multiple power generation devices 30a-30e. The power supply device 80 may be configured to output the electric power to various external power devices that are driven by electric power, such as an electric device, an electric heating device, and a light source device (not shown). The power supply device 80 may also be configured to output the electric power charged in the storage battery to the power generation devices 30a, 30c, and 30e, and use the electric power to drive the power generation devices 30a, 30c, and 30e, thereby driving the pumps 50-52.

[0029] The control device 90 controls the solenoid valve 11, the water level sensor 12, and the power supply device 80, as described below.

[0030] Next, the operation of the hydroelectric power generation system 1 will be described. First, as shown in Fig. 3, when the water level sensor 12 detects that a certain amount of water has accumulated in the water tank 10, the solenoid valve 11 opens in response to a command from the control device 90. When the solenoid valve 11 opens, the water in the water tank 10 is discharged and flows down the water pipe 20, as shown in Fig. 4. The solenoid valve 11 is also controlled by the control device 90 to close when a certain amount of water has been discharged. For example, the control device 90 may control the solenoid valve 11 to close when a certain amount of time has elapsed since the opening of the solenoid valve 11, or a separate flow rate sensor may be installed and the solenoid valve 11 may close when a certain amount of water has flowed as determined by the flow rate sensor.

[0031] The water discharged from the water tank 10 flows through the water pipe 20, and this water flow rotates the water turbines 32 of the power generation devices 30a to 30e installed in the water pipe 20, generating electricity in the power generation unit 36. The electricity generated in the power generation unit 36 ​​is charged in the power supply device 80.

[0032] Then, the connecting members 60a, 60b, 60c connected to the rotating shaft 33 of the water turbine 32 of the power generation devices 30a, 30c, 30e rotate, and the impellers of the pumps 50-52 also rotate. As a result, the pump 52 operates, and the water discharged from the water conveyance pipe 20 to the relay tank 40c is pumped to the relay tank 40b via the condensate pipe 70c. Also, the pump 51 operates, and the water in the relay tank 40b is pumped to the relay tank 40a via the condensate pipe 70b. Also, the pump 50 operates, and the water in the relay tank 40a is pumped to the water tank 10 via the condensate pipe 70a.

[0033] After a certain amount of water is discharged from the water tank 10, as shown in Fig. 5, the solenoid valve 11 closes and the flow of water in the water pipe 20 stops. As a result, the power generation devices 30a to 30e stop, and the pumps 50 to 52 also stop.

[0034] Thereafter, a portion of the electricity stored in the power supply device 80 is used to return the water to the water tank 10. In response to a command from the control device 90, power is supplied from the power supply device 80 to the power generation devices 30a, 30c, and 30e, and the power generation devices 30a, 30c, and 30e and the pumps 50 to 52 are operated again, and the water is returned to the water tank 10.

[0035] As shown in Figure 6, when water is returned to the water tank 10 and the water level sensor 12 detects that a certain amount of water has accumulated in the water tank 10, the control device 90 commands the power supply to the power generation devices 30a, 30c, and 30e to be stopped and the solenoid valve 11 is opened again, and the same cycle as described above is repeated.

[0036] In the hydroelectric power generation system 1 of this embodiment, the force of the water flowing down the water pipe 20 is used to rotate the water turbine 32 to generate electricity, and the rotation of the water turbine 32 is used to operate the pumps 50-52, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of generated electricity used to drive the pumps 50-52.

[0037] The power supply device 80 may be configured to use power generated by a solar power generation system or a wind power generation system as charging power in addition to the power from the power generation devices 30a-30e. The power supply device 80 may be directly connected to a commercial power source, or may be configured to charge a storage battery using economical power such as late-night power, and drive the pumps 50-52 using the storage battery. With this configuration, when no water is flowing through the water conduit 20, the pumps 50-52 can be driven without using generated power.

