Hydroelectric power generation system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydroelectric power generation system. Disclosed is a hydroelectric power generation system comprising: a waterwheel installed in a waterway and having a lower portion submerged in flowing water to rotate by receiving kinetic energy from the flowing water to generate electric energy through a generator installed on a rotary shaft; a vane module which is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the water wheel and is folded / unfolded as same moves into / out of the flowing water; and a water storage tank which stores the flowing water having passed through the water wheel and supplies water to the front of the waterway in which the vane module is submerged, when the amount of flowing water in the waterway is insufficient.

Description

hydroelectric power system

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydroelectric power generation system, and more particularly, to a hydroelectric power generation system in which vanes that rotate a water turbine by receiving the force of flowing water while a portion of the water turbine is submerged in a channel or waterway have a structure in which they fold or unfold depending on their position, thereby increasing the rotational speed of the water turbine even in a slow-flow environment, thereby improving power generation efficiency.

[0002] Power plants currently in use worldwide include thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants, wind power plants, solar power plants, tidal power plants, and geothermal power plants.

[0003] However, the above power plants have serious external burdens such as the depletion of fossil fuels and changes in the global environment, and power plants that utilize wind, tidal, solar, and geothermal energy have significant problems in terms of economic feasibility and efficiency, and are also subject to many constraints on environmental conditions, making it difficult to find an economically feasible installation site.

[0004] Wind power, tidal power, and hydroelectric power plants, which can obtain electricity without using fossil fuels, are environmentally friendly ways to obtain electricity from nature, and can be expected to have high efficiency at a low cost, but they are limited by weather and geographical conditions, and the installation cost is also considerable.

[0005] For example, hydroelectric power generation is a method of generating electricity by using potential energy and kinetic energy. It is mainly done by constructing a dam to divert some of the water from a higher river to a lower river, blocking an appropriate part of the river to raise the water level and using the difference in water level to rotate a turbine.

[0006] This method uses the force generated by the flow or drop of water to rotate a water wheel or propeller, which then turns the rotor of a generator to generate electricity, generating almost no air pollution.

[0007] However, in order to generate this type of hydroelectric power, it is necessary to build a dam or raise the weir to increase the water pressure or head difference to increase the power generation efficiency. Therefore, the places where generators can be installed by securing high water pressure or a large head difference are limited. In addition, since the location of the generator is fixed, there is a disadvantage in that normal power generation cannot be achieved during dry seasons or floods when the water volume fluctuates greatly.

[0008] In addition, general hydroelectric power generation that generates electricity by rotating propellers or water turbines requires securing a certain water speed or head difference, so power generation facilities are mainly located in valleys or dams that are upstream of the water's movement path, which poses the problem of not being able to quickly supply electricity to facilities that actually need it. In addition, considering the installation location and installation cost of large-capacity power generation facilities required for housing, social facilities, and factories, it is impossible to install them around people's lives.

[0009] The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hydroelectric power generation system that can improve power generation efficiency by increasing the rotation speed of the water turbine even in a slow-flow environment by having a structure in which vanes that rotate the water turbine by receiving the force of flowing water while a part of the water turbine is submerged in a channel or waterway are folded or unfolded depending on the position.

[0010] The technical idea of ​​the present invention to achieve the above object is achieved by a hydroelectric power generation system characterized by including a water turbine installed in a water channel and having a lower portion immersed in flowing water, receiving kinetic energy from the flowing water and rotating to produce electric energy through a generator installed on a rotational shaft, a vane module provided on an outer surface of the water turbine and folded according to the inflow or outflow of the flowing water, and a water storage tank that stores the flowing water that has passed through the water turbine and supplies water to the front of the water channel into which the vane module enters when the amount of flowing water in the water channel is insufficient.

[0011] Here, it is preferable that the water channel further include a baffle whose water storage space in the water channel gradually narrows so that the flow velocity increases toward the bottom of the water wheel submerged in the water.

[0012] In addition, it is preferable that the bulkhead further includes a discharge port that surrounds the lower part of the water wheel and discharges water toward the vane module.

[0013] In addition, it is preferable that the vane module includes a vane supporter provided on the outer surface of the water turbine and having a communication hole formed in the rotational direction of the water turbine, a support shaft provided across the communication hole of the vane supporter, and a vane provided on both sides of the support shaft and hinged to be folded around the support shaft.

[0014] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned vane supporter be provided with a catch for preventing folding of the vane on the inside of the communication hole adjacent to the rotational direction of the above-mentioned water turbine.

