Faucet Hydroelectric Generator Thrust Reducer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Faucet hydroelectric generators experience increased wear of bearing portions at high flow rates due to increased thrust force, which affects power generation efficiency and durability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thrust reducer, such as a hole penetrating through the lid of the bucket blade, to reduce the thrust force applied to the bucket, while maintaining high power generation efficiency by optimizing the design of the nozzle ports and the position of the lid to balance load and prevent water stagnation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a lid is provided at the upstream end of the bucket blade to increase water flow in the bucket flow channel, then power generation efficiency is improved, but thrust force acting on the bucket increases causing increased wear of the bearing portion
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into a main body portion and a separate thrust reducer portion. The thrust reducer is configured as a separate component with a through-hole that can be independently positioned and sized to manage thrust force while the main lid body maintains water flow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust reducer acts as an intermediary element between the lid and the bucket blade. It provides a controlled passage for water flow that reduces the direct transmission of thrust force to the bearing portion while maintaining adequate water flow through the bucket blade.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the radial dimension is decreased to suppress outflow to the bypass flow channel, then jet flow variation is suppressed, but the device becomes more complex requiring precise positioning of the lid and nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust reducer is integrated with the lid as a unified component, combining the water flow control function and thrust reduction function into a single positioned element. This merging reduces the number of separate positioning requirements and simplifies installation while maintaining jet flow stability.
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 thrust reducer effectively reduces wear on the bearing portions while maintaining high power generation efficiency, even at high flow rates, by minimizing thrust force and optimizing water flow within the faucet hydroelectric generator.
Implementation Method 1
a coil configured to generate electromotive force by rotation of the magnet
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle portion including a plurality of injection ports configured to cause incoming water flowing parallel to the rotation center axis to be squirted in a plane generally perpendicular to the rotation center axis from radially outside the bucket blade toward the bucket blade
Implementation Method 3
the lid including a thrust reducer configured to reduce a thrust force applied to the bucket
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a faucet hydroelectric generator includes: a cylinder portion including a supply water inflow port and a supply water outflow port and having a supply water flow channel formed therein; a bucket having a rotation center axis generally parallel to the supply water flow channel, and including a bucket blade provided in the supply water flow channel so as to be rotatable about the rotation center axis; a magnet rotatable integrally with the bucket; a coil configured to generate electromotive force by rotation of the magnet; a nozzle portion including a plurality of injection ports configured to cause incoming water flowing parallel to the rotation center axis to be squirted in a plane generally perpendicular to the rotation center axis from radially outside the bucket blade toward the bucket blade; and a lid provided at an upstream end of the bucket blade and configured to rotate integrally with the bucket blade. The lid includes a thrust reducer configured to reduce a thrust force applied to the bucket.