[0038] In addition, the power generation devices 30a, 30c, and 30e and the pumps 50-52 may not be operated when water is not flowing through the water pipe 20. For example, the water tank 10 may be configured to directly receive and store rainwater, or to receive water from a separately installed rainwater tank. In this case, when the water level sensor 12 detects that the water level of the water tank 10 has increased due to rainwater and a certain amount of water has accumulated, the solenoid valve 11 opens, water flows from the water tank 10 to the water pipe 20, and the power generation devices 30a-30e are operated to generate electricity and the pumps 50-52 are operated to pump water. When a certain amount of water is discharged from the water tank 10 and the solenoid valve 11 is closed, the power generation devices 30a-30e and the pumps 50-52 are stopped, and a certain amount of water is again stored in the water tank 10 due to pumping and rainwater, and the same cycle is repeated.

[0039] In this case, the amount of water discharged from the water tank 10 through the water conduit 20 exceeds the amount of water pumped by the operation of the pumps 50-52, and may temporarily exceed the water storage capacity of the water tank 40c. For this reason, it is preferable that the relay tank 40c, which directly receives the water discharged from the water conduit 20, is provided with a drainage channel 41 so that the water storage capacity is not exceeded. The installation height of the drainage channel 41 is preferably lower than the downstream end of the water conduit 20 in order to maintain the momentum of the water flowing through the water conduit 20.

[0040] Further, in the above embodiment, the five power generating devices 30a to 30e and the three pumps 50 to 52 are provided, but the numbers may be changed appropriately depending on the height of the building in which the hydroelectric power generating system 1 is installed, etc.

[0041] (Second Form) The hydroelectric power generation system according to the second embodiment will be described below. As shown in Fig. 7, the hydroelectric power generation system 2 according to the second embodiment includes a water tank 10, a water conveyance pipe 20, power generation devices 30a-30e, relay tanks 40a-40c, pumps 50-52, connecting members 60a-60c, condensate pipes 70a-70c, a power supply device 80, and a control device 90.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 8, the water tank 10 includes a float 13, an arm 14, a float valve 15, and a connecting member 16. The float 13 is hollow and configured to float on water. One end of the arm 14 is connected to the float 13, and the other end is rotatably connected to the side wall of the water tank 10. The float 13 and the float valve 15 are connected via the connecting member 16.

[0043] The float valve 15 has a density greater than that of water, so it sinks in the water and closes the drain. A recess is formed in the bottom of the float valve 15. A guide ring 19 is fixed to the side of the float valve 15, and is configured to be able to move up and down along a guide rod 17 installed in the water tank 10. The guide ring 19 is configured to not come off the guide rod 17 by a stopper 18 of the guide rod 17. The connecting member 16 connecting the float 13 and the float valve 15 is a string-like body that can be easily bent.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8, when there is little water in the water tank 10, the float 13 is lowered and the connecting member 16 is in a slack state, so that the float valve 15 sinks into the water due to gravity and closes the drain outlet, preventing the water from being discharged from the water tank 10.

[0045] When the water in the water tank 10 increases and a certain amount of water is stored, the float 13 that has risen to the surface pulls the float valve 15 via the connecting member 15, as shown in Figure 9. This causes the float valve 15 to be pulled up, the drain opening, and the water in the water tank 10 flows down the water pipe 20.

[0046] Around the drain outlet of the water tank 10, a flow of water is drawn toward the drain outlet, and directly above the drain outlet, an upward current is generated by the current being drawn toward the drain outlet. A recess is formed in the bottom of the float valve 15, which makes it easier for the float valve 15 to receive this upward current and prevents the float valve 15 from descending. This prevents the float valve 15 from immediately blocking the drain outlet. As the water drains, the water level in the water tank 10 drops and the upward current weakens, the float valve 15 sinks and closes the drain outlet. This allows a certain amount of water in the water tank 10 to be discharged.