[0015] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned catch be provided with a gasket that closes the communication hole when the above-mentioned vane is spread out within the communication hole of the above-mentioned vane supporter.

[0016] In addition, it is preferable that the gasket is thermally connected to the catch.

[0017] In addition, it is preferable that the vane module has a receiving groove formed on the outer surface of the water turbine and is slidably coupled with the receiving groove so that the vane module is pulled out in the direction of gravity according to the rotation of the water turbine.

[0018] In addition, it is preferable that the vane module includes a vane supporter having a shape of a square frame, which is connected to a receiving groove formed on the outer surface of the water wheel by a rail and has a communication hole formed in the direction of rotation of the water wheel, a support shaft installed across the communication hole in the direction in which the vane supporter is withdrawn from the receiving groove, and a vane provided on both sides of the support shaft and hinged to be folded around the support shaft.

[0019] In addition, it is preferable that the rail include a sliding groove formed on the inner surface of the storage groove and a protrusion inserted into the sliding groove and protruding on the outer surface of the vane supporter.

[0020] In addition, the rail further includes a damper for controlling the sliding speed of the vane module being pulled out or pulled in from the storage groove, and the damper preferably includes a pinion that rotates around a protrusion formed on the vane supporter, a rack formed in the sliding groove and meshed with the pinion, and an elastic body that is integrally connected to the pinion and exerts elastic force according to the rotation of the pinion.

[0021]

[0022] According to the hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention, a vane module installed on a water turbine that rotates by flowing water along a waterway has a structure that folds as the water flows in or out of the water, so that when the vane module enters or leaves the water, the vane folds to minimize resistance with the water, and when the vane is underwater, the structure unfolds so that kinetic energy from the water is maximally transferred, so that the water turbine rotates smoothly even in flowing water with a slow flow rate, thereby maximizing the efficiency of producing electric energy.

[0023]

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing a vane module on the intake side of a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a vane module on the outlet side of a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0027] Figures 5 and 6 are side views and exploded perspective views showing another embodiment of a vane module in a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a damper provided on a lane in a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0029]

[0030] Terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to explain his or her invention in the best possible way.

[0031]

[0032] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention. In addition, Figures 2 and 3 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view illustrating a vane module on the intake side of the hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0034] Referring to the drawings, the hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention is composed of a water turbine (200) installed in a water channel (100) and having a lower portion immersed in flowing water, which receives kinetic energy from the flowing water and rotates to produce electric energy through a generator installed on a rotation shaft (210), a vane module (300) provided on the outer surface of the water turbine (200) and folded according to the inflow or outflow of the flowing water, and a water storage tank (400) that stores the flowing water that has passed through the water turbine (200) and supplies water to the front of the water channel (100) that the vane module (300) receives when the amount of flowing water in the water channel is insufficient.

[0035] The hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention has a structure in which the vanes (330) that receive the power of flowing water and rotate the water turbine (200) are folded or unfolded depending on the position, thereby improving the rotation speed of the water turbine (200) even in a slow-flow environment, thereby improving the power generation efficiency.

[0036] To elaborate, the water turbine (200) is installed in a place where flowing water flows, such as a farm road or a waterway (100), as shown in FIG. 1, and the water turbine (200) is installed in a state of being submerged in the flowing water so that it can receive kinetic energy from the flowing water.

[0037] At this time, the rotation axis (210) of the water turbine (200) is installed so that it can rotate in the flow of water, and a generator is installed on the rotation axis (210), so that the rotation axis (210) rotates as the water turbine (200) rotates due to the flow of water, thereby operating the generator and obtaining electric energy.

[0038] The water turbine (200) that receives kinetic energy from the flowing water in this way is installed so that its lower part is submerged in the flowing water, and a vane module (300) is installed on the outer surface of the water turbine (200) so that the kinetic energy of the flowing water can be smoothly transmitted.

[0039] In particular, the vane module (300) of the present invention has a structure that folds depending on whether water enters or leaves the water flow, thereby smoothly rotating the water turbine (200) even in water with a slow flow rate, thereby maximizing the efficiency of producing electric energy.

[0040] This vane module (300) is composed of a vane supporter (310) provided on the outer surface of a water turbine (200), a support shaft (320) installed on the vane supporter (310), and a vane (330) provided to be folded around the support shaft (320).

