Patent Publication Number: US-2023147022-A1

Title: Apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/276,832 filed Nov. 8, 2021, under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 363, 365, and 37 C.F.R. § 1.55 and § 1.78, which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for generating electricity from water and, more especially, this invention relates to an apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus is known which is for generating electricity from water flowing in a river. The known apparatus comprises a stator and a rotor which is rotatable with respect to the rotor. The rotor comprises rotor blades. The water flowing in the river encounters the rotor blades and causes the rotor to turn with respect to the stator and thereby generate the electricity. A major problem with using rivers as the power source to rotate the rotor is that the rivers contain debris which is carried along with the waterflow. The debris is in the form of objects of all types and sizes. Thus, for example, the debris may vary from a small size such for example as twigs and leaves, to a much larger size such for example as entire trees, roofs, furniture and oil drums. When the debris encounters the apparatus for generating the electricity, the debris may become tangled in the apparatus and thereby cause damage and/or reduced electrical power production. 
     The problem with the debris is well known. Attempts at debris management have concentrated on two main approaches. The first approach involves using a diversion structure to divert the debris. The second approach involves routine debris removal. Both of these approaches cause their own problems. More specifically, with the first approach, a diversion structure may be placed in front of the apparatus for generating the electricity and this may divert debris for a time. However, inevitably, the debris will accumulate on the diversion structure and will create a dam. The creation of the dam will reduce water flow into the apparatus and thereby reduce power production from the apparatus. In order to avoid this problem, the diversion structure must be routinely cleaned. If it is not routinely cleaned, then the debris may accumulate to the point that the diversion structure fails, resulting in a catastrophic impact of the failed structure on the apparatus for generating the electricity. With the second approach, routine debris removal of debris on the actual apparatus for generating electricity is time consuming and often difficult to do. 
     A further problem with the use of the known apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river is that the known apparatus typically has a large number of moving parts. These moving parts may become fouled or damaged and thereby stop or reduce electrical power production. Most known apparatus for generating electricity is deployed such that the apparatus is maintained above the water surface in order to eliminate the need for water type seals, and also to eliminate corrosion and leaks into the rotor coils of the electrical generating apparatus. The maintenance of the apparatus above the water surface requires a floating linkage between submerged rotor blades and the remainder of the apparatus, with the floating linkage passing through the air-water interface. It is at this air-water interface that floating debris becomes concentrated and is likely to build up on the floating linkage. Furthermore, the floating linkage typically requires a large floating structure, for example a barge, to support the rotors below the water and the remainder of the apparatus above the water. The floating structure must be moored to the shore or to anchors positioned upstream in order to maintain the floating structure in position against the flow of water in the river. The required mooring lines also act as catchment devices for debris in the flowing river. 
     Almost all known types of apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river have rotors having a rotational axis which is parallel to the direction of water flow. Thus, rotor blades on the rotor have faces which are directly into the flow of water in order to maximize capture area. One type of such known apparatus is an axial turbine which has propeller-type blades that face directly into the waterflow. These propeller-type blades are easily impacted by debris and thereby easily become damaged or jammed. Another type of such known apparatus is a horizontal axis turbine which comprises horizonal blades that span between two end supports with bearings and which rotates in the waterflow. The blades in these horizontal axis turbines are typically attached to a surface generator by a chain or belt drive that must pass from the water to the surface, and thus directly through the highest debris zone. Both of these known types of apparatus have experienced failures in river flows from debris, and they have thus not achieved permanent installation status. 
     Existing apparatus for generating electricity and designed for river use is typically rigidly fixed to some support structure, for example moored to a barge, fixed to a piling, or fixed to a section of a bridge foundation. Rigid mountings to the support structures require that the apparatus transfers debris impact energy to the support structures. This may impart very large loads to rotor blades and other parts of the apparatus and to supports and chains, with there being no force dissipation except for mechanical failure. Thus, the apparatus as installed must be able to absorb the brunt of impact and still be able to function, or in most cases simply survive until repairs can be made. Since a river flows constantly, the need for access to the known apparatus for repair purposes poses serious dangers for repair crews, who must often work from small craft in close proximity to the apparatus, or in close proximity to entangled debris. The repair crews may experience high waterflows and the possibility of additional debris whilst working to dislodge trapped debris. 
     In addition, when the apparatus for generating electricity is placed into a river and is secured to the shore, especially when the securing is effected with cables or ropes, the combination of drag and lift on the mooring cable or cables tends to pull the apparatus towards the shore and in line with the mooring cable. It then becomes necessary to either put an anchor directly upstream from the apparatus in the center of the river, or to moor the apparatus with two or more cables going to each shore on either side of the river, and balancing the apparatus near the center. The objective is to keep drag forces directly in line with the direction of flow in the river in order to balance the drag forces. This may be complicated by varying river flow speeds and/or by eddies in the river that tend to move the point of maximum flow from side to side, or to meander across the center line of the river. Furthermore, it is expensive and/or difficult to install large anchors in a fast flowing remote river without large equipment, or to span a river with mooring lines and maintain proper cable lengths. There is furthermore a problem with the electrical power cable that takes the generated electricity and how to run this cable back to shore so that the generated electricity may be utilized. 
     The above problems associated with generating electricity from water flowing in a river have resulted in river-based hydropower apparatus being less advanced than apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in oceans or from tidal water, where debris loads are typically much less. 
     It is an aim of the present invention to avoid or reduce the above-mentioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river, which apparatus comprises:
         (i) a stator;   (ii) a rotor which is rotatable with respect to the stator in order to generate the electricity,   and wherein:   (iii) the rotor rotates about an axis which extends in a direction transversely across the rotor from a first side to a second side of the rotor;   (iv) the rotor comprises a plurality of rotor blades which extend from at least one of the first and second sides of the rotor;   (v) the rotor blades are such that each rotor blade has an inner end which is adjacent the side of the rotor from which the rotor blade extends, and an outer end remote from the inner end;   (vi) the inner end of the rotor blade is movably mounted with respect to the rotor such that the rotor blade is movable between a first position and second position;   (vii) the first position is one in which the rotor blade extends away from the side of the rotor for being engaged by the water such as to cause the rotor to rotate to generate the electricity;   (viii) the second position is one in which the rotor blade extends closer to the side of the rotor than when the rotor blade is in the first position;   (ix) the second position is one in which debris which is in the water flowing in the river and which has become impacted against