Rotary Generator With Segmented Impellers for Shallow Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable water-powered electric generators are heavy, costly, fragile, and require deep water, making them unsuitable for shallow streams and rivers, and they cannot generate energy in the absence of wind or sunlight.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-driven energy output assembly with a central hub and four radially connected arms, each equipped with a small and large sprocket and an impeller, anchored in a moving body of water, where the impellers are angled to maximize torque and electricity generation, allowing the system to be portable and functional in shallow waterways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If larger propeller-driven portable water-powered electric generators are used, then power generation capability is improved, but water depth requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water current interaction is segmented across four separate impellers positioned at different locations and orientations around the float. Each impeller handles a portion of the water flow, allowing the system to generate sufficient power without requiring deep water immersion for a single large propeller.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point water current capture (vertical propeller in deep water) to a distributed multi-point capture system. The four impellers are positioned at different horizontal locations around the float, capturing water current from multiple dimensions simultaneously, thereby achieving high power generation in shallow water conditions.
2Productivity
If traditional portable water-powered electric generators are used, then power generation is achieved, but system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces heavy traditional mechanical propeller-driven generators with a lighter float-based system using water current to directly rotate impellers connected to the generator. This substitution of mechanical components with a buoyant float structure significantly reduces overall system weight while maintaining power generation capability.
3Productivity
If traditional portable water-powered electric generators are used, then power generation is achieved, but system fragility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a float structure that can be constructed from durable, flexible materials resistant to water damage and environmental degradation. This float-based design is inherently more robust and less fragile than traditional rigid mechanical generator systems, particularly in shallow water environments where exposure to debris and environmental factors is greater.
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 system effectively converts water current into electricity in shallow streams, providing a lightweight, affordable, and durable solution for generating energy in various water conditions, capable of producing significant electricity with improved torque from the long arms and rotating impellers.
Implementation Method 1
As the water current flows across the assembly the current pushes against the full face of the impeller moving downstream, while moving across the streamlined edge of the impeller moving upstream to drive the arm assembly in a clockwise motion
Implementation Method 2
thereby turning the electric generator and generating electricity
Implementation Method 3
The larger sprocket is journaled through a float to an impeller that is located under the water when the float is floating on the water
Data Source
AI summary
A system for converting fluid flow into electricity. The system has an arm assembly with four floats that rotate around a center float. The floats on the arm assembly are all provided with impellers that turn one half revolution for every one revolution of the arm assembly. This slow rotation maintains the impellers at the optimal angle to convert the flow of the water current into rotational motion of the arm assembly, regardless of the orientation of the arm assembly. The arm assembly is coupled to an electric generator provided on the center float that converts torque generated by the arm assembly into electric power that may either be stored on an on-board battery or transmitted by wire for use elsewhere.