Abstract:
The present invention relates to a centripetally acting type of water turbine which uses low-head and low-speed water flow and which comprises a rotational force generating device having an inner and an outer centripetal canister rotatably supported by means of a stand and a securing shaft either vertically or to left and right in a straight line, and having a plurality of blades fixedly joined in a radiating fashion between the inner and outer centripetal canisters, and in which the combined shape of the inner and outer centripetal canisters and neighboring individual blades is constituted as a lower surface which inclines such that water or steam flows at an incline downwardly and, as it does so, the rotational radius progressively reduces.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a centripetally acting type water turbine which uses low-head and low-speed water flow, and more particularly to a centripetally acting type water turbine which is configured to improve a gravity effect for a water turbine rotated while using a hydraulic pressure and rotational inertia of water. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a water turbine for low-head uses a well-known water turbine, such as a waterwheel type water turbine. However, such a well-known water turbine has a limit in that its efficiency is low. 
     In addition, the water turbine has a configuration similar to that of a conventional centrifugal pump. The conventional centrifugal pump has a feature to be discussed below. 
     Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0381466-000 (Apr. 10, 2003) discloses a centrifugal or mixed flow turbo machine, which improves a blade angle to maximize the discharge pressure of a pump by a rotational force. However, there is a problem in that the improvement of blade angle is applicable only to a centrifugal pump but not applicable to a water turbine. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the present invention is to make it possible to rotationally operate a centripetally acting type water turbine continuously by using a hydraulic pressure and rotational inertia of water supplied from a waterway. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain a desired rotational force at a desired place by rotating a rotationally operating blade, an inner centripetal canister and an outer centripetal canister individually or in unison. 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to solve the technical problem, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotational force generating device including: inner and outer centripetal canisters that are rotatably supported by means of a stand and a fixed shaft vertically or horizontally on a straight line; and a plurality of blades that are fixed radially between the inner and outer centripetal canisters. The combined shape of the inner and outer centripetal canisters and each pair of the adjacent blades provides a lower slope which makes water or steam flow downward inclinedly such that the rotational radius of the water or steam is gradually reduced. Accordingly, the inner and outer centripetal canisters enclosing the blades are rotated using the fixed shaft as a rotation support shaft by the impact of a medium, which includes water or steam, falling from a medium falling mechanism positioned above the rotary frames. Consequently, torques are induced by the lengths of the radius of rotation extending through the top side of the blades and the radius of rotation extending through the bottom side of the blades. As a result, the inner and outer centripetal canisters can be made to be continuously rotated due to the difference of torques, which is caused by the variation of the radius of rotation of the medium for power transmission caused by the change of velocity of the medium due to the rotation of the medium and the falling of the medium. As such, the inner and outer centripetal canisters are made to be rotated. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centripetally acting type water turbine using the above-mentioned rotational force generating device and configured to be rotationally operated by using water supplied from a waterway. The water turbine includes: a hollow fixing unit in which a fixed shaft is fixedly vertically to a fixed plate fixed to an installation place; a lateral-pressure bearing that is fitted on the lower part of the fixed shaft of the fixing unit; a lower rotary frame that is mounted on the lower part of the fixed shaft to partially enclose the upper part of the lateral-pressure bearing, the lower rotary frame being provided with one or more bearings for rotational operation within the inside thereof, and being formed with a plurality of discharge holes in the top side thereof at a predetermined interval to be capable of discharging inflow water to a water drainage channel; an upper rotary frame that is mounted on the upper part of the fixed shaft to be spaced from the lower rotary frame, the upper rotary frame being provided with a plurality of bearings for rotational operation; a cylindrical external centripetal canister that is mounted on the lower rotary frame, the lower part of the external centripetal canister being formed with a slope such that water can easily flow into the lower rotary frame, and a plurality of discharge passages being formed around the lower end; a cylindrical internal centripetal canister fixed to the outer periphery of an upper cover mounted on the bottom side of the upper rotary frame; and a plurality of blades that are mounted radially between the outer centripetal canister and inner centripetal canisters. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     In accordance with the present invention, a centripetally acting type water turbine can be continuously rotated using the hydraulic pressure and rotational inertia of water supplied from a waterway. Furthermore, the head of water, which is the potential energy of the water, can be entirely converted into a rotational force. As a result, the efficiency of the centripetally acting type water turbine can be improved. 
