Vortex Water Energy Assembly for Low-Disruption Power Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-driven electricity generation systems face challenges in efficiency and maintenance, particularly in forming and sustaining a vortex for energy extraction across varying water flow rates, and require complex installations that disrupt waterways.
Innovation Solution
A robust, low-maintenance assembly that promotes the formation of a vortex within a chamber using a cylindrical side wall, vanes, and controlled inlet and outlet valves, allowing for efficient energy extraction from rotational kinetic energy, including the Coriolis force, without significant water flow rate dependency, and can be easily manufactured, transported, and installed in various water bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If complex installation structures are used to extract energy from water flow, then energy extraction efficiency is improved, but disruption to waterways and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the waterway into multiple sections, each with its own relatively small energy extraction assembly. This segmentation allows each unit to operate independently with minimal disruption to overall water flow, while multiple units can be deployed along the waterway to achieve significant total power generation. The modular nature reduces installation complexity compared to a single large system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional horizontal water wheel configurations to a vertical vortex-based energy extraction system. Water enters through an inclined inlet and creates a vertical rotating vortex within a cylindrical chamber, extracting energy in the vertical dimension rather than relying on horizontal wheel rotation. This dimensional change enables more efficient energy extraction while maintaining a compact, low-profile installation.
2Power
If traditional water wheel systems are used, then energy generation is achieved, but significant disruption to water flow and high maintenance requirements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the rotational kinetic energy from the vortex flow without requiring physical contact between moving parts and the water. The vortex itself performs the work of rotating the energy extraction mechanism, eliminating the need for traditional water wheel components that are subject to wear, cavitation, and mechanical failure. This extraction approach significantly reduces maintenance requirements while maintaining reliable energy generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical water wheel systems with a vortex-based fluid dynamic approach. Instead of using a water wheel that mechanically intercepts and converts water flow energy, the invention uses the natural vortex formation and rotation to drive energy extraction. This substitution eliminates many mechanical components prone to failure and reduces maintenance needs while improving reliability.
3Productivity
If large-scale power generation is implemented, then electricity output increases, but impact on waterway flow and complexity of installation increase
Solution Approach 1:
To achieve large-scale power generation, the system deploys multiple independent energy extraction assemblies along the waterway rather than using a single large system. Each assembly creates a localized vortex that extracts energy from a portion of the water flow. The segmented approach ensures that each unit has minimal impact on overall waterway flow patterns, while the cumulative effect of multiple units achieves significant total electricity output.
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex-based energy extraction assembly is designed as a universal module that can be deployed in various waterway configurations and flow conditions. The same basic design can be scaled from small to large operations by simply adding more units along the waterway. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different sites and achieve large-scale power generation without redesign, while each unit maintains minimal individual impact on water flow.
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 assembly effectively generates electricity across a spectrum of water flow rates with minimal impact on waterways, requiring low maintenance and allowing for scalable operations, from small to large-scale power generation, by harnessing the energy from the vortex formed within the chamber.
Implementation Method 1
The energy, which can be described as rotational kinetic energy, is different to energy generated by the fall of water
Implementation Method 2
the energy being the result of a combination of factors including the Coriolis force from the rotation of the Earth
Implementation Method 3
The dimensions of the inlet, the outlet and the chamber and the positions of the inlet, the outlet and the rotor may be selected to promote the formation of a vortex within the chamber that is in the form of multiple spirals of water down the height of the chamber
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An assembly for generating electricity from flowing water includes a chamber having a base, a side wall extending from the base, a water inlet, and a water outlet, a rotor unit having a shaft and a rotor mounted to the shaft located in and rotatable in the chamber in response to water flow through the chamber, and an electrical generator coupled to the rotor unit for generating electricity in response to rotation of the rotor. The dimensions of the inlet, the outlet and the chamber and the positions of the inlet, the outlet and the rotor are selected to promote the formation of a vortex within the chamber when in use the assembly is located in a body of water or beside a body of water, in a waterway or beside a waterway, within an enclosed water conduit or beside an enclosed water conduit, and there is a flow of water through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet.