Power generation system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a power generation system having a small number of components and a simple structure. [Solution] In a power generation system EPS, a first compartment 3 and a second compartment 4 provided in a main structure 1 are partitioned by first and second one-way throttle valves 5 and 6. Provided in a boundary part between the two compartments is a rotary shaft 7 rotatable between a first transition position and a second transition position in each of which up-and-down positions are reversed. The first compartment 3 is heated by a heat source and rotates around the rotary shaft 7 due to a weight difference based on a flow of a gas caused by differential pressure between the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4. Power generation uses one or both of the flow of the gas (wind force) and rotational force occurring on such occasion.

Description

Power generation system

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

[0002] In recent years, various proposals have been made for conventional power generation systems. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an example of a power generation system. The power generation system described in this Patent Document 1 is composed of a first tank and a second tank arranged at symmetrical positions and a pipe connecting between these tanks, a main structure in which a low-boiling working medium is sealed inside, a rotary support part that supports rotatably with the center position of the main structure as a fulcrum, a cooling part that adheres to either one of the two tanks rotated and shifted upward around the rotary support part, a heating part that adheres to either one of the two tanks rotated and shifted downward around the rotary support part, a power generation turbine arranged in the pipe, a first one-way valve that allows the medium in the first tank to flow out only into the second tank, and a second one-way valve that allows the medium in the second tank to flow out only into the first tank.

[0003] When the first tank is in the upper position and the second tank is in the lower position, the low-boiling working medium in the second tank becomes high temperature by the heating part and becomes a vapor-phase medium, and the pressure in the second tank becomes high. Therefore, the vapor-phase medium in the second tank flows into the first tank through the second one-way valve. In the first tank, the low-boiling medium that has flowed in from the second tank together with the low-boiling medium sealed from the beginning also becomes low temperature and becomes a liquid-phase medium. Here, since the specific gravity of the low-boiling medium in the first tank is larger than that of the low-boiling medium in the second tank, due to the difference in self-weight between the first tank and the second tank, the first tank moves downward and the second tank moves upward, and the operation opposite to the above is performed. That is, the first tank and the second tank repeat the up-and-down movement alternately like a seesaw, and the vapor-phase medium flows in and out of the pipe. The power generation turbine rotates by the wind force of the vapor-phase medium flowing in and out of the pipe, and electric power can be obtained from the power generation turbine.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 5585858

[0005] However, the power generation system described in Patent Document 1 requires two tanks (a first tank and a second tank) and piping to connect these tanks, and also requires a power generation turbine to be built into the piping. As a result, it has the problem of having a large number of parts and a complex structure.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a power generation system that has a small number of parts and a simple structure.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, wherein a gas-sealed space within the main structure is partitioned into a first compartment and a second compartment by a first one-way valve and a second one-way valve, the first one-way valve discharges the gas from the first compartment into the second compartment when the air pressure in the first compartment becomes higher than the air pressure in the second compartment by a threshold, the second one-way valve discharges the gas from the second compartment into the first compartment when the air pressure in the second compartment becomes higher than the air pressure in the first compartment by a threshold, and the main structure has a position separating the first compartment and the second compartment, at a lower position where the first compartment receives sufficient heat from a heat source, and the second A rotating shaft is provided that rotatably supports the compartment between a first shift position in which the compartment receives little to no heat from the heat source, and a second shift position in which the first compartment is in the upper position and the second compartment is in the lower position. The system is configured such that if the weight of the first compartment is heavier than the weight of the second compartment, a rotational force acts on the first shift position, and if the weight of the second compartment is heavier than the weight of the first compartment, a rotational force acts on the second shift position. The system is characterized in that either the wind force of the gas flowing in and out between the first and second compartments, or the rotational force of the rotating shaft that shifts the main structure between the first and second shift positions, or both, are used for power generation.

[0008] According to the present invention, the first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a first one-way valve and a second one-way valve, eliminating the need for piping. When generating electricity using the wind power of a gas, a rotating body or the like that rotates with wind power should be placed in at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment, which are located downstream of the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve, respectively. Thus, a power generation system with a small number of parts and a simple structure can be provided.

[0009] The drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein, including not only essential components of the invention but also selective and preferred embodiments. The first embodiment is shown, a plan view of the main structure. The first embodiment is shown, a front view of the main structure in the first shift position (first compartment in the lower position). The first embodiment is shown, a front view of the main structure in the second shift position (second compartment in the lower position). The second embodiment is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view of the main structure in the first shift position (first compartment in the lower position), and (b) is a side view of the main structure (viewed by arrow IV(b) in (a)). The second embodiment is shown, a diagram showing the rotational trajectory of the main structure and the heat irradiation area of ​​the heat source. The second embodiment is shown, a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the center of gravity and the gas weight W1 of the first compartment and the gas weight W2 of the second compartment at the first shift position. The third embodiment is shown, a perspective view of the main structure. The fourth embodiment is shown, a perspective view of the main structure. The fourth embodiment is shown, a cross-sectional view of the main structure. This shows a fifth embodiment, a cross-sectional view of the main structure.