     In addition, the blades, the inner centripetal canister, and the outer centripetal canister, which are rotationally operated, can be rotated either individually or in unison. As such, it is possible to obtain a desired rotational force at a desired place. 
     Furthermore, it is possible to increase the kinetic energy of water while increasing the rotational force through a space formed between each pair of adjacent blades. 
     Moreover, by improving the operating characteristics of a water turbine in electric generation using a low flow velocity, the present invention allows the kinetic energy of water to be fully utilized as well as enables small hydro electric generation to be used in an area where water flows variously, thereby making it possible to complete a centripetally acting type water turbine for micro hydro electric generation that can contribute to the generation of environment-friendly energy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a half-sectioned perspective view illustrating a rotational force generating device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the rotational force generating device exemplified in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a centripetally acting type water turbine employing the inventive rotational force generating device; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating partially in cross-section the internal construction of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the blades of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine; and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the blades of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Now, the construction of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a half-sectioned perspective view illustrating a rotational force generating device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a front view of the rotational force generating device exemplified in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a centripetally acting type water turbine employing the inventive rotational force generating device. In addition,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating partially in cross-section the internal construction of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine,  FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the blades of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine, and  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the blades of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a rotational force generating device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an inner centripetal canister  80  and an outer centripetal canister  70  that are rotatably supported by means of a stand and a fixed shaft  22  vertically or horizontally on a straight line; and a plurality of blades  90  that are fixedly joined radially between the inner centripetal canister  80  and outer centripetal canister  70 . The combined shape of the inner and outer centripetal canisters  80  and  70  and each pair of the adjacent individual blades  90  provides a lower slope which makes water or steam flow downward inclinedly such that the rotational radius of the water or steam is gradually reduced. Accordingly, the inner and outer centripetal canisters  80  and  70  enclosing the blades  90  are rotated using the fixed shaft  22  as a rotation support shaft by the impact of a medium, which includes water or steam, falling from a medium falling mechanism positioned above the rotary frames. Consequently, torques are induced by the lengths of the radius of rotation extending through the top side of the blades  90  and the radius of rotation extending through the bottom side of the blades  90 . As a result, the inner and outer centripetal canisters can be made to be continuously rotated due to the difference of torques, which is caused by the variation of the radius of rotation of the medium for power transmission caused by the change of velocity of the medium due to the rotation of the medium and the falling of the medium. As such, the inner and outer centripetal canisters  80  and  70  are made to be rotated. 
     That is, the rotational moving velocity of the medium at the top outer periphery of the funnel-shaped outer centripetal canister configured as the falling flow space of the medium as described above is relatively reduced as the medium descends to the discharge port side since the circumference is reduced as approaching downward to the discharge port side in the water turbine with the same number of revolution. Due to the difference in energy caused at this time by the difference between the inflow velocity and the outflow velocity of the medium, a power is transmitted to the water turbine. Like this, since the force, which is produced due to the difference in rotational moving velocity in the funnel-shaped outer centripetal canister, is applied to a lateral wall of each of the blades, the rotational power can be produced and maintained. 
     In addition, the outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80  are formed to be higher than the height of the blades  90  to form a space S therebetween, and each of the blades ( 90 ) is provided with a protrusion ( 91 ) at the top thereof which extends upward into the inside of the space (S). 
     Furthermore, the rotational force generating device is employed in the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine  10 . The centripetally acting type water turbine  10  may include: a fixing unit  20  fixedly mounted at an installation place; a lateral-pressure bearing  30  fitted on a fixed shaft  22  of the fixing unit  20 ; a lower rotary frame  40  mounted on the lower part of the fixed shaft  22 ; an upper rotary frame  50  mounted on the fixed shaft  22  to be spaced from the lower rotary frame  40  mounted on the fixed shaft  22 ; an inner centripetal canister  80  fastened to the outer periphery of an upper cover  81  mounted on the upper rotary frame  50 ; and a plurality of blades  90  radially mounted between the outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80 . 
