Stationary Trough Hydroelectric Screw for Fish Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydroelectric power plants face issues with durability and ecological acceptance due to bearing damage, inefficient energy generation, and fish mortality caused by the rotating support structure and guiding currents, which deter fish from using fish ladders.
Innovation Solution
The design features a stationary trough with independently operating screws, where the working screw and conveyor screw rotate independently, with the conveyor screw using the water flow from the working screw to create an attractive current for fish, and a semi-cylindrical trough to reduce material and weight, allowing for efficient energy generation and safe fish passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the working screw and conveyor screw are combined in a single rotating support tube, then the fish transport is gentle and efficient, but the moving masses become very large causing bearing damage and out-of-true running over medium to long time scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the combined rotating structure into separate independent components: the working screw remains attached to the rotating support tube for gentle fish transport, while the conveyor screw is detached and mounted independently on the stationary trough. This segmentation allows each component to function optimally without the excessive moving masses of the combined structure, thereby improving bearing durability while maintaining fish transport gentleness.
2Productivity
If the trough is designed to rotate with the working screw, then the working screw can be larger for efficient energy generation, but the moving masses increase causing bearing damage and reduced operational reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conveyor screw from the rotating support tube structure and mounts it independently on the stationary trough. This allows the working screw to be larger for efficient energy generation while the conveyor screw operates separately without adding to the rotating mass, thereby maintaining bearing durability and operational reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the working screw and conveyor screw rotate at the same speed, then they form a structural unit for gentle fish transport, but the moving masses are very large causing bearing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rotation function by allowing the working screw to rotate with the support tube while the conveyor screw rotates independently on the stationary trough. This segmentation reduces the moving masses that would cause bearing damage while maintaining safe fish transport through the coordinated action of the two screws.
4Strength
If the trough is made fully cylindrical to enclose the working screw, then the structure is complete and protective, but the material and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a semi-cylindrical trough that encloses the working screw on the necessary sides while leaving the top open. This partial enclosure provides adequate structural protection and functionality without the excessive material and weight of a fully enclosed cylindrical structure.
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 enhances the durability and ecological acceptance of hydroelectric power plants by minimizing rotating masses, reducing fish mortality, and encouraging fish to ascend and descend safely through the system, while maintaining efficient energy generation.
Implementation Method 1
a working screw (6) arranged in a trough (5) and a generator (4) driven by it
Implementation Method 2
a screw conveyor (9) arranged in the same longitudinal extent as the working screw (6), which runs in the opposite direction to the working screw (6)
Implementation Method 3
the water flowing out of the hydrodynamic screw to generate electricity creates a so-called 'guiding current' or 'lure current' for the fish willing to climb
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a hydroelectric power plant for generating electrical energy by converting the flow energy of a flowing body of water, comprising a working screw (6) arranged in a trough (5) and a generator (4) driven by it, and a counter-rotating conveying screw (9) arranged with the same longitudinal extent as the working screw (6). The trough (5) is designed to be stationary and is connected to a base structure (14, 15, 16, 17).