Power generation device using capillary rise phenomenon in porous material

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a power generation device using a capillary rise phenomenon in a porous material and, more specifically, to a power generation device which moves water upward by using a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension and allows the water to freely fall, thereby generating power by a rotary generator. An embodiment of the present invention provides a power generation device using a capillary rise phenomenon in a porous material, the power generation device comprising: a potential energy conversion unit for moving water in contact with the lower portion thereof to the upper portion thereof through the capillary phenomenon; a water collecting unit which collects the water falling from the upper portion of the potential energy conversion unit and funnels the collected water down into a hole in the center; and a generator positioned below the hole to generate power by using the water falling from the hole.

Description

Power generation device utilizing the capillary rise phenomenon of porous materials

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, and relates to a power generation device that generates power in a rotary generator by moving water upward and causing it to fall freely using the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material.

[0002]

[0003] In general, hydroelectric power generation converts the potential energy of water located at a high altitude into the kinetic energy of a generator turbine and generates electricity by utilizing the electromagnetic induction phenomenon inside the generator.

[0004]

[0005] Typically, hydroelectric power generation involves confining water upstream of a dam. The sluice gates are then opened, and the resulting drop in water released downstream is used to rotate a turbine. This process converts the water's potential energy into the turbine's kinetic energy, and as the rotor coils within the turbine rotate along with it, electromagnetic induction generates current.

[0006]

[0007] As a technology for generating power using the water drop, Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0078994 (Patent Document 1) proposes a 'multi-stage hydroelectric power generation method and device using vertical falling energy', which involves horizontally guiding a water pipe connected to a dam's intake and then vertically installing multiple power generation facilities in steps at 20-30m intervals downward, so that the falling energy that falls vertically through the water pipe rotates the blades of a water turbine, which then speeds up a turbine to efficiently produce electricity.

[0008]

[0009] However, the conventional power generation method including Patent Document 1 is mainly installed in dams, so there are restrictions on the installation location, and not only is a lot of money required to build a power generation dam, but in areas where dams are not installed or in plain areas where it is difficult to install dams, electricity must be drawn from a long distance, so a lot of money is required to construct power lines for power supply, and there are problems such as restrictions on the installation location and excessive construction costs.

[0010]

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material that can increase the potential energy of water in a water reservoir by utilizing the capillary phenomenon due to surface tension to cause water to fall.

[0012] And, an embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a power generation device utilizing the capillary rise phenomenon of a porous material, which can be easily installed and has a reduced installation cost.

[0013] In addition, an embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a power generation device utilizing the capillary rise phenomenon of an environmentally friendly porous material by reducing carbon emissions.

[0014]

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a power generation device utilizing a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension is provided, comprising: a potential energy conversion unit that moves water in contact with a lower portion upward through a capillary phenomenon; a water collecting unit that collects the water falling from the upper portion of the potential energy conversion unit and collects it into a hole in the center; and a generator positioned below the hole and generating power using the water falling from the hole.

[0016]

[0017] The above potential energy conversion unit may include a porous material that causes capillary phenomenon.

[0018] The above potential energy conversion unit includes a column-shaped side wall, and the lower part of the side wall can be submerged in water.

[0019] Water may move from the lower part to the upper part along the side wall, and a drop portion may be formed in the upper part to drop the moved water into the water collection portion.

[0020] The above collection unit can be connected to the inner side of the side wall.

[0021] Water falling from the falling portion falls to the periphery of the collecting portion, and water from the periphery can be collected by the hole formed in the center of the collecting portion.

[0022] The above collection portion may be inclined so that water is collected from the periphery to the center.

[0023] The above generator may be a rotary generator that generates electricity by rotating with water falling from the hole.

[0024] The water that rotates the above generator can fall downwards.

[0025]

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material that can increase the potential energy of water in a water reservoir by utilizing the capillary phenomenon due to surface tension to cause water to fall can be provided.

[0027] And, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a power generation device utilizing the capillary rise phenomenon of a porous material can be provided, which can be easily installed and reduce installation costs.

[0028] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a power generation device utilizing the capillary rise phenomenon of an environmentally friendly porous material can be provided by reducing carbon emissions.

[0029]

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a power generation device using capillary phenomenon due to surface tension according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a power generation device utilizing capillary phenomenon due to surface tension of Figure 1.

[0032] Figure 3 is a plan view of a power generation device using capillary phenomenon due to surface tension of Figure 1.

[0033]

[0034] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following detailed description is provided to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein. However, these are merely examples, and the disclosed embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0035] In describing the embodiments, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the disclosed embodiments, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the disclosed embodiments, and this may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions should be made based on the contents throughout this specification. The terminology used in the detailed description is only for the purpose of describing the embodiments and should not be limited in any way. Unless clearly used otherwise, the singular form includes the plural form. In this description, expressions such as "comprises" or "comprising" are intended to indicate certain features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof, and should not be construed to exclude the presence or possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof other than those described.

[0036]

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a power generation device (100) using a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the power generation device (100) using a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the power generation device (100) using a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension of FIG. 1.

[0038]

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a power generation device (100) utilizing a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a potential energy conversion unit (110) in which a lower portion (111) is immersed in water and water (W) in contact with the lower portion is pulled up and moved upward through a capillary phenomenon, a water collecting unit (120) that collects water falling from the upper portion of the potential energy conversion unit (110), and a generator (150) that generates power using water falling from a hole (125) of the water collecting unit (120).