[0047] The hydroelectric power generation system 2 according to the second embodiment differs from the hydroelectric power generation system 1 in that a water level sensor is not provided in the water tank 10 as in the hydroelectric power generation system 1 of the first embodiment described above, and a float valve 15 opens and closes depending on the amount of water in the water tank 10 to drain or stop the water in the water tank 10. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the hydroelectric power generation system 1, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0048] (Third Form) A hydroelectric power generation system according to the third embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 10, the hydroelectric power generation system 3 according to the third embodiment includes a water tank 10, a water conveyance pipe 20, power generation devices 30a-30e, relay tanks 40a-40c, pumps 50-52, connecting members 60a-60c, condensate pipes 70a-70c, a power supply device 80, and a control device 90.

[0049] In the hydroelectric power generation system 3, the upstream side of the water conduit 20 is formed into an inverted U-shape, as shown in Fig. 11. The upstream end of the water conduit 20 faces downward and is disposed inside the water tank 10.

[0050] As water is stored in the water tank 10, when the water level exceeds the apex of the inverted U-shape of the water conduit 20 as shown in Fig. 12, the water in the water tank 10 is discharged due to the siphon principle and flows down the water conduit 20. This drives the power generation devices 30a to 30e.

[0051] When the water level in the water tank 10 falls below the upstream end of the water conduit 20, the discharge of water from the water tank 10 stops. Then, when the water level stored in the water tank 10 again exceeds the apex of the inverted U-shape of the water conduit 20, the water is discharged.

[0052] The hydroelectric power generation system 1 according to the third embodiment differs from the hydroelectric power generation system 1 in that a water level sensor is not provided in the water tank 10 as in the hydroelectric power generation system 1 of the first embodiment described above, and the water in the water tank 10 is discharged or stopped by using the principle of a siphon depending on the amount of water in the water tank 10. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the hydroelectric power generation system 1, so a description thereof will be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Hydroelectric Power System 2. Hydroelectric Power System 3. Hydroelectric Power System 10 Water Tank 11 Solenoid valve 12 Water level sensor 13. Float 14 Arm 15 Float valve 16 Connection parts 17 Guide rod 18 Stopper 19 Guide ring 20 Water Pipe 30a~30e Power generation equipment 31 Casing 32 Waterwheel 33 Rotation axis 34 Feather 35 Bearings 36 Power Generation Division 40a~40c Relay tank 41 Drainage Channel 50~52 Pump 60a~60c Connecting members 70a~70c Condenser pipe 80 Power supply 90 Control device

Claims

1. A water tank in which water is stored; a water pipe through which water discharged from the water tank flows; A plurality of power generation devices each having a water turbine and disposed on the water conduit to generate power using the water flow through the water conduit; a power supply device connected to the power generation device and charged by electric power from the power generation device; A plurality of relay tanks for storing water discharged from the water pipes; A plurality of pumps each having an impeller and pumping water from each of the relay tanks; a plurality of condensate pipes through which water passes from the relay tank to the water tank; The condensate pipes connect the relay tanks adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, a rotating shaft of the impeller of each of the pumps is connected to a rotating shaft of the water turbine of an adjacent one of the power generating apparatuses; Water is pumped in sequence from the lower relay tank to the adjacent upper relay tank.

1. A hydroelectric power generation system comprising:

2. When a certain amount of water is stored in the water tank, the water is intermittently discharged.

2. The hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 1 .

3. The water tank is provided with a water level sensor and a solenoid valve; When the water level sensor detects that a certain amount of water has been stored in the water tank, the solenoid valve opens to discharge the water from the water tank.

3. The hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 2.

4. The water tank includes a float and a float valve connected to the float via a connecting member, As the water level in the water tank rises, the float rises, and the float pulls up the float valve via the connecting member, thereby discharging the water in the water tank.

3. The hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 2.

5. The upstream end of the water pipe formed in an inverted U-shape is disposed inside the water tank, When the water level in the water tank exceeds the apex of the inverted U-shape of the water conduit, the water in the water tank is discharged.

3. The hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 2.

6. When water is not flowing down the water pipe, the power generation device is driven by the electric power stored in the power supply device, and the pump is driven to pump water.

6. A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 1 .

Images