Multicellular Centrifugal Pump for Remote Kinetic Energy Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for capturing kinetic energy from naturally moving fluid currents, such as ocean or atmospheric currents, face challenges including complex installations, difficult maintenance, especially in hard-to-reach locations, and irregular energy supply due to varying current strengths and directions.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing a multicellular centrifugal pump with its axis parallel to the current direction, which converts fluid motion into driving motion for pumping or compression, eliminating the need for a closed fluidic circuit and allowing for remote energy storage or conversion, and includes mechanisms to balance thrust forces and regulate energy output for consistent frequency generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If second conversion means (alternator) are directly coupled to first conversion means (propeller) in known devices, then mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy on site, but installation and maintenance become difficult in hard-to-reach locations and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the second conversion means (alternator) from the immediate vicinity of the first conversion means (propeller) by using a fluid coupling system. The propeller drives a pump that pressurizes fluid, which is then transported through conduits to a remote alternator. This separation allows the alternator to be installed in more accessible locations while maintaining the energy conversion function, thereby resolving the contradiction between power generation capability and ease of installation/maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If a closed fluidic circuit is used to transport pressurized fluid to remote hydraulic motors, then energy can be transported without on-site electricity production, but the device complexity and construction requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic and hydraulic principles by using a fluid (air or liquid) as the coupling medium between the propeller-driven pump and the remote alternator. The pump pressurizes the fluid, which then drives the alternator at a remote location. This approach enables energy transport without requiring complex closed fluidic circuits with supply and collection pipes, as the same fluid pathway serves both functions, thereby reducing construction complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
3Force
If thrust forces from current conversion are not balanced, then the device structure must withstand high forces requiring strong anchoring systems, but this increases the device complexity and installation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by positioning the pump and alternator such that the thrust forces generated by the propeller-driven pump are balanced by the reaction forces from the fluid discharge to the remote alternator. This force balancing reduces the net thrust load on the anchoring system, thereby simplifying the anchoring requirements and reducing device complexity while still utilizing the full thrust force for energy conversion.
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 simplifies installation and maintenance, reduces environmental risk, and provides a consistent energy supply by balancing thrust forces and regulating energy output, enabling efficient and reliable kinetic energy capture and conversion.
Implementation Method 1
pumping or compression means (116, 216) driven by the first converting means (112, 212), the pumping means being suitable for take fluid from the current and put it into circulation to transport it to remote means of storage or energy conversion
Implementation Method 2
capturing kinetic energy from a naturally moving fluid current... and the conversion of this energy into mechanical or electrical energy
Implementation Method 3
first energy conversion means, typically a propeller 10 or another rotor element, integral with a rotating shaft 100 or another movable element, to recover the energy from the current and convert it in mechanical movement of said movable element
Implementation Method 4
means 11 for converting the mechanical energy thus recovered, to convert this energy (typically into electrical energy)... an alternator whose rotor is driven by the output shaft 100 of the propeller 10
Data Source
Figure 1A~3A
Figure 2~3
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (100, 200) for collecting the kinetic energy of a naturally moving fluid, that comprises: a first conversion means (112, 212) capable of converting the fluid movement into a driving movement for driving a pumping or compression means (116, 216); a pumping or compression means (116, 216) driven by the first conversion means (112, 212), said pumping means being capable of collecting a current from the fluid and of circulating the same and conveying it to remote energy storage (223) or conversion (121, 122, 221, 222, 226) means. The pumping or compression means include a multicellular centrifugal pump having a rotation axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to the current direction. The combination of these means provides for a quasi-continuous electric energy with a fixed and stable frequency.