Hydrostatic Pressure Turbine Runners for High-Efficiency Energy Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current run-of-river hydropower turbine technologies are limited by Betz' law, which sets an upper operational efficiency limit of less than 60% for extracting kinetic energy from flowing water, leaving potential energy untapped.
Innovation Solution
The development of hydrostatic pressure turbine runners that primarily exploit the hydrostatic pressure of the flow, rather than focusing on kinetic energy extraction, allowing for the conversion of a significant portion of the flow's potential energy into hydropower.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional turbine runners are used to extract kinetic energy from flowing water, then kinetic energy conversion is achieved, but the extraction efficiency is limited to less than 60% by Betz' law
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter being exploited from kinetic energy to hydrostatic pressure (potential energy). By designing blades that respond to pressure differences rather than kinetic impact, the system transcends Betz' law limitations and achieves over 60% energy extraction efficiency from flat-flowing rivers
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the conventional approach of extracting energy from the forward motion of water (kinetic energy), the patent inverts the approach by exploiting the pressure field perpendicular to the flow direction (hydrostatic pressure). This inversion allows energy extraction from potential energy rather than kinetic energy
2Power
If turbine runners focus on kinetic energy extraction, then momentum transfer occurs, but potential energy remains untapped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from utilizing kinetic energy parameters (velocity, momentum) to utilizing potential energy parameters (hydrostatic pressure, elevation). The blade design exploits pressure differences across the blade surface rather than relying on kinetic impact, enabling access to the previously untapped potential energy reservoir in flat-flowing rivers
3Power
If conventional turbine designs are used in flat-flowing rivers, then kinetic energy conversion is possible, but head is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a housing structure that pre-establishes a pressure differential environment before the water reaches the blades. The housing creates a low-pressure region on the downstream side of the blades, enhancing the hydrostatic pressure difference across the blade surface and maximizing energy extraction from the available head
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts from relying on kinetic energy parameters (flow velocity) to relying on pressure parameters (hydrostatic pressure). By designing blades with specific angle of attack ranges (0-35 degrees) that optimize pressure differential exploitation rather than kinetic impact, the system achieves effective energy extraction from low-head flat-flowing rivers
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 approach enables the extraction of hydropower exceeding the limits set by Betz' law, with the potential to surpass the conventional efficiency limits by effectively converting both kinetic and potential energy of the flow into hydropower.
Implementation Method 1
Each hydrostatic pressure blade has an upstream face relative to a flow direction for the hydrostatic pressure turbine runner and a downstream face relative to the flow direction. The blade exploits the hydrostatic pressure of the flow to create a pressure gradient between the upstream and downstream faces.
Implementation Method 2
The potential energy of fluid is embodied by the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid (for example, Bernoulli's Law).
Implementation Method 3
The pressure gradient applies a hydrostatic force to the upstream face of each hydrostatic pressure blade, substantially perpendicular to the flow of the liquid. The hydrostatic force and the flow of the liquid each apply a respective force to each hydrostatic pressure blade to drive movement of each hydrostatic pressure blade across the flow of the liquid, substantially perpendicular to the flow of the liquid, to rotate a driven shaft of a power extraction mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
A hydrostatic pressure turbine runner comprising a rotatable shaft, at least one hydrostatic pressure blade carried by the rotatable shaft, wherein the at least one hydrostatic pressure blade has an angle of attack Θ measured between an upstream face and the flow direction for the hydrostatic pressure turbine runner wherein 0° < Θ <35°, the at least one hydrostatic pressure blade having a span and chord length having a longitudinal engagement extent (LEE) defined as the product of the cord length and the sine of the angle of attack Θ, wherein for the at least one hydrostatic pressure blade, a value of the LEE divided by the span is greater than 0.75 and wherein a total energy extracted from the liquid by the movement of the at least one hydrostatic pressure blade across the flow of the liquid driven by the hydrostatic force and the flow of the liquid exceeds an amount equal to 66% of kinetic energy available solely from the flow of the liquid.