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In these embodiments, publicly known technologies will not be described. Furthermore, the devices and methods described are illustrative examples for realizing the technical idea of ​​the invention, and the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to those described below. The technical idea of ​​the present invention can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims. In particular, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and may differ from reality.

[0011] (First Embodiment) Figures 1 to 3 show the first embodiment of the present invention. The power generation system EPS (Electric Power System) comprises a heat source (not shown) and a main structure 1 positioned to receive heat irradiation from the heat source. The heat source is sunlight (solar thermal energy), a heating element using electricity generated from renewable energy, a heating element using electricity generated from fossil fuels, etc. In this embodiment, sunlight is concentrated by a light concentrator, and this concentrated sunlight (solar thermal energy) is used.

[0012] The main structure 1 has an infinite loop shape. Specifically, in this first embodiment, the main structure 1 has an infinite ring shape in plan view and a shape that is bent at an intermediate position in side view. A gas-sealed space 2 is formed inside the main structure 1. This gas-sealed space 2 has an infinite loop shape and is filled with gas. The gas is air, nitrogen, etc. The gas-sealed space 2 is divided into two sections, a first compartment 3 and a second compartment 4, by a first one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 5 and a second one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 6. The first one-way throttle valve 5 and the second one-way throttle valve 6 are positioned 180 degrees opposite each other, and the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 are formed to have the same volume.

[0013] The first one-way throttle valve 5 discharges the gas from the first compartment 3 into the second compartment 4 when the air pressure in the first compartment 3 becomes higher than the air pressure in the second compartment 4 by a threshold. The second one-way throttle valve 6 discharges the gas from the second compartment 4 into the first compartment 3 when the air pressure in the second compartment 4 becomes higher than the air pressure in the first compartment 3 by a threshold.

[0014] The main structure 1 is provided with a rotating shaft 7 at a position that separates the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4. The rotating shaft 7 is located on the outside of the ring shape of the main structure 1, and not on the inside.

[0015] The main structure 1 moves between a first shift position (the position shown in Figure 2) and a second shift position (the position shown in Figure 3) by rotating (oscillating) around this rotation axis 7. The shift angle is between 30 and 60 degrees.

[0016] In the first shifted position, as shown in Figure 2, the lower surface of the first compartment 3 is in a lower position where it rests on the installation surface 10, and the second compartment 4 is in an upper position where it is floating diagonally above the installation surface 10. In the second shifted position, as shown in Figure 3, the lower surface of the second compartment 4 is in a lower position where it rests on the installation surface 10, and the first compartment 3 is in an upper position where it is floating diagonally above the installation surface 10.

[0017] The first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 each receive sufficient heat radiation from the heat source at their lower positions. At these lower positions, the gases within the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 are heated. At their upper positions, the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 receive little to no heat radiation from the heat source. At these upper positions, the gases within the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 are cooled by the surrounding air.

[0018] In the first compartment 3, the first rotating body (turbine) 11a of the first generator 11 is located immediately downstream of the second one-way throttle valve 6. In the second compartment 4, the second rotating body (turbine) 12a of the second generator 12 is located immediately downstream of the first one-way throttle valve 5. The first rotating body 11a and the second rotating body 12a are located 180 degrees opposite each other in the gas-sealed space 2 within the main structure 1. Each rotating body 11a and 12a of the first generator 11 and the second generator 12 has a main body fixed in a sealed state to the inner wall of the main structure 1 and a movable part housed within the main body, and each movable part rotates due to the wind force of the gas discharged from the first one-way throttle valve 5 and the second one-way throttle valve 6, respectively.

[0019] The rotating shafts 11b and 12b of the first rotating body 11a and the second rotating body 12a are led out to the outside of the main structure 1. The rotational force of the rotating shafts 11b and 12b led out to the outside of the main structure 1 is transmitted to the rotation-to-power conversion unit (not shown) of the first generator 11 and the second rotation-to-power conversion unit (not shown) of the second generator 12, respectively. In other words, the first generator 11 is composed of the first rotating body 11a and the first rotation-to-power conversion unit (not shown). The second generator 12 is composed of the second rotating body 12a and the second rotation-to-power conversion unit (not shown).

[0020] The weights of the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 vary depending on the density of the gas inside each compartment. When the weight W2 on the second compartment 4 side (the left half of the main structure 1 in Figures 2 and 3) becomes heavier than the weight W1 on the first compartment 3 side (the right half of the main structure 1 in Figures 2 and 3) due to the weight of the gas, a rotational force acts on the main structure 1 toward the first shifted position. Also, when the weight W1 on the first compartment 3 side becomes heavier than the weight W2 on the second compartment 4 side, a rotational force acts on the main structure 1 toward the second shifted position.

