Tubular Turbine Cross-Section Adjustment for Flow Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe turbine devices in fluid transport networks, particularly in gas transport networks, suffer from reduced electrical energy yield due to fixed designs that are optimized for maximum fluid volume flow, leading to inefficiencies during fluctuating or reduced volume flows.

Innovation Solution

The pipe turbine device incorporates a cross-sectional adjustment mechanism, which includes a plate module with radially movable elements, allowing the flowable cross-sectional area to be adjusted based on the fluid volume flow. This mechanism ensures that the flow speed remains constant, optimizing the operation of the pipe turbine device and enhancing electrical energy production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the tubular turbine device is designed with a fixed cross-sectional area optimized for maximum fluid volume flow, then the electrical energy yield is maximized at nominal operation, but the electrical energy yield significantly reduces during fluctuating or reduced volume flows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical energy yieldVSAvoidadaptability to fluctuating volume flows
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed cross-sectional area design into a dynamic, adjustable cross-sectional area system. The cross-sectional adjustment device enables the turbine to adapt its flow area in real-time according to varying fluid volume flows, allowing optimal electrical energy yield across different operating conditions rather than being fixed for nominal operation only.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the cross-sectional area parameter of the tubular turbine device. The cross-sectional adjustment device changes this geometric parameter dynamically, allowing the system to optimize performance across different volume flow conditions by adjusting the effective flow area to match the current operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the tubular turbine device uses a fixed-load design, then the structure is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but the device cannot efficiently handle time-dependent and fluctuating volume flows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidelectrical energy yield under varying conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static fixed-load design into a dynamic system by introducing the cross-sectional adjustment device. This device enables the turbine to actively respond to fluctuating volume flows, significantly improving electrical energy yield under varying conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured with standard techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 adjustable cross-sectional area mechanism allows the pipe turbine device to operate more efficiently across varying fluid volume flows, significantly increasing the electrical energy yield compared to fixed designs.

Implementation Method 1

at least one generator coupled to the turbine shaft and configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the kinetic energy of the gas is converted into electrical energy by the rotor coupled to the turbine shaft and the generator coupled to the turbine shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectKinetic energy conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP4377555B1Tubular turbine device for a fluid transport network
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 RWE GAS STORAGE WEST GMBH
  • EP4377555B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4377555B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b
  • EP4377555B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

The application relates to a pipe turbine apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) for a fluid transport network (1197), comprising at least one running device (104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704, 804, 904, 1004) arranged on a turbine shaft (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912, 1012), at least one guiding device (106, 206, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706, 806, 906, 1006) arranged upstream of the running device (104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704, 804, 904, 1004) in the direction of flow, at least one generator (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608, 708, 808, 908, 1008) coupled to the turbine device (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912, 1012) and designed to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and at least one cross-section adaptation device (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910, 1010) designed to change a cross-sectional area, through which flow can take place, of the pipe turbine apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) depending on the volumetric flow of the fluid flowing through the pipe turbine apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100).