     The fixing unit  20  is constituted with a fixed plate  21  fixed to an installation place, and a fixed shaft  22  fixedly mounted in the vertical direction on the fixed plate  21 . 
     That is, the fixing unit  20  is fixedly installed on the fixed plate  21  using fastening members  130 , such as for example, bolts, nuts, anchor bolts and rivets, and then the fixed shaft  22  is fixed vertically to the top side of the fixed plate  21  by welding or using the fastening members  130 . 
     The lateral-pressure bearing  30  fitted on the lower part of the fixed shaft  22  of the fixing unit  20  is provided so as to allow the lower rotary frame  40  mounted on the top of the lateral-pressure bearing  30  to be smoothly rotated as well as to prevent the lower rotary frame  40  from coming into contact with the fixed plate  21 . 
     The lower rotary frame  40  mounted on the fixed shaft  22  is fastened to the lower part of the fixed shaft  22  to partially enclose the upper part of the lateral-pressure bearing  30 . In the inside of the lower rotary frame  40 , a plurality of bearings  41  for rotational operation are mounted, and in the upper part of the lower rotary frame  40 , a plurality of discharge holes  42  for discharging inflow water to a water drainage channel  60  are formed. 
     That is, the lower rotary frame  40  is fitted on the fixed shaft  22  to be seated on the upper part of the lateral-pressure bearing  30  such that the lower rotary frame  40  can be rotated through the bearings  41  to transmit the water, which flows into the upper part of the lower rotary frame  40 , to the water drainage channel  60  using the discharge holes  42 . 
     At this time, it is efficient that the water drainage channel  60  is inclinedly mounted such that the water supplied to the water drainage channel  60  can be smoothly discharged. 
     Within the inside of the upper rotary frame  50  mounted on the fixed shaft  22  to be spaced from the lower rotary frame  40  mounted on the fixed shaft  22 , bearings  51  for rotational operation are mounted. On the bottom side of the upper rotary frame  50 , a horizontal or inclined upper cover  81  is provided to be smoothly coupled with the inner centripetal canister  80 . 
     The outer centripetal canister  70  mounted on the top of the lower rotary frame  40  is formed such that the upper part of the outer centripetal canister  70  has a cylindrical shape, and the lower part of the outer centripetal canister  70  has a funnel shape formed with a slope  71 . In addition, the bottom end of the slope  71  is formed with a discharge passage  72  such that the water can be discharged. 
     That is, the outer centripetal canister  70  is configured to receive water inflowing through the waterway  100  and to discharge the water to the bottom discharge passage  72  through the slope  71  formed by the lower part of the outer centripetal canister  70  such that the water can be discharged. 
     At this time, the outer centripetal canister  70  is formed to have a height equal to or higher than the height of the inner centripetal canister  80 . 
     The inner centripetal canister  80  coupled to the upper cover  81  mounted on the bottom side of the upper rotary frame  50  is formed in a cylindrical shape. At this time, it shall be noted that the upper cover  81  may be formed in a horizontal plane shape or a funnel shape. 
     That is, the inner centripetal canister  80  is formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the outer centripetal canister  70  such that a space S is formed between the inner and outer centripetal canisters  80  and  70 . Consequently, the water supplied through the waterway  100  is transmitted through the space S. 
     At this time, it shall be noted that the inner centripetal canister  80  may be formed to have a height to be equal to or lower than that of the outer centripetal canister  70 , and may be formed to provide an inclined outer periphery in relation to the space S. 
     The blades  90  radially mounted between the outer centripetal canister  80  and the inner centripetal canister  70  are arranged such that the top and bottom of the blades  90  are coupled to the bottom side of the upper cover  81  and the slope  71  of the outer centripetal canister  70 , respectively. 
     In addition, each of the blades  90  may be formed in a linear shape, but may be formed in a curved shape when shown in a plan view as illustrated in  FIG. 5  such that the blades  90  can minimize the resistance against the water supplied through the waterway  100 , and can be smoothly rotated. 