[0041] To elaborate, the vane supporter (310) is provided on the outer surface of the water turbine (200) and has a communication hole (313) formed therein that is connected in the rotational direction of the water turbine (200). This vane supporter (310) has a shape of a thin plate and has an approximate “ㄷ” shape composed of an extension portion (311) that extends outward from both sides of the outer surface of the water turbine (200) and a connection portion (312) that connects the free ends of the extension portions (311).

[0042] And, the support shaft (320) is provided across the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310), and the tip and base of the support shaft (320) are respectively fixed to the connection part (312) of the vane supporter (310) and the outer surface of the water wheel (200).

[0043] The support shaft (320) installed in this way has a vane (330) installed to open and close the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310). The vane (330) has a shape of a pair of thin plates and is connected to the support shaft (320) with a hinge-like hinge-type fastening structure, and is located on one side and the other side with the support shaft (320) as the center, so that the vane (330) opens or closes the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310) as it rotates and folds around the support shaft (320).

[0044] In addition, in order to prevent the vane (330) from folding in the rotational direction of the water turbine when the vane (330) is spread out to close the communication hole (313) centered on the support shaft (320), a catch (314) that prevents the folding of the vane (330) is formed on the vane supporter (310). The catch (314) is formed on the inside of the communication hole (313) adjacent to the rotational direction of the water turbine (200).

[0045] In this way, when a catch (314) is formed in the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310), a gasket (314a) is provided between the vane (330) and the catch (314) as shown in FIG. 3, so that when the vane (330) is spread out within the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310), the vane (330) is in close contact with the gasket (314a) to seal the communication hole (313) watertightly, and at the same time, the vane (330) is prevented from colliding with the catch (314) and being damaged.

[0046] At this time, the catch (314) and gasket (314a) formed in the communication hole (313) are heat-jointed as shown in the circle in Fig. 3 to prevent the gasket (314a) from being unintentionally detached from the catch (314).

[0047] In this way, when a catch (314) is formed in the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310) and a gasket (314a) is provided in the catch (314), when the vane (330) is spread out in the communication hole (313), the communication hole (313) has a watertightly closed structure, so that the kinetic energy of the flowing water can be completely transmitted to the water turbine (200), thereby allowing the water turbine (200) to rotate smoothly.

[0048] Meanwhile, a water channel (100) through which water flows to transfer the kinetic energy of the water to a water turbine (200) is provided with a baffle (110) so that the flow velocity of the water can increase. As illustrated in Fig. 1, this baffle (110) is formed so that the water storage space of the channel gradually narrows so that the flow velocity increases toward the lower part of the water turbine (200) submerged in the water.

[0049] That is, the bulkhead (110) has an arc shape that surrounds a portion of the lower part of the water wheel (200) and is formed from the front where the water flows toward the water wheel (200) to the rear where the water flows out through the water wheel (200), but is formed so that the water velocity increases as it goes from the front to the rear of the water wheel (200) and the water storage space of the water channel (100) gradually narrows.

[0050] In addition, the bulkhead (110) is formed with a discharge port (120) for discharging water toward the vane module (300). As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge port (120) is formed at the bottom of the water turbine (200) in front of the rotation axis (210) of the water turbine (200), so that the water whose flow rate has increased due to the bulkhead (110) is discharged toward the vane module (300) provided at the bottom of the water turbine (200) through the discharge port (120), thereby increasing the kinetic energy of the water, thereby allowing the water turbine (200) to rotate.

[0051] Meanwhile, a water storage tank (400) is provided adjacent to a water channel (100) in which a water wheel (200) is installed. When the flow rate of water flowing along the water channel (100) becomes insufficient, the water storage tank (400) supplies the water stored in the water storage tank (400) to a water channel located in front of the water wheel (200) to keep the flow rate of the water channel (100) constant.

[0052] This water storage tank (400) is installed with a supply pipe (410) that supplies water to the water channel (100) in front of the water wheel (200) and a water storage pipe (420) that supplies water from the water channel (100) in the rear of the water wheel (200) to the water storage tank (400) and stores it.

[0053] At this time, the supply pipe (410) may be further provided with a valve that detects the water level or flow rate of the water channel (100) and opens the supply pipe (410), and the storage pipe (420) may be provided with a pump (421) that detects the water level of the storage tank (400) and introduces the water that has passed through the water wheel (200) into the storage tank (400).

