Hydroelectric Runner Floating in Water Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydroelectric power generation systems face issues with lower rotational efficiency due to frictional resistance at bearings and water contamination from lubricating oil leaks.
Innovation Solution
A hydroelectric power generation system where the runner floats in a water storage tank and is turned by the reactive force of high-pressure water injected through nozzles, eliminating the need for bearings and using transmission members to transmit rotational force, while reverse nozzles and surface irregularities prevent water contamination and runout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a bearing is used to retain the rotational shaft, then runout is suppressed, but frictional resistance increases and rotational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bearing component entirely from the system. Instead of using a bearing to retain the rotational shaft, the invention uses water pressure to suspend and rotate the runner, completely extracting the problematic bearing element that caused both runout and frictional resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by introducing high-pressure water into the runner to provide both suspension and rotational force. The water pressure creates a cushion that eliminates mechanical contact (avoiding friction) while the reactive force of the injected water drives rotation, replacing traditional mechanical bearing support with a hydraulic system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a bearing is used to retain the rotational shaft, then runout is suppressed, but lubricating oil leaks and contaminates water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bearing and lubricating oil system from the hydroelectric power generation apparatus. By eliminating the mechanical contact components, the source of oil leakage is completely removed, preventing water contamination while still achieving stable rotation through water pressure suspension.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the oil-lubricated mechanical bearing system with a water-based hydraulic suspension system. High-pressure water serves both as the working fluid for power generation and as the lubricating/suspending medium, eliminating the need for separate lubricating oil that could leak and contaminate the water.
3Productivity
If high-pressure water is injected to turn the runner, then rotational efficiency increases, but water contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the high-pressure water injection, which could potentially cause contamination, into a beneficial dual-purpose system. The same high-pressure water that drives the runner rotation also creates a sealed environment and reactive force mechanism that prevents contamination, turning a potential harm into a benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles where high-pressure water is injected through nozzles to create reactive force that rotates the runner. The water pressure system is designed to contain and control the water flow, using the hydraulic force efficiently for rotation while preventing leakage and contamination through proper system design.
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
This design increases generation efficiency by reducing rotational resistance and prevents water contamination, allowing for stable and efficient power generation with multiple generator units.
Implementation Method 1
the reactive force of the high-pressure water injected from the first injection nozzles in the circumferential direction of the casing is utilized to turn the runner
Implementation Method 2
a runner (40) which is stored in a condition of floating in the first water storage tank (20)
Implementation Method 3
multiple transmission members (50) that contact the outer periphery surface of the runner (40) and transmit the rotational force of the runner (40) to the principal axis of rotation (61) in the generator unit (60)
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provide a hydroelectric power generation system that can increase generation efficiency by keeping the rotational resistance of the runner low, while preventing water contamination at the same time. The hydroelectric power generation system has: a first water storage tank 20 with a high-pressure water injection port 21 on the bottom face; a runner 40 which is stored in a condition of floating in the first water storage tank; and multiple transmission members 50 that contact the outer periphery surface of the runner and transmit the rotational force of the runner to the principal axis of rotation 61 in the generator unit 60. The runner has: a casing 41 of a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and having an opening 41b at the center of the bottom face; an introduction pipe 42 that rises upward from the opening to introduce into the casing high-pressure water injected from the injection port; first guide pipes 43 that extend radially from around the introduction pipe to the inner side face of the casing; and first injection nozzles 44 provided at the tips of the first guide pipes; wherein the reactive force of the high-pressure water injected from the first injection nozzles is utilized to turn the runner. Use of no bearing eliminates the problem of lower rotational efficiency of the runner due to generation of frictional resistance at the bearing, and the problem of lubricating oil leaking out of the system.