     Furthermore, it shall be noted that the upper rotary frame  50 , the outer centripetal canister  70 , the inner centripetal canister  80 , the upper cover  81  and the blades  90  may be formed integrally with each other so as to reduce the number of components, to assure the smooth rotational operation, and to minimize load. 
     The outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80  may be formed to have a height higher than that of the blades  90  so as to receive the water supplied through the waterway  100  and smoothly supply the water to the space S 1  formed between the adjacent blades  90 . 
     At this time, each of the blades  90  is formed with a protrusion  91  protruding by a predetermined extent into the space S formed between the outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80 . 
     The centripetally acting type water turbine  10  may be configured as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . That is, the fixed shaft  22  is fixedly mounted on the fixed plate  21 , and the upper rotary frame  50 , the outer centripetal canister  70 , the inner centripetal canister  80  and the blades  90  are formed integrally with each other and mounted on the fixed shaft  22  through the bearings  41  and the bearings  51  to be rotatable. Above the fixed shaft  22 , there may be provided a power transmission mechanism  140  such that the upper rotary frame  50  extends to be rotatably coupled with the power transmission mechanism  140  to be rotationally operated by the power transmission mechanism  140 . 
     Here, the power transmission mechanism  140  includes: an electric generator  141 ; a gear box  142  that is constituted with a plurality of gears and linked to the electric generator  141  through a belt or chain such that a rotational power is transmitted to the electric generator  141 ; a rotary shaft  143  that cooperates with the gear box  142  via the belt or chain; and bevel gears  144  mounted on the rotary shaft  143  and the extension shaft of the upper rotary frame  50  respectively to be rotationally operated. 
     More specifically, in a construction in which a support shaft extending from the upper rotary frame  50  of the centripetally acting type water turbine  10  through a table  150  is rotatably coupled to the fixed shaft  22  fixed to the fixed plate  21 , the rotational force generating device further includes a power transmission mechanism  140 , in which the power transmission mechanism  140  is provided with a rotary shaft  143  operated through a bevel gear  144 , a gear box  142  linked to the rotary shaft  143  through a belt or a chain, and an electric generator  141  configured to receive power from the gear box  142  to produce electric energy. 
     At this time, the waterway  100  may be efficiently fixed by providing a table  150  in the outside of the centripetally acting type water turbine  10 , and fastening the waterway  100  to the table  150  using the fastening members  130 , such as U-shaped bolts and nuts. 
     Next, another exemplary embodiment of the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine illustrated in  FIG. 7  will be briefly described. 
     The water turbine  10  is a centripetally acting type water turbine configured to be rotationally operated by using water supplied from a waterway  100 . The water turbine  10  includes: a hollow fixing unit  20  in which a fixed shaft  22  is fixedly vertically to a fixed plate  21  fixed to an installation place; a lateral-pressure bearing  30  that is fitted on the lower part of the fixed shaft  22  of the fixing unit  20 ; a lower rotary frame  40  that is mounted on the lower part of the fixed shaft  22  to partially enclose the upper part of the lateral-pressure bearing  30 , the lower rotary frame  40  being provided with one or more bearings  41  for rotational operation within the inside thereof, and being formed with a plurality of discharge holes  42  in the top side thereof at a predetermined interval to be capable of discharging inflow water to a water drainage channel  60 ; an upper rotary frame  50  that is mounted on the upper part of the fixed shaft  22  to be spaced from the lower rotary frame  40 , the upper rotary frame  50  being provided with a plurality of bearings  51  for rotational operation; a cylindrical external centripetal canister  70  that is mounted on the lower rotary frame  40 , the lower part of the external centripetal canister  70  being formed with a slope  71  such that water can easily flow into the bottom rotary frame  40 , and a plurality of discharge passages  72  being formed around the lower end; a cylindrical internal centripetal canister  80  with an upper cover  81  mounted on the bottom side of the upper rotary frame  50 ; a plurality of blades  90  that are mounted radially between the outer centripetal canister  70  and inner centripetal canisters  80 ; a water supply unit  110  that is configured to regulate, through a connection passage  111 , the water supplied from the waterway  100 , and then to supply the water, which is transmitted to the connection passage  111 , to the inside of the fixed shaft  22  through a communication tubing  112  connected to the fixed shaft  22 ; and one or more branch pipes  120  that are mounted on the upper part of the fixed shaft  22  and configured to supply the water, which is transmitted thereto through the fixed shaft  22 , to a space S formed between the outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80 . 
