Angled Pivot Axis Power Plant Blades Reduce Turbulence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydroelectric and wind power plants face inefficiencies due to large required installation spaces and turbulence caused by blade folding mechanisms, which reduce energy conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hydroelectric or wind power plant design featuring pivotable inflow elements with angled pivot axes relative to the axis of rotation, limited by stop areas, allowing for efficient torque transmission and reduced radial size, enabling self-adjustment to flow direction changes and minimizing turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If blades are made adjustable to enable rotation when completely submerged, then the power plant can operate in various water conditions, but the required free radius increases significantly compared to the usable inflow area
Solution Approach 1:
The blades are made pivotable about an axis angled to the rotation axis, allowing them to dynamically adjust their orientation during operation. This enables the blades to rotate even when completely submerged by adapting to different flow conditions without requiring excessive free radius for movement
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing blades to rotate in the traditional radial direction (parallel to rotation axis), the invention introduces pivoting in a different dimension - about an axis angled to the rotation axis. This dimensional change enables effective rotation with reduced free radius requirements
2Productivity
If blades flip rapidly to enable rotation, then the paddle wheel can rotate when completely submerged, but significant turbulence is generated which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The blades pivot dynamically about an angled axis, allowing smooth adjustment to different orientations during rotation rather than rapid flipping. This dynamic adaptation enables continuous rotation while minimizing turbulent disturbances to the water flow
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot axis is angled at more than 60° or perpendicular to the rotation axis, fundamentally changing the motion parameters of the blades. This parameter change transforms the blade movement from rapid flipping to smoother pivoting, reducing turbulence and energy loss while maintaining rotation capability
3Area of moving object
If pivot axes are angled perpendicular to the rotation axis, then a larger flow area is provided on one side of the axis, but the support structure requires careful design to accommodate the pivoting motion
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple disk-shaped support elements spaced apart along the rotation axis. Each support element independently carries blades and stop areas, allowing the complex pivoting motion to be managed in segmented sections rather than as a monolithic structure
Solution Approach 2:
The stop areas are formed by rods that extend parallel to the rotation axis and are radially offset from it. These rods automatically limit the pivot range of adjacent blades through their geometric arrangement, providing self-regulating motion control without requiring additional active control mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances efficiency by optimizing inflow surface area utilization, reducing turbulence, and allowing for compact installation, while automatically adjusting to varying flow directions, thereby improving energy conversion and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
several flow elements pivotably mounted on the support structure about a respective pivot axis, which are subject to an air or water flow to drive a rotation of the support structure
Implementation Method 2
a generator for providing electricity when the support structure rotates
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A water and/or wind power plant, comprising a supporting device (2) which is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (3) and which has multiple flow impingement elements (6-9, 28-35) which are mounted on the supporting device (2) so as to be pivotable about a respective pivot axis (11-14, 36-43) and which can be impinged on by a flow of air or water in order to drive a rotation of the supporting device (2), and a generator (18) for providing electrical current when the supporting device (2) rotates, wherein the pivot axes (11-14, 36-43) run in angled fashion, in particular at an angle of greater than 60° or perpendicularly, with respect to the axis of rotation (3).