Multistage Hydropower Rotor Assembly for Compact River Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional small hydropower generators have limitations such as limited power output, high installation costs, complex structures, and difficulty in maintenance due to their design, which restricts their efficiency and adaptability to varying flow conditions and environments.
Innovation Solution
A hydropower generator with a compact and simple structure featuring a driving shaft with multistage blade assemblies, a spinning supporter, and a power generator, where the arrangement of blade assemblies is adjustable along a fluid flow path, including features like a curved flow pipe and foreign-material blocking members to enhance installation flexibility and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple housings are arranged one by one and connected for multistage installation, then power generation capacity increases, but installation period and man hour increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple propellers and guide vanes into a single integrated housing, allowing multistage power generation capacity while avoiding the need to install and connect multiple separate housings. This merging approach maintains power generation scalability while dramatically reducing installation time and labor requirements.
2Power
If generator is installed in every housing for multistage installation, then power generation capacity increases, but equipment costs increase and weight makes installation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple generators into a single generator installed in one housing, while multiple propeller assemblies within the same housing collectively drive this single generator. This approach achieves multistage power generation capacity while reducing equipment costs, weight, and installation complexity compared to installing separate generators in each housing.
3Productivity
If guide vanes are installed in front and back of propeller, then power generation efficiency improves, but structure becomes complicated and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple guide vanes and propellers into a unified assembly within a single housing, where guide vanes are strategically positioned to optimize fluid flow to multiple propellers. This merged structure maintains improved power generation efficiency through proper guide vane placement while avoiding the complexity and cost of multiple separate housings with multiple guide vanes and propellers each.
4Power
If multiple housings are connected for multistage installation, then power generation capacity increases, but construction quality decreases due to difficulty in maintaining route and installation uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multistage power generation capacity within a single integrated housing, eliminating the need to connect multiple housings together. This approach inherently ensures installation uniformity and construction quality since there are no joints or connections between multiple housings that could introduce misalignment or variability in the installation.
5Power
If propeller is out of order, then power generation stops, but repair work takes long time because small hydro-power device needs to be fully disassembled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hydro-power device into modular components within a single housing, where individual propellers and guide vanes can be independently accessed and replaced. This segmentation allows a malfunctioning propeller to be quickly removed and replaced without requiring full disassembly of the entire device, significantly reducing repair time while maintaining power generation capability.
6Power
If conventional small hydro-power device is installed in river with foreign materials, then power generation is achieved, but complicated internal structure is easily clogged and frequently breaks down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the internal structure into modular components with larger clearance spaces between elements, allowing foreign materials to pass through without causing clogging. The simplified structure with fewer tight tolerances and fewer small moving parts reduces the likelihood of breakdowns when operating in rivers with foreign materials, while maintaining power generation effectiveness.
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
The solution enables efficient power generation with reduced installation costs and improved maintenance, allowing for stable operation in curved channels and diverse flow conditions, while preventing foreign material interference and enhancing durability.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of blade assemblies (3) installed along a lengthwise direction of the driving shaft (2)... the fluid introduced through the first guide vane (150) causes the first propeller (130) to spin so that the first propeller (130) can have kinetic energy
Implementation Method 2
a power generator (5) receiving a spinning force of the driving shaft (2) and generating electricity... kinetic energy of the propellers (130) and (140) can be converted into electrical energy, thereby generating power
Data Source
AI summary
A hydropower generator includes: a driving shaft installed along a path through which a fluid flows; a plurality of blade assemblies installed along a lengthwise direction of the driving shaft; a spinning supporter connected to rotatably support the driving shaft; a power generator receiving a spinning force of the driving shaft and generating electricity; and a flow pipeline internally provided with the driving shaft along a lengthwise direction thereof and formed with a channel through which a fluid flows.