[0054] At this time, when the water that has passed through the water wheel (200) by the pump (421) is supplied to the storage tank (400), the water is temporarily stored in the auxiliary tank (422), and when a certain amount of water is collected in the auxiliary tank (422), the pump (421) is operated to supply the water temporarily stored in the auxiliary tank (421) to the storage tank (400).

[0055] In addition, a filter (130) is installed in the water channel (100) located in front of the supply pipe (410) to filter out foreign substances contained in the water when the water is supplied to the water storage tank (400) or the water wheel (200), so that the filtered water can be supplied to the water storage tank (400) or the water wheel (200).

[0056] In addition, the water storage tank (400) is provided with a water supply pipe (430) so that it can receive external water supply, so that when the flow rate of the water in the water channel (100) is very insufficient, water can be supplied from the outside to the water storage tank (400) to replenish it.

[0057] In this way, when a water tank (400), a supply pipe (410), and a water storage pipe (420) are provided adjacent to a water wheel (200), when the flow rate of water flowing through the water channel (100) becomes insufficient, water stored in the water tank (400) can be supplied to the front of the water wheel (200) through the supply pipe (410) to rotate the water wheel (200), thereby continuously producing electric energy.

[0058] As described above, when the vane module (300) is provided on the water turbine (200), when the water turbine (200) is rotated by the kinetic energy of the flowing water, the vane (330) of the vane module (300) that enters the water turbine from the front of the water turbine (200) toward the flowing water is folded in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the water turbine (200) around the support shaft (320) as shown in FIG. 3 due to contact with the flowing water, so that the vane (330) opens the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310), and the water is entered with reduced resistance to the flowing water.

[0059] In this way, the vane module (300) that rotates in the flowing water with the vane (330) folded is unfolded by the flowing water discharged at high pressure from the discharge port (120) formed in the bulkhead (110) as shown in FIG. 1, and as the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310) is closed, the kinetic energy of the flowing water is completely transferred to the vane (330), thereby increasing the rotation of the water turbine.

[0060] And, as shown in Fig. 4, the vane module (300) that is discharged from the water flow at the rear of the water turbine (200) is folded in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the water turbine (200) around the support shaft (320) by the weight of the vane (330), thereby opening the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310).

[0061] In this way, as the vane module (300) folds and unfolds within the communication hole (313) of the vane supporter (310) according to the entry and exit of the water flow, the resistance with the water is minimized when the vane module (300) enters the water flow, and after the vane module (300) enters the water flow, the kinetic energy of the water flow is transferred to the maximum extent, thereby improving the rotational speed of the water turbine (200) even in a slow-flow environment, thereby improving the power generation efficiency.

[0062] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented by modifying and changing the present invention within a scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, and such modifications and changes should also be considered to belong to the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0063] For example, the vane module (300) may be configured to slide into or out of the water wheel as the water wheel (200) rotates. This is described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0064] Figures 5 and 6 are side views and exploded perspective views showing another embodiment of a vane module in a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0065] Referring to the drawing, a water turbine (200) having a sliding structure of a vane module (300) has a receiving groove (220) formed on its outer surface. In addition, the vane module (300) is slidably coupled with the receiving groove (220), and the vane module (300) is pulled out in the direction of gravity as the water turbine (200) rotates.

[0066] At this time, the vane module (300) is formed by a receiving groove (220) formed on the outer surface of the water turbine (200) and a rail (340), and is connected to a vane supporter (310) having a shape of a square frame in which a communication hole (313) is formed in the rotational direction of the water turbine (200), a support shaft (320) installed across the communication hole (313) in the direction in which the vane supporter (310) is withdrawn from the receiving groove (220), and a vane (330) provided on both sides of the support shaft (320) and hinge-connected to be folded around the support shaft (320).

[0067] And, the rail (340) is composed of a sliding groove (341) formed on the inner surface of the storage groove (220) and a protrusion (342) inserted into the sliding groove (341) and protrudingly formed on the outer surface of the vane supporter (310). As shown in FIG. 5, the vane module (300) is rotated by the water wheel (200) and the vane module (300) enters the flowing water, so that the vane module (300) slides in the direction of gravity and is pulled out of the storage groove (220), thereby causing the vane (330) to unfold.

