Micro Power Plant Shunt Coupling for Water Pressure Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In urban areas, utilizing mains water supply for micro power plants leads to significant water pressure loss and maintenance issues due to the installation of turbines within water pipes, which are costly to compensate and prone to disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A shunt-like coupling system is used, where water from the mains pipeline is diverted to a micro power plant and then feedback through an ejector device, maintaining water pressure and preventing losses, with regulating vents ensuring consistent water feed and suction capacity alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a turbine is installed inside the mains water pipe to generate power, then electric power can be generated from streaming water, but water pressure loss increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water flow path into separate segments: the main water supply line remains intact while a side branch connects to the turbine. This segmentation allows power generation without disrupting the main water flow and pressure
Solution Approach 2:
A side branch pipe acts as an intermediary, diverting a portion of water flow to the turbine while the main pipeline continues to supply water at normal pressure. The side branch mediates between the need for power generation and the requirement to maintain water pressure
2Power
If a turbine is installed in the water pipe, then power generation is enabled, but maintenance work and errors cause disruption of water supply
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into a main line and a separate turbine branch. This allows the turbine to be maintained or replaced without affecting the main water supply, ensuring continuous water delivery even during turbine maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The side branch with isolation valves serves as an intermediary pathway that can be independently accessed for maintenance. The valves act as mediators to control flow separation, enabling turbine service without shutting down the entire water supply system
3Stress or pressure
If pumps are used to compensate for pressure decrease, then water pressure can be maintained, but costs for the water system increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the kinetic energy of the flowing water itself to drive the turbine and generate power, rather than requiring external pumps to maintain pressure. The flowing water serves the dual purpose of power generation and maintaining its own pressure through the side-branch configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine and power generation components are extracted from the main water pressure system and placed in a separate side branch. This extraction eliminates the need for pumps in the main line, avoiding the significant cost increase that would result from adding pressure compensation equipment
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 solution allows for continuous electric power generation from mains water without substantial water pressure loss or disruption, making it a viable and efficient method for urban micro power plants, even in areas with high water demand.
Implementation Method 1
an ejector device driven by the streaming water in the mains pipeline
Implementation Method 2
a turbine is connected to the inlet pipe of a house (villa), such that whenever water is used in the house, the turbine is turned around by the streaming water present in the inlet pipe
Implementation Method 3
the turbine is turned around by the streaming water present in the inlet pipe, which in its turn powers an electric generator that charges a battery
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention disclose how a micro power plant can be arranged in a shunt like arrangement of water pipes, wherein water from a mains water pipeline (12) is guided towards a turbine (2) before the water is brought back inside the mains water pipeline (12) via an ejector device (3.1) with minimum loss of water pressure in the mains water pipeline (12).