[0021] Next, the operation of the main structure 1 will be explained. Assume that the main structure 1 is currently in the first shift position shown in Figure 2. As the first compartment 3 is subjected to heat irradiation from the heat source, the gas in the first compartment 3 gradually becomes hotter after a certain period of time, and the pressure in the first compartment 3 gradually increases in proportion to this increase in temperature. When the pressure in the first compartment 3 becomes higher than the pressure in the second compartment 4 by a threshold, the gas in the first compartment 3 is discharged into the second compartment 4 from the first one-way throttle valve 5. Then, the density of the gas in the second compartment 4 gradually increases relative to the density of the gas in the first compartment 3. As a result, the weight W2 on the second compartment 4 side becomes greater than the weight W1 on the first compartment 3 side, and due to this weight difference between the two compartments 3 and 4, a rotational force (rotational force in the direction of arrow a in Figure 2) acts on the main structure 1 toward the second shift position, causing the main structure 1 to shift to the second shift position shown in Figure 3.

[0022] In the second shift position, the first compartment 3 receives little to no heating from the heat source, so the gas in the first compartment 3 is gradually cooled by the ambient temperature. Conversely, in the second shift position, the second compartment 4 receives heat irradiation from the heat source. After a certain period of time, the gas in the second compartment 4 gradually becomes hotter, and the pressure in the second compartment 4 gradually increases in proportion to this increase in temperature. When the pressure in the second compartment 4 becomes higher than the pressure in the first compartment 3 by a threshold, the gas in the second compartment 4 is discharged into the first compartment 3 from the second one-way throttle valve 6. Then, the specific gravity of the gas in the first compartment 3 gradually increases relative to the density of the gas in the second compartment 4. As a result, the weight of the first compartment 3 becomes greater than the weight of the second compartment 4, and this weight difference between compartments 3 and 4 causes a rotational force (rotational force in the direction of arrow b in Figure 3) to act on the first shifted position, causing the main structure 1 to shift to the first shifted position shown in Figure 2. In this way, the main structure 1 repeatedly shifts alternately between the first shifted position and the second shifted position.

[0023] In the process described above, each time gas is discharged from the first one-way throttle valve 5 into the second compartment 4, the second rotating body 12a rotates due to the airflow of the gas. Also, each time gas is discharged from the second one-way throttle valve 6 into the first compartment 3, the first rotating body 11a rotates due to the airflow of the gas. In this way, the rotational forces of the first rotating body 11a and the second rotating body 12a cause the first generator 11 and the second generator 12 to generate electricity.

[0024] Here, depending on the structure and other conditions, it is conceivable that the pressure in the space between the one-way throttle valve 5 and the second rotating body 12a, or the space between the one-way throttle valve 6 and the first rotating body 11a may increase, preventing the air from rotating the rotating bodies (turbines) 12a and 11a and moving to the adjacent second compartment 4 and first compartment 3. To prevent such a situation from occurring, the blades of the rotating bodies 12a and 11a are positioned near the outlets of the one-way throttle valves 5 and 6, the shape of the blades of the rotating bodies 12a and 11a is made to be more easily received by the gas coming out of the one-way throttle valves 5 and 6, and the rotating bodies 12a and 11a are also made to rotate in only one direction.

[0025] Furthermore, the main structure 1 rotates (oscillates) around the rotation axis 7. In this first embodiment, the rotation (oscillation) is approximately 30 degrees in the left-right direction.

[0026] As explained above, in the EPS power generation system, the gas-sealed space 2 within the main structure 1 is divided into a first compartment 3 and a second compartment 4 by a first one-way throttle valve 5 and a second one-way throttle valve 6. The first one-way throttle valve 5 discharges the gas from the first compartment 3 into the second compartment 4 when the air pressure in the first compartment 3 becomes higher than the air pressure in the second compartment 4 by a threshold, and the second one-way throttle valve 6 discharges the gas from the second compartment 4 into the first compartment 3 when the air pressure in the second compartment 4 becomes higher than the air pressure in the first compartment 3 by a threshold. The main structure 1 has a first compartment at a position that separates the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4. A rotating shaft 7 is provided to rotatably support the first compartment 3 between a first shifted position in which the first compartment 3 is in a lower position where it receives sufficient heat from the heat source, and the second compartment 4 is in an upper position where it receives little to no heat from the heat source, and a second shifted position in which the first compartment 3 is in an upper position and the second compartment 4 is in a lower position. The system is configured such that if the weight of the first compartment 3 is heavier than the weight of the second compartment 4, a rotational force acts on the first shifted position, and if the weight of the second compartment 4 is heavier than the weight of the first compartment 3, a rotational force acts on the second shifted position. The system is configured to use the wind power of the gas flowing in and out between the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 for power generation.

[0027] Therefore, since the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 are separated by the first one-way throttle valve 5 and the second one-way throttle valve 6, piping as in the conventional example is not required. When obtaining electricity from the wind power of a gas, it is sufficient to place the rotating bodies 11a and 12a in at least one (both in the first embodiment) of the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4, which are downstream of the first one-way throttle valve 5 and the second one-way throttle valve 6, respectively. Thus, an EPS power generation system with a small number of parts and a simple structure can be provided.

[0028] In this first embodiment, the gas-sealed space 2 within the main structure 1 has an infinite loop shape, and the first one-way throttle valve 5 and the second one-way throttle valve 6 are positioned to divide the infinite loop-shaped gas-sealed space 2 into two spaces, thereby partitioning the infinite loop-shaped gas-sealed space 2 into a first compartment 3 and a second compartment 4. The rotating shaft 7 that rotates the main structure 1 is set to a position that partitions the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4. In the first shift position, the main structure 1 is in a lower position where the lower surface of the first compartment 3 rests on the installation surface 10, and the second compartment 4 is in an upper position where it is floating above the installation surface 10. In the second shift position, the lower surface of the second compartment 4 rests on the installation surface 10, and the first compartment 3 is in an upper position where it is floating above the installation surface 10.

[0029] Therefore, power can be obtained by the alternating swinging motion of the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4, like a seesaw. Since the weight of the main structure 1 hardly acts on the rotating shaft 7, the strength of the rotating shaft 7 can be reduced, and it can be made lighter and smaller.

[0030] In this first embodiment, the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 are respectively equipped with first and second rotating bodies 11a and 12a, which rotate by the airflow of gas discharged from the first one-way throttle valve 5 and the second one-way throttle valve 6, and the system is configured to obtain power from the rotation of each rotating body 11a and 12a.

[0031] Therefore, electricity can be generated using the wind power of the gas flowing in and out between the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the wind power of the gas flowing in and out between the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 was used for power generation. However, the rotational force of the rotating shaft 7 that moves the main structure 1 between the first and second shift positions may also be used for power generation. Alternatively, power may be generated from both the wind power of the gas and the rotational force of the rotating shaft 7 of the main structure 1.

[0033] In the first embodiment, the gas-sealed space 2 of the main structure 1 is a nearly circular ring shape in plan view, but it may also be an elliptical ring shape, and various other infinite loop shapes are also conceivable.

[0034] In the first embodiment, the first generator 11 and the second generator 12 are arranged with the first rotating body 11a and the second rotating body 12a located within the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4, respectively, and the respective rotation-to-power conversion units (not shown) located outside the main structure 1. However, the rotation-to-power conversion units (not shown) may also be arranged within the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4 together with the first rotating body 11a and the second rotating body 12a. In other words, the entirety of the first generator 11 and the second generator 12 may be arranged within the first compartment 3 and the second compartment 4, respectively.

[0035] (Second Embodiment) Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. This power generation system EPS is similar to the first embodiment in that it comprises a heat source (not shown) and a main structure 21 positioned to receive heat irradiation from the heat source.

[0036] The heat source is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0037] The main structure 21 is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped rod. A gas-sealed space 22 is formed inside the main structure 21. This gas-sealed space 22 is a closed space with a finite end, rather than a loop shape with infinite ends as in the first embodiment. A first one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 25 and a second one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 26 are arranged side by side at an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the gas-sealed space 22. The gas-sealed space 22 is divided into a first compartment 23 and a second compartment 24, with the first one-way throttle valve 25 and the second one-way throttle valve 26 as the boundary.

[0038] The first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 are point-symmetrical with respect to the center of gravity O (shown in Figure 6) of the main structure 21, and are formed to the same volume. However, the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 are asymmetrical with respect to a virtual horizontal line (not shown) passing through the center of gravity O; that is, they are not line-symmetrical, but point-symmetrical. As a result, when the main structure 21 is divided into the first compartment 23 side (the lower half of the main structure 21 in Figure 6) and the second compartment 24 side (the upper half of the main structure 21 in Figure 6), the positions of the center of gravity O1 (shown in Figure 6) of the first compartment 23 and the center of gravity O2 (shown in Figure 6) of the second compartment 24 are horizontally shifted to different positions relative to the center of gravity O of the entire main structure 21.

[0039] A rotating shaft 27 extends outward from the back side at the center of gravity O of the entire main structure 21. The rotating shaft 27 passes through the boundary between the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24, and the main structure 21 is rotatably supported by this rotating shaft 27. A generator 29 (shown in Figure 4(b)) is mounted on the rotating shaft 27. The generator 29 converts the rotational force of the rotating shaft 27 into electricity.

[0040] The main structure 21 rotates together with the rotation axis 27 along the rotation trajectory shown in Figure 5, and the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 are arranged to be movable so as to be able to move up and down in opposite directions. The first movable position shown in Figure 4 is in the lower position and the second compartment 24 is in the upper position, and the second movable position (not shown) is in the lower position and the first compartment 23 is in the upper position.

[0041] Figure 5 shows the rotational trajectory of the main structure 21 and the heat irradiation range E from the heat source. Both the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 receive sufficient heat irradiation from the heat source at the lower position. Therefore, when at the lower position, the gas in the first compartment 23 or the second compartment 24 is heated. Both the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 receive little to no heat irradiation from the heat source at the upper position. Therefore, when at the upper position, the high-temperature gas in the first compartment 23 or the second compartment 24 is cooled by the ambient air temperature.