[0068] In addition, as the vane module (300) emerges from the flowing water, the vane module (300) is introduced into the receiving groove (220) formed in the water turbine (200), and as the water turbine (200) rotates and enters the flowing water, the vane module (300) introduced into the receiving groove (220) of the water turbine (200) is withdrawn from the receiving groove (220), thereby reducing the resistance with the water when the vane module (300) enters or exits the flowing water, and at the same time, when the vane module (300) is located in the section where the flowing water is discharged from the discharge port (120) formed in the bulkhead (110) of the water channel (100), the kinetic energy of the flowing water can be fully transferred, thereby further accelerating the rotation of the water turbine (200) and improving the power generation efficiency.

[0069] Meanwhile, the present invention can be provided with a damper that controls the sliding speed of the vane module (300) when the vane module (300) slides in the direction of gravity according to the rotation of the water turbine (200) by being mounted in a receiving groove (220) formed on the outer surface of the water turbine (200) as described above. This will be described with reference to Fig. 7.

[0070] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a damper provided on a lane in a hydroelectric power generation system according to the present invention.

[0071] Referring to the drawing, the rail (340) is provided with a damper (350) that controls the sliding speed of the vane module (300) that is pulled out or pulled in from the storage groove (220).

[0072] This damper (350) is composed of a pinion (351), a rack (352), and an elastic body (353). The pinion (351) is installed to rotate around a projection (342) formed on a vane supporter (310). In addition, the rack (352) is formed in a sliding groove (341) formed in a receiving groove (220) of a water wheel (200), so that the pinion (351) and the rack (352) are engaged.

[0073] And, the elastic body (353) is installed so that it is connected integrally with the pinion (351) and exerts elastic force according to the rotation of the pinion (351). One end of the elastic body (353) is connected to the center of the pinion (351) and the other end is fixed to the vane supporter (310).

[0074] This elastic body (353) can be, for example, a rubber plate or a coil spring, and as the pinion (351) rotates, the elastic body (353) twists in the axial direction, thereby reducing the rotational speed of the pinion (351) and controlling the sliding speed of the vane module (300).

[0075] When the damper (350) is installed on the rail (340) in this way, the vane module (300) is prevented from sliding excessively when it is pulled out or pulled in from the storage groove (220) according to the rotation of the water wheel (200), thereby preventing damage to the rail (340).

[0076]

[0077] ** Explanation of symbols **

[0078] 100: Waterway 110: Bulkhead

[0079] 120: outlet 200: water wheel

[0080] 210: Storage home 300: Vane module

[0081] 310: Bane Supporter 311: Extension

[0082] 312: Connection part 313: Flue hole

[0083] 314: Hook 314a: Gasket

[0084] 320: Support axis 330: Vane

[0085] 340: Rail 341: Sliding Home

[0086] 342: Protrusion 350: Damper

[0087] 351: Pinion 352: Rack

[0088] 353: Elastic body 400: Water tank

[0089] 410: Supply pipe 420: Reservoir pipe

[0090] 430: Supplementary water pipe

Claims

1. A water turbine installed in a waterway, with the lower part immersed in flowing water, which receives kinetic energy from the flowing water and rotates to produce electrical energy through a generator installed on the rotating shaft; A vane module provided on the outer surface of the above-mentioned water turbine and folded according to the water entering or leaving the water; and A hydroelectric power generation system characterized by including a water storage tank that stores the water that has passed through the water wheel and supplies water to the front of the water channel that the vane module receives when the water flow of the water channel is insufficient.

2. In claim 1, The above waterway A hydroelectric power generation system further comprising a baffle wall in which the water storage space of the water channel gradually narrows so that the water velocity increases toward the lower part of the water turbine submerged in the water.

3. In claim 2, The above bulkhead A hydroelectric power generation system characterized by further comprising a discharge port that surrounds the lower part of the above-mentioned water turbine and discharges water toward the above-mentioned vane module.

4. In claim 1, The above vane module A vane supporter provided on the outer surface of the above-mentioned water turbine and having a communication hole formed in the direction of rotation of the water turbine; A support shaft provided across the communication hole of the above-mentioned vane supporter; and A hydroelectric power generation system characterized by including vanes provided on both sides of the support shaft and hinged to be folded around the support shaft.

5. In claim 4, The above vein supporter A hydroelectric power generation system characterized in that a catch is provided on the inside of a communication hole adjacent to the rotation direction of the above-mentioned water turbine to prevent folding of the vane.

6. In claim 5, The above stumbling block A hydroelectric power generation system characterized in that a gasket is provided to close the communication hole when the vane is spread within the communication hole of the vane supporter.

7. In claim 6, The above gasket A hydroelectric power generation system characterized by the above-mentioned sill and the thermal joint.

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