Abstract:
Detailed is electricity generation for powering devices associated with swimming pools or other structures utilizing recirculating fluid. The recirculating fluid is used to produce electricity for direct or indirect supply to electrical devices. Turbines may be placed in by-pass channels so as to have access to some fluid flow yet not unduly disrupt main flow of the recirculating fluid.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and hereby refers to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/978,174, filed Oct. 8, 2007, entitled “Turbine Generator,” the entire contents of which provisional patent application are incorporated herein by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to methods and systems for generating energy for use in fluid-containing vessels such as swimming pools and more particularly, but not exclusively, for using recirculating water to generate electricity for, directly or indirectly, powering pool-related equipment such as electrical cleaners, chlorinators, monitors, controllers, booster pumps, and similar devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous products for water-containing vessels (such as but not limited to swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs) utilize electrical energy for operation. This electricity conventionally is supplied via residential or commercial electrical mains. U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,650 to Uy, et al., for example, describes a heater for a pool or spa designed to operate using power furnished by electrical mains (and passed through a voltage step-down transformer). Controller systems operable using electrical mains or other power sources are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,138 to Emery, et al., while an exemplary electrically-powered automatic swimming pool cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,554 to Pichon. The entire contents of each of the Uy, Emery, and Pichon patents are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     In some situations, solar power alternatively may be used to generate electricity. U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,291 to Portyrata addresses yet another approach, using a water-powered turbine to power a generator. The generator in turn directly powers a lamp assembly for illuminating portions of a swimming pool. In the system of the Portyrata patent, the lamp assembly is in-line with the flowing water; indeed, the lens housing of the assembly must include an outlet so that water may exit the assembly and return to the swimming pool. A similar in-line, direct-power system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,298 to Bolson, with the exiting water emitted as a “fine decorative spray” or, apparently, in conjunction with fire-suppression sprinklers. See Bolson, col. 4, 11. 30-32; col. 5, 11. 4-7. The entire contents of each of the Portyrata and Bolson patents are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     Omitted from these latter two patents is any contemplation of non-in-line, indirect powering of electrical devices within or associated with fluid-containing vessels. Non-in-line operation, for example, avoids need necessarily to seal any water-sensitive components of the devices from the water flowing therethrough. It also avoids impeding water flow that would occur by forcing the water to exit small or fine openings, as in the lamp assemblies of the Portyrata and Bolson patents. Providing indirect powering permits systems to store electrical energy in batteries or similar storage units for later use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides versions of a turbine-driven generator distinct from any electrically-powered device, hence averting any need for water to flow directly through such a device. Other versions of the invention alternatively may create a by-pass channel of the fluid flow for purposes of generating electricity. Versions of the invention further may be connected electrically to storage batteries, capacitors, or other electrical storage mechanisms for purposes of storing electricity for later use. They thus need not directly power pool or other equipment but rather may do so indirectly. 
     One embodiment of the invention incorporates a turbine into a by-pass channel for powering a salt-water chlorinator (SWC) for a swimming pool. While main water flow remains through the SWC, a portion of the incoming flow is diverted to the turbine. Electricity generated using the turbine and an associated generator may be used to operate the SWC. This embodiment conveniently may be housed within a single structure if desired. 
     Embodiments of the invention additionally may be controlled locally or remotely by, for example, the Jandy AquaLink or Polaris EOS controllers. Such controllers could initiate valving or other action designed to close the by-pass channel, for example, or select to which devices the generated electricity will be routed. Alternatively or additionally, a controller may cause electricity generation to cease even though water is flowing past the turbine. 
     It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide methods and systems for generating energy utilizing flowing fluid. 
     It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide methods and systems for generating electricity using water recirculating in connection with a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. 
     It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide methods and systems for generating electricity and supplying it indirectly to electrical devices, thereby avoiding any need for recirculating water to flow through the electrical devices themselves. 
     It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide methods and systems for generating electricity using turbines placed in by-pass flow channels. 
     It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide methods and systems for generating electricity for storage in batteries or other equipment for later use. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the appropriate fields with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an SWC incorporating aspects of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the SWC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional, partially schematicized view of the SWC of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is exemplary device  10  incorporating aspects of the present invention. Device  10  may include an SWC—as shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 —or some other electrically-powered equipment. Alternatively, device  10  may be or include a battery or similar object used to store electricity for subsequent use. Yet alternatively, device  10  may comprise solely an electricity-generating mechanism. 
     As depicted, however, device  10  includes housing  14 , SWC  18 , and electricity-generating mechanism  22 . Housing  14  may comprise fluid inlet  26  and fluid outlet  30 , each of which is configured for connection to hoses or pipes  32 A-B typically employed in swimming pool installations. Interposed between inlet  26  and outlet  30  is main body  34  defining main fluid flow path  38 . Housing  14  additionally may comprise by-pass inlet section  42  and by-pass outlet section  46  forming part of secondary flow path  50 . 
     SWC  18  may be any suitable chlorinator. One possible chlorinator for SWC  18  is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,964 to Middleby, whose contents are incorporated herein by this reference. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other chlorinators may be used instead, however. 
     Electrical power for SWC  18  may be supplied by electricity-generating mechanism  22 . Disposed in secondary flow path  50 , mechanism  22  may include turbine  54  and generator  58 . Turbine  54  preferably is a crossflow impulse or reaction device, although other turbines may be utilized as alternatives. Turbine  54  includes hub  62  from which multiple blades  66  extend generally radially. A central opening  70  in hub  62  receives shaft  74  of generator  58  so as to connect the two components. Separating turbine  54  and generator  58  may be water-impermeable wall  78  of housing  14 , reducing risk of water flowing within path  50  from contacting the generator  58 . Like hub  62 , wall  78  may include a central opening through which shaft  74  may pass. 
     Pressurized water flowing through pipe  32 A enters housing  14  via inlet  26 . Most of the flowing water thence enters main body  34 , interacts with SWC  18 , and exits housing  14  via outlet  30  for return to pipe  32 B of the recirculation system. Part of the pressurized water, however, is diverted to inlet section  42 . 
     Inlet section  42  may include nozzle  82  designed to focus diverted water flow onto blades  66 , thereby rotating turbine  54 . Rotation of turbine  54  in turn rotates shaft  74 , which movement is used by generator  58  to create electricity. The created electricity may then be used to operate SWC  18  (as shown schematically in  FIG. 3 ); alternatively, as noted above, the electricity may be stored in one or more batteries or similar devices or used to power other equipment or components. After impinging on blades  66 , water continues in outlet section  46  of flow path  50  before rejoining main flow path  38  at outlet  30 . 
     Alternate embodiments of device  10  may incorporate (at least) turbine  54  of mechanism  22  into main flow path  38 , omitting either or both of SWC  18  and secondary flow path  50 . In these embodiments, electricity generated by mechanism  22  would be transferred for use by one or more devices distinct from housing  14 . Such devices could be battery or electrically-powered equipment such as (but not limited to) automatic or in-floor pool cleaners, pool heaters, controllers, chemical dispensers or monitors, lights, water features, valves, timers, pool covers, service indicators, or water chemistry or temperature indicators. Other alternate embodiments of device  10  simply may incorporate some or all of one or more of these devices into housing  14  in place of SWC  18 , retaining mechanism  22  in secondary flow path  50 . Yet additional versions of device  10  may include valves or other means for closing secondary flow path  50  as, for example, when signaled by a controller. 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.