     That is, the centripetally acting type water turbine  10  is configured such that the fixed shaft  22  of the fixing unit  20  is formed in a hollow shape, and the water supply unit  110  and the branch pipes  120  are mounted on the bottom and top of the fixed shaft  22 , respectively, so as to rotationally operate the centripetally acting type water turbine  10 . 
     Next, the exemplary embodiment of the centripetally acting type water turbine configured as described above will be described. 
     At first, the fixed plate  21  is fixedly mounted at an installation place using the fastening members  130 , and then the fixed shaft  22  is fixedly mounted on the fixed plate  21  vertically, thereby constituting the fixing unit  20 . Thereafter, the lateral-pressure bearing  30  is fitted on the lower part of the fixed shaft  22  constituting the fixing unit  20 . 
     Then, the lower rotary frame  40  is mounted on the lower part of the fixed shaft  22  to partially enclose the upper part of the lateral-pressure bearing  30 . In the inside of the lower rotary frame  40 , the bearings  41  for rotational operation are mounted, and the discharge holes  42  are formed in the upper part of the lower rotary frame  40  at a regular interval such that the inflow water can be discharged to the water drainage channel  60 . 
     At this time, the water drainage channel  60  is mounted to be inclined such that the water transmitted through the discharge holes  42  can be smoothly discharged to the outside. 
     Next, the discharge holes  42  are formed in the upper part of the lower rotary frame  40  such that water can be readily discharged to the outside of the lower rotary frame  40 , then the cylindrical outer centripetal canister  70 , which is formed with a slope  71  at the bottom thereof, is mounted, and then the blades  90  are radially mounted in the outer centripetal canister  70  in such a manner that the blades  90  are spaced from each other. 
     Then, the cylindrical inner centripetal canister  80  coupled with the upper cover  81  is mounted above the blades  90 , and then the upper rotary frame  50  is mounted in the inside of the inner centripetal canister  80  from the top side of the inner centripetal canister  80 , in which the bearings  51  for rotational operation are mounted in the upper rotary frame  50 . 
     At this time, the inner centripetal canister  80  is formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the outer centripetal canister  70 . 
     Next, the waterway  100  is mounted at a side of the inner centripetal canister  80  and the outer centripetal canister  70  such that water can be supplied to the spaces between the blades  90 . As such, the assembly of the centripetally acting type water turbine  10  is completed. 
     Here, it shall be noted that the sequence of assembly of the centripetally acting type water turbine may be different from that described above. 
     Next, the operating conditions of the centripetally acting type water turbine  10  will be discussed. 
     At first, water is supplied to the space S formed between the outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80  through the waterway  100 . 
     Then, the water flowing through the space S is received in the spaces S 1  formed between each pair of the adjacent blades  90 , thereby rotating the blades  90  in the direction of progress of the water. 
     That is, the hydraulic pressure of the water supplied to the waterway  100  acts on the blades  90 , thereby rotating the blades  90 . 
     Next, the water falling down after impacting the blades  90  moves downward along the slope  71  formed in the lower part of the outer centripetal canister  70 , and hence rotates with a gradually reduced radius of rotation. Then, the water escaping the slope  71  is transmitted to the water drainage channel  60 , and then discharged to the outside through the water drainage channel  60 . 
     The water supplied through the waterway  100  as described above is capable of continuously rotating the blades  90 , the outer centripetal canister  70  and the inner centripetal canister  80  by using the hydraulic pressure and rotational inertial thereof. 
     Although the inventive centripetally acting type water turbine has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings mainly with specific shapes and directions, it will be appreciated by a person having an ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made from the present invention. Therefore, such modifications and changes shall be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.