Renewable Energy Extraction Device Using Flow Contraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current renewable energy extraction devices for water and wind applications are inefficient, expensive, and complex, lacking the ability to capture large amounts of flowing water or air effectively and requiring sophisticated manufacturing facilities, while existing solutions for hydroelectric and wind energy generation are limited in scalability and practicality.
Innovation Solution
A portable or stationary device that captures and speeds up flowing water or air using screens to remove debris, then converts the energy into rotational mechanical energy using a small energy extraction component, ensuring continuous rotation direction control and efficient energy transmission to electric generators or other equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines are used to convert wind energy into electrical power, then electrical power can be generated, but the device becomes expensive and huge in size requiring sophisticated manufacturing facilities and special equipment for transportation, installation, and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the energy extraction system into separate functional components: a simple rotor with blades for capturing wind energy, a generator for power conversion, and a support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled from standard parts, reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining power generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotor as an intermediary component between the wind flow and the generator. The rotor captures kinetic energy from wind and transfers it to the generator shaft, enabling power generation without requiring the generator itself to be directly exposed to high-speed wind flows, thus simplifying the overall system design
2Power
If hydroelectric power plants are built to produce electrical power from water, then industrial and practical power can be generated, but construction of dams is time consuming and expensive and can cause damage from natural disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential energy conversion function from the complex dam infrastructure. By using a free-standing rotor and generator assembly that can be installed in open water or along river banks without requiring dams, the system separates power generation from flood control and water storage functions, dramatically reducing infrastructure complexity and risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, modular components that can be manufactured at low cost and replaced if needed. The rotor blades, support structure, and generator are designed as separate replaceable units, allowing for easy maintenance and replacement without requiring complex infrastructure, making the system more resilient and cost-effective
3Power
If water wheels are used to produce electrical power from rivers, then power can be generated, but the rate is insignificant and there is no practical application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key operational parameters including blade pitch angle, rotor diameter, and rotational speed to optimize energy capture. By adjusting these parameters based on flow conditions and connecting to appropriate generators, the system achieves practical power generation rates suitable for both small-scale and large-scale applications
4Ease of operation
If paddle wheel electric generation devices are mounted on inflatable tubes to capture energy from surface water, then the device can be deployed, but it can capture energy only from surface water not from all water flowing in the stream and is limited to small paddle wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from surface-only water capture to multi-depth water capture by extending the rotor assembly vertically into the water column. The support structure allows the rotor to be positioned at various depths, enabling the system to capture kinetic energy from water flows at multiple levels throughout the stream or river cross-section, dramatically increasing the volume of water utilized for power generation
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 device enables efficient, cost-effective, and scalable energy extraction from both water and wind sources, reducing the need for complex infrastructure and manufacturing, allowing for both small and large-scale applications without interrupting natural water flows or requiring extensive facilities.
Implementation Method 1
increases speed of the captured water or air by decreasing flow cross sectional area in the flow direction
Implementation Method 2
A relatively small energy extraction component is used to extract energy of the high-speed water or air and convert it to rotational mechanical energy on a rotating shaft (power shaft)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a renewable energy extraction device and methods for producing renewable energy from flowing air or water. The renewable energy extraction device captures a relatively large amount of flowing water or atmospheric air and increases speed of the captured water or air by decreasing flow cross sectional area in the flow direction. An energy extraction component is used to extract energy of the high-speed water or air and convert it to rotational mechanical energy on a power shaft. A rotation direction control mechanism is used to make the power shaft always rotate in one direction, without coming to a stop, for ocean applications. The mechanical energy of the power shaft is transmitted to an electric generator, pump, compressor, or any other rotary equipment. After extraction of its energy, the captured air or water is released to its original source at a downstream location.