[0040]

[0041] The potential energy conversion unit (110) may be formed of a porous material to generate a capillary phenomenon. The capillary phenomenon occurs due to the surface tension generated in the porous material, and through this, the potential energy conversion unit (110) can move water at the bottom upward. The potential energy conversion unit (110) may include a columnar side wall (112). The side wall (112) may have a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto and may also have a polygonal columnar shape. The lower portion (111) of the side wall (112) can be immersed in water (W), thereby continuously supplying water moving upward through the potential energy conversion unit (110). Here, the water (W) may be stored water such as a lake or reservoir, or flowing water such as a river, and any location where the lower portion of the potential energy conversion unit (110) can be maintained in the water (W) is possible.

[0042]

[0043] In addition, the size of the potential energy conversion unit (110) may be such that a sufficient amount of water for power generation to occur moves upward. That is, if the size of the potential energy conversion unit (110) is too small, insufficient water for power generation to occur may move, and the unit may not function as a power generation device.

[0044]

[0045] Water in the lower part (111) moves along the side wall (112) to the upper part (113) of the potential energy conversion unit (110), and the water (W1) moved to the upper part (113) can fall to the water collecting part (120) formed on the inside of the potential energy conversion unit (110). To this end, a falling part (114) that changes the moving direction of the water (W1) downward can be formed in the upper part (113) of the potential energy conversion unit (110). As shown in Fig. 2, the cross-section of the part connecting the upper part (113) to the falling part (114) has a U shape, so that the moving direction of the water can be changed.

[0046]

[0047] Water (W2) dropped from the dropper (114) can fall into the water collection unit (120). The water collection unit (120) can be connected to the inner side of the side wall (112) so that water (W1) rising to the upper part (113) through the side wall (112) can be received when it falls through the dropper (114). For this purpose, the outer periphery (121) of the water collection unit (120) can be connected to the inner side of the side wall (112).

[0048]

[0049] Water (W2) falling from the dropper (114) falls to the periphery of the water collecting unit (120), and water (W2) in the periphery of the water collecting unit (120) can be collected in the hole (125) formed in the center of the water collecting unit (120). To this end, the water collecting unit (120) can be formed to slope downward from the periphery to the center.

[0050]

[0051] Water (W2) collected in the hole (125) can fall down from the hole (125). The water freely falling through the hole (125) can fall to the generator (150) and provide energy for generating power in the generator (150). The generator (150) may be a rotary generator that generates power by a turbine that rotates with water. The specific structure of the generator (150) may use a rotary turbine structure used in hydroelectric power generation.

[0052]

[0053] The water that provides energy for power generation by rotating the generator (150) can fall downward and join the water that was originally submerged in the lower portion of the potential energy conversion unit (110). Therefore, the water used for power generation can be reused and reused for power generation through the potential energy conversion unit (110). Therefore, the power generation device (100) utilizing the capillary phenomenon due to surface tension can be environmentally friendly because it generates power by circulating water without emitting carbon.

[0054]

[0055] A power generation device (100) utilizing a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension according to one embodiment of the present invention can be installed by immersing the device in existing water without requiring additional equipment for installation, thereby reducing installation costs and allowing freedom in the installation location.

[0056]

[0057] Additionally, it is environmentally friendly because it generates power without generating carbon by circulating water.

[0058]

[0059] While representative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications to the above-described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the claims set forth below but also by equivalents thereof.

[0060]

[0061] [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 100: Power generation device utilizing capillary phenomenon due to surface tension

[0063] 110: Potential energy conversion unit

[0064] 111: Lower part of potential energy conversion unit

[0065] 112: Side wall

[0066] 113: Top of the potential energy conversion unit

[0067] 114: Drop section

[0068] 120: Water collection unit

[0069] 121: Outer circle of the water collection department

[0070] 125: Hall

[0071] 150: Generator

Claims

1. In a power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of porous materials, A potential energy conversion unit that moves water from the lower part to the upper part through capillary action; A water collecting unit that collects the water falling from the upper part of the potential energy conversion unit and collects it into a hole in the center; and A power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, comprising a generator positioned at the lower side of the hole and generating power using water falling from the hole.

2. In claim 1, The above potential energy conversion unit is a power generation device that utilizes the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, including a porous material that causes a capillary phenomenon.

3. In claim 1, The above potential energy conversion unit includes a column-shaped side wall, A power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, the lower part of the side wall being submerged in water.

4. In claim 3, Water moves from the bottom to the top along the side wall, A power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, in which a dropping portion is formed in the upper portion to drop the moved water into the collecting portion.

5. In claim 3, The above-mentioned water collecting unit is a power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, which is connected to the inner side of the above-mentioned side wall.

6. In claim 5, The water falling from the above drop portion falls to the periphery of the above collection portion, A power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, in which water from the peripheral area is collected by the hole formed in the center of the collecting section.

7. In claim 6, The above water collecting unit is a power generation device that utilizes the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material that is inclined so that water is collected from the periphery to the center.

8. In claim 1, The above generator is a power generation device utilizing the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, which is a rotary generator that rotates and generates power by water falling from the above hole.

9. In claim 8, A power generation device that utilizes the capillary rising phenomenon of a porous material, with water falling downward to rotate the above generator.

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