Flow Converter Rotor Drag Reduction via One-Sided Inflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flow converters in hydroelectric power stations face significant drag forces opposing the rotation of the rotor, limiting their efficiency due to the exposure of the rotor to water flow on both sides of its axis of rotation.
Innovation Solution
A flow converter design where the rotor is housed with an inflow channel that directs fluid flow to only one side of the rotor, reducing drag by preventing counter-rotating fluid flow and utilizing a dual blade system with independent pivoting blades to minimize resistance, along with a funnel-shaped outer inflow channel to enhance flow speed and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotor is completely exposed under water perpendicular to the direction of flow to increase contact surface area, then the efficiency is improved, but the drag force opposing rotation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a first housing part and a second housing part that are movable relative to each other along the axis of rotation. This segmentation allows the rotor to be selectively exposed or shielded from water flow, enabling dynamic adjustment between efficiency and drag force reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing parts are designed to be movable relative to each other, transforming the static housing into a dynamic structure. This allows the system to adapt its configuration based on operational conditions, optimizing performance by adjusting the rotor's exposure to water flow.
2Power
If the rotor has a large contact surface with water flow to increase efficiency, then energy production is improved, but the resistance force against rotation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first housing part acts as an intermediary element between the water flow and the rotor. By moving this housing part, the system can control the interaction between water and rotor, allowing optimal energy production while minimizing harmful resistance forces through selective exposure.
3Productivity
If the housing is designed to channel flow to one side of the rotor to reduce drag, then efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable housing parts serve multiple functions: they guide water flow to optimize rotor performance, reduce drag force by controlling exposure, and enable adaptive adjustment to different operational conditions. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structural complexity by delivering multiple performance benefits simultaneously.
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
Significantly reduces resistance forces on the rotor, improving energy production efficiency by channeling fluid flow effectively and using high flow velocities to enhance power generation while maintaining easy maintenance access.
Implementation Method 1
The blades are elastically deformable, so that the rotor has a larger contact surface and therefore greater resistance to the water flow on one side of its axis of rotation than on the opposite side, in order to increase efficiency
Implementation Method 2
a flow converter for generating energy with a housing (10) and a rotor (20, 30, 60), which has a large number of blades (23, 25, 31, 60), which run at least in the radial direction, preferably in the radial and circumferential direction of the rotor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a flow converter for recovering energy, comprising a housing (10) and a rotor (20) that has a plurality of blades (23, 25, 31) which run in the radial direction of the rotor (20), said rotor (20) being rotatable about a rotational axis (22). The invention is characterized in that the housing (10) has an inlet channel (15), and the rotor (20) is rotatably received in the housing (10) such that a fluid flow (F) from the inlet channel (15) impinges only on the drive side of the rotor (20) relative to the rotational axis (22).