[0042] Next, the operation of the main structure 21 will be explained. At this point, the main structure 21 is assumed to be in the first shifted position shown in Figure 4(a). In this first shifted position, the first compartment 23 is subjected to heat irradiation from the heat source, so the gas in the first compartment 23 gradually becomes hotter after a certain period of time, and the pressure in the first compartment 23 gradually increases in proportion to this increase in temperature. When the pressure in the first compartment 23 becomes higher than the pressure in the second compartment 24 by a threshold, the gas in the first compartment 23 is discharged into the second compartment 24 from the first one-way throttle valve 25. As a result, the density of the gas in the first compartment 23 gradually decreases, and the density of the gas in the second compartment 24 gradually increases. In other words, the weight W1 on the first compartment 23 side gradually decreases, and the weight W2 on the second compartment 24 side gradually increases. As a result, the weight W2 of the second compartment 24 becomes greater than the weight W1 of the first compartment 23, and this weight difference between the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 causes a rotational force in the direction of arrow c in Figure 6, causing the main structure 21 to shift to the second shift position (the first compartment 23 in the upper position and the second compartment 24 in the lower position).

[0043] At the second transition position, since the first compartment 23 does not receive heating from the heat source or receives very little heating, the gas in the first compartment 23 is gradually cooled. At the second transition position, this time the second compartment 24 receives heat irradiation from the heat source. After a certain period of time, the gas in the second compartment 24 gradually becomes high temperature, and in proportion to this increase in temperature, the second compartment 24 gradually becomes high pressure. When the air pressure in the second compartment 24 becomes higher than the air pressure in the first compartment 23 by a threshold value or more, the gas in the second compartment 24 is discharged into the first compartment 23 through the second one-way throttle valve 26. Then, the density of the gas in the first compartment 23 gradually becomes larger than the density of the gas in the second compartment 24. Then, the weight W1 on the first compartment 23 side becomes larger than the weight W2 on the second compartment 24 side, and a rotational force in the direction of the c arrow in FIG. 5 acts due to the weight difference between the first compartment 23 side and the second compartment 24 side, and the main structure 21 transitions to the first transition position shown in FIG. 4(a). In this way, the main structure 21 repeats rotation to transition between the first transition position and the second transition position by rotating in the same rotation direction around the rotation axis 27. The generator 29 generates electricity by the rotational force of such a rotation axis 27.

[0044] As described above, in the second embodiment, in the power generation system EPS, the gas-sealed space 22 of the main structure 21 has a closed shape with finite ends, and the first one-way throttle valve 25 and the second one-way throttle valve 26 are arranged side by side at an intermediate position in the gas-sealed space 22, whereby the gas-sealed space 22 is partitioned into the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24. The rotation axis 27 that rotates integrally with the main structure 21 is set at the position of the center of gravity O (shown in FIG. 6) of the entire main structure 21. The first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 are arranged so as to be able to be inverted up and down, and the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 have a shape in which the centers of gravity O1 and O2 (shown in FIG. 6) on the first compartment 23 side and the second compartment 24 side are shifted horizontally from each other with respect to the center of gravity O of the main structure 21.

[0045] Therefore, for the same reason as in the first embodiment, a power generation system EPS with a small number of components and a simple structure can be provided. The wall thickness of the main structure 21 is preferably formed as thin as possible. This is because it widens the space of the gas-sealed space 22 and reduces the weight of the main structure 21, and it can rotate efficiently.

[0046] In the second embodiment, it is preferable to attach a rotational speed adjustment means (not shown) to the rotating shaft 27. The rotational speed adjustment means has a plurality of variable gears (not shown), applies a desired rotational load to the rotating shaft 27, and makes the rotational speed of the main structure 21 constant at an appropriate speed. Specifically, if the rotation of the main structure 21 is too fast, there is not enough time for cooling, and if the rotation of the main structure 21 is too slow, the power generation efficiency deteriorates. Therefore, a variable gear of a rotational speed adjustment means (not shown) is attached to the generator 29 to adjust the load of the rotating body (turbine) in the generator 29 and adjust the rotational speed of the rotating shaft 27 of the main structure 21.

[0047] Also, the means for making the rotational speed of the main structure 21 constant at an appropriate speed may be as follows. The range E (shown in FIG. 5) irradiated by the heat source is adjusted, and by adjusting the heating timing, the heating condition (pressure) of the gas in the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 may be adjusted.

[0048] (Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows the third embodiment of the present invention. This power generation system EPS includes a heat source (not shown) and a main structure 21A disposed at a position that receives heat irradiation from the heat source, similar to the second embodiment.

[0049] In this third embodiment, the form of the main structure 21A is different from that of the second embodiment. That is, in the third embodiment, the main structure 21A is formed in a generally streamlined shape like a propeller. Specifically, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the main structure 21A are substantially conical corner portions 21a, and both side surfaces are formed into arc-shaped surfaces 21b that gradually bulge from these corner portions 21a at both ends toward the center, and are formed in a streamlined shape where the arc-shaped surfaces 21b from the corner portions 21a at both ends are continuous at the central position in the longitudinal direction.

