Hydraulic Power Generation Device Segmentation for Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hydraulic power generation devices require shutting down operations for maintenance of water turbines or electric power generators, reducing efficiency and shortening device lifespan due to frequent start-stop cycles.

Innovation Solution

The device includes multiple water passage units with sealed inlets and outlets connected to containers beneath the turbines, allowing water to flow and drive remaining turbines during maintenance, keeping the system operational.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hydraulic power generation device is shut down for maintenance of water turbines or electric power generators, then the safety of maintenance personnel is ensured, but the operational efficiency is reduced and device lifespan is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance safetyVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic power generation device is divided into multiple independent water passage units, each with its own water turbine and electric power generator. This segmentation allows individual units to be maintained while other units continue to operate, resolving the contradiction between maintenance safety and operational efficiency by enabling parallel operation and maintenance of different segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous power generation through multiple water passage units that can operate independently. When one unit undergoes maintenance, the others continue to generate electricity, ensuring the useful action of power generation continues without interruption, thus maintaining operational efficiency while ensuring maintenance safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Ease of repair

If the hydraulic power generation device is frequently shut down and started for maintenance, then the maintenance needs are met, but the device lifespan is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoiddevice lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the system into multiple independent water passage units, the patent enables maintenance of individual units without shutting down the entire system. This reduces the frequency of overall system shutdowns, thereby extending device lifespan while maintaining ease of repair for individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed with multiple redundant water passage units that can take over the load before maintenance is needed. This preliminary arrangement of redundant capacity allows maintenance to be performed on individual units without affecting overall system operation, reducing wear from frequent shutdowns while ensuring maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables continuous operation of the hydraulic power generation device during maintenance of individual turbines or generators, enhancing efficiency and extending device lifespan by avoiding frequent shutdowns.

Implementation Method 1

multiple water turbines are located above the water passage unit... driven by the water to generate mechanical energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

multiple water turbines are located above the water passage unit so as to be driven by the water to generate mechanical energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic turbine effect: Turbine

Implementation Method 3

An electric power generation unit is connected to and driven by each of the water turbines to transform the mechanical energy into electric energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2957764B1Hydraulic power generation device
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 CHEN SHUI CHUAN
  • EP2957764B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2957764B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2957764B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A hydraulic power generation device includes a water passage unit (2) which has a high end and a low end, and multiple water turbines (3) are located above the water passage unit (2). Multiple containers (4) are located beneath the water passage unit (2) and located corresponding to the water turbines (3) respectively. The water passage unit (2) has an inlet (23) and an outlet (24) located corresponding to each of the containers (4). The inlet (23) and the outlet (24) communicate with the room (41) of the container (4) corresponding thereto. When one of the water turbines (3) or the electric power generator (5) needs to be maintained, the seal (25) of the inlet (23) is opened and the water flows to the water passage unit (2) via the outlet (24) to drive the water turbines (3) behind the damaged water turbine (3). The hydraulic power generation device is still under operation while one of the water turbines (3) is under maintenance.