[0050] The main structure 21A is formed with the thinnest possible thickness. This allows for a larger space in the gas-sealed space 22 described below, while also reducing the weight of the main structure 21A, enabling efficient rotation.

[0051] A gas-sealed space 22 is formed inside the main structure 21A. Similar to the second embodiment, this gas-sealed space 22 is a closed space with finite ends and is filled with gas, similar to the second embodiment. In the gas-sealed space 22, a first one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 25 and a second one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 26 are arranged side by side at positions on the left and right of a virtual orthogonal auxiliary line L2 that passes through the center (centroid O) of a virtual center line L1 connecting the corners 21a at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and at positions shifted in opposite directions in the longitudinal direction with respect to the virtual orthogonal auxiliary line L2. The gas-sealed space 22 is divided into a first compartment 23 and a second compartment 24 using two auxiliary partition walls 21c, with the positions of the first one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 25 and the second one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 26 as the boundary.

[0052] The first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 are formed in a point-symmetric shape with respect to the centroid O of the main structure 21A, and have the same volume. However, similar to the second embodiment, the first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 are asymmetric with respect to a virtual orthogonal auxiliary line L2 passing through the centroid O; that is, they are not line-symmetric but point-symmetric. As a result, when the main structure 21A is divided into the first compartment 23 side (approximately the lower half of the main structure 21A in Figure 7) and the second compartment 24 side (approximately the upper half of the main structure 21A in Figure 7), the positions of the centroid O1 of the first compartment 23 and the centroid O2 of the second compartment 24 are shifted in different directions along the virtual orthogonal auxiliary line L2 with respect to the centroid O of the entire main structure 21A.

[0053] Similar to the second embodiment, a rotating shaft 27 is provided extending outward from the back side at the position of the center of gravity O of the entire main structure. The rotating shaft 27 is set with the intersection of the virtual center line L1 and the virtual orthogonal auxiliary line L2 (position of the center of gravity O) as its center of rotation. The main structure 21A is rotatably supported by this rotating shaft 27. A generator (not shown) is mounted on the rotating shaft 27. The generator converts the rotational force of the rotating shaft 27 into electricity.

[0054] The main structure 21A is configured to rotate together with the rotation axis 27, similar to the second embodiment. The first compartment 23 and the second compartment 24 both receive sufficient heat irradiation from the heat source at the lower position, but receive little to no heat irradiation from the heat source at the upper position. Therefore, when at the upper position, the high-temperature gas in the first compartment 23 or the second compartment 24 is cooled by the ambient air temperature.

[0055] In this third embodiment, the main structure 21A rotates in the same direction around the rotation axis 27 by the same operation as in the second embodiment. The rotational force of this rotation axis 27 generates electricity in a generator (not shown).

[0056] As described above, the third embodiment provides an EPS power generation system with fewer parts and a simpler structure for the same reasons as in the second embodiment. Since the main structure 21A has a so-called propeller shape, it rotates with minimal influence from the surrounding fluid, resulting in good power generation efficiency. The main structure 21A of the third embodiment can also be attached to other structures and used as a propeller in terms of function.

[0057] (Fourth Embodiment) Figures 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This power generation system EPS is similar to the first embodiment in that it includes a heat source (not shown) and a main structure 31 positioned to receive heat irradiation from the heat source.

[0058] The heat source is the same as in the first embodiment. However, in this fourth embodiment, the heat source is in an environment where it may or may not irradiate the main structure 31 with heat, as described below.

[0059] The main structure 31 has a rocket-like basic shape. That is, the main structure 31 has a cylindrical shape as its basic form, with the tip of the cylinder formed as a conical surface portion 31a and the rear end of the cylinder formed as a flat surface portion 31b. Inside the main structure 31, a single compartment 33, which is a gas-sealed space, is formed. A first one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 35 and a second one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 36 are provided on the flat surface portion 31b of the main structure 31.

[0060] The first one-way throttle valve 35 discharges the gas from compartment 33 to the outside when the air pressure in compartment 33 becomes higher than the external air pressure by a threshold. The second one-way throttle valve 36 discharges the gas from the outside into compartment 33 when the external air pressure becomes higher than the air pressure in compartment 33 by a threshold.

[0061] In compartment 33, a generator 41 (shown in Figure 8) is located immediately upstream of the second one-way throttle valve 36. The generator 41 generates electricity using the wind power from the second one-way throttle valve 36.

[0062] Next, the operation of the main structure 31 will be explained. When the compartment 33 is subjected to heat irradiation from a heat source, the gas in the compartment 33 gradually becomes hotter, and the pressure in the compartment 33 gradually increases. When the pressure in the compartment 33 becomes higher than a threshold compared to the surrounding environment (air, etc.), the gas in the compartment 33 is discharged to the outside from the first one-way throttle valve 35. This discharge force of gas causes the main structure 31 to move forward.

[0063] Subsequently, the main structure 31, and by extension the internal compartment 33, is cooled by the surrounding environment. As a result, the temperature of the compartment 33 gradually decreases, and the air pressure also decreases. When the pressure difference of the compartment 33 relative to the surrounding environment exceeds a predetermined value (even if the ambient temperature and the temperature of the compartment 33 are the same, the pressure difference exceeds a predetermined value due to the low density of the gas in the compartment 33), the outside gas is discharged into the compartment 33 from the second one-way throttle valve 36. The discharge pressure of this gas collides with the inner surface of the conical surface portion 31a at the front end of the compartment 33, causing the main structure 31 to move forward.

[0064] Here, the surrounding environment is "room temperature" if it is indoors, and "outside air" or "the space around the main structure 31" if the main structure 31 is a flying object at high altitude or in outer space. In outer space, where it is influenced by stars such as the sun, the main structure 31 is warmed by the light of the star, and cooled in the shaded areas where the light of the star does not reach. In this way, the gas in the compartment 33 inside the main structure 31 is repeatedly warmed and cooled, causing the main structure 31 to move forward repeatedly.

[0065] In this third embodiment, gas is filled into a compartment 33 within the main structure 31, and power is obtained by causing the gas in the compartment 33 to flow in and out through a first one-way throttle valve 35 and a second one-way throttle valve 36 due to a temperature change (i.e., a pressure change) in the compartment 33.

[0066] Therefore, in each gas discharge process by the second one-way throttle valve 36, the generator 41 operates in the same manner as in the second embodiment to obtain power.

[0067] In the fourth embodiment, a generator may be placed on the gas discharge side (external) of the first one-way throttle valve 35. With this configuration, power can be obtained during each gas discharge process of both the first one-way throttle valve 35 and the second one-way throttle valve 36.

[0068] In this fourth embodiment, the device may be configured to obtain electricity by utilizing the mobility of the main structure 31.

[0069] In this fourth embodiment, the entire generator 41 is placed in the compartment 33 immediately downstream of the second one-way throttle valve 36. However, as in the first embodiment, the rotating body (turbine) of the generator 41 may be placed inside the compartment 33, and the rotation / power conversion unit (not shown) of the generator 41 may be placed outside the main structure 31.

[0070] (Fifth Embodiment) Figure 10 shows the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The power generation system EPS of the fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in the following respects.

[0071] In other words, the rear end of the main structure 31 is composed of a flat surface portion 31b and a concave surface portion 31c that curves downward toward the front end. The space formed by the concave surface portion 31c is located within a single compartment 33, which is a gas-sealed space. A second one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 36 is provided on the flat surface portion 31b of the main structure 31. A first one-way throttle valve (one-way valve) 35 is provided on the concave surface portion 31c. A generator 41 is located in the compartment 33, immediately upstream of the second one-way throttle valve 36. The generator 41 generates electricity using wind power from the second one-way throttle valve 36. A generator 42 is located in the space formed by the concave surface portion 31c, immediately upstream of the first one-way throttle valve 35. The generator 42 generates electricity using wind power from the first one-way throttle valve 35. The other configurations are the same as in the fourth embodiment, so their description is omitted to avoid redundant explanation.

[0072] In this fifth embodiment, the generator 41 generates electricity using wind power from the second one-way throttle valve 36, in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment. Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the generator 42 also generates electricity using wind power from the first one-way throttle valve 35. Since a part of the first one-way throttle valve 35 and the generator 42 are arranged using the concave portion 31c at the rear end of the main structure 31, they do not protrude from the rear end of the main structure 31, thus preventing interference with other components.

[0073] In the fourth embodiment, computer control may be used to determine whether the gas flowing in from the second one-way throttle valve 36 is used for power generation (storing electricity) or for the thrust force (physical force) of the main structure 31. If the incoming gas is used for power generation and stored, the thrust force will decrease. On the other hand, if the incoming gas is not used for power generation, the thrust force will increase. Similarly in the fifth embodiment, computer control may be used to determine whether the gas flowing in from the first one-way throttle valve 36 and the second one-way throttle valve 35 is used for power generation (storing electricity) or for the thrust force (physical force) of the main structure 31.

[0074] (Regarding the one-way throttle valves) One-way throttle valves 5, 6, 25, 26, 35, and 36 are used in the first to fifth embodiments described above. These one-way throttle valves 5, 6, 25, 26, 35, and 36 typically have a threshold for the movement of the gas and a threshold for stopping the movement of the gas. The threshold for the movement of the gas is when the gas starts to flow in or out. Depending on the value of the threshold for stopping the movement of the gas, the pressure difference between the gas inside and outside compartments 3, 4, 23, 24, and 33 may almost disappear, stop just before reaching that point, or overshoot and the gas may move too much.

[0075] On the other hand, the thresholds of the one-way throttle valves 5, 6, 25, 26, 35, and 36 can be controlled by computer as needed. For example, by controlling the thresholds of the one-way throttle valves 5, 6, 25, 26, 35, and 36 by computer, the pressure (amount of gas) in compartments 3, 4, 23, 24, and 33 can be adjusted, and the thrust can be manipulated so that the main structures 1, 21, 21A, and 31 (or the structures to which they are attached) can be moved when desired, and conversely, nothing can be done when movement is not desired.

[0076] In the embodiments described above, a gas is sealed within the main structure, and the gas maintains its gaseous state without undergoing a phase change (for example, the gas does not change into a liquid or solid). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an appropriate substance may be placed inside the main structure, and that substance may undergo a phase change.

[0077] Although each embodiment has been described in detail above, the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope described in the claims. For example, the technical scope of the present invention includes a combination of a part of the configuration of one embodiment and a part of the configuration of another embodiment among the multiple embodiments.

[0078] Furthermore, the present invention may include at least the following embodiments. The embodiments may be adopted separately or in combination with each other. (1) The gas-sealed space within the main structure has an infinite loop shape, and the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve are respectively positioned to divide the infinite loop-shaped gas-sealed space into two spaces, thereby partitioning the infinite loop-shaped gas-sealed space into a first compartment and a second compartment, and the rotation axis for rotating the main structure is set at a position that partitions the first compartment and the second compartment, and the main structure is such that in the first shift position, the lower surface of the first compartment is in a lower position where it rests on the installation surface and the second compartment is in an upper position where it is floating above the installation surface, and in the second shift position, the lower surface of the second compartment is in a lower position where it rests on the installation surface and the first compartment is in an upper position where it is floating above the installation surface. (2) The first compartment and the second compartment are arranged in which a rotating body is rotated by the wind force of the gas discharged from the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve, respectively, and are configured to obtain power from the rotation of the rotating body. (3) The gas-sealed space of the main structure is a closed shape with a finite end, and the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve are arranged side by side at an intermediate position in the gas-sealed space, thereby dividing the gas-sealed space into the first compartment and the second compartment, and the rotating shaft which rotates integrally with the main structure is set at the center of gravity of the main structure, and the first compartment and the second compartment are arranged so as to be able to move up and down freely, and the first compartment and the second compartment are shaped such that the center of gravity positions of the first compartment side and the second compartment side are at different horizontally shifted positions with respect to the center of gravity of the entire main structure.

[0079] 1, 21, 21A, 31 Main structure 2, 22 Gas-sealed space 3, 23 First compartment 4, 24 Second compartment 5, 25, 35 First one-way throttle valve (first one-way valve) 6, 26, 36 Second one-way throttle valve (second one-way valve) 11 First generator (generator) 12 Second generator (generator) 29, 41, 42 Generator 33 Compartment

Claims

1. The gas-sealed space within the main structure is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment by a first one-way valve and a second one-way valve, the first one-way valve discharges the gas from the first compartment into the second compartment when the air pressure in the first compartment becomes higher than the air pressure in the second compartment by a threshold, the second one-way valve discharges the gas from the second compartment into the first compartment when the air pressure in the second compartment becomes higher than the air pressure in the first compartment by a threshold, the main structure is provided with a rotating shaft that rotatably supports the first compartment and the second compartment at a position separating them, between a first shift position in which the first compartment is in a lower position where it receives sufficient heat from the heat source and the second compartment is in an upper position where it receives little to no heat from the heat source, and a second shift position in which the first compartment is in an upper position and the second compartment is in a lower position. A power generation system characterized in that, if the weight of the first compartment is heavier than the weight of the second compartment, a rotational force acts on the first shift position side, and if the weight of the second compartment is heavier than the weight of the first compartment, a rotational force acts on the second shift position side, and that either or both of the wind force of the gas flowing in and out between the first and second compartments and the rotational force of the rotating shaft that shifts between the first and second shift positions of the main structure are used for power generation.

2. The power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas-sealed space within the main structure has an infinite loop shape, the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve are respectively positioned to divide the infinite loop-shaped gas-sealed space into two spaces, thereby partitioning the infinite loop-shaped gas-sealed space into a first compartment and a second compartment, the rotation axis for rotating the main structure is set at a position that partitions the first compartment and the second compartment, and the main structure is configured such that in the first shift position, the lower surface of the first compartment is in a lower position resting on the installation surface and the second compartment is in an upper position floating above the installation surface, and in the second shift position, the lower surface of the second compartment is in a lower position resting on the installation surface and the first compartment is in an upper position floating above the installation surface.

3. The power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that a rotating body is arranged in the first compartment and the second compartment, respectively, which is rotated by the wind force of the gas discharged from the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve, and that power is obtained from the rotation of the rotating body.

4. The power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas-sealed space of the main structure has a closed shape with a finite end, the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve are arranged side by side at an intermediate position in the gas-sealed space so that the gas-sealed space is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment, the rotating shaft which rotates integrally with the main structure is set at the center of gravity of the main structure and is arranged so that the first compartment and the second compartment can be moved up and down freely, and the first compartment and the second compartment have a shape such that the centers of gravity of the first compartment side and the second compartment side are at different horizontally shifted positions with respect to the center of gravity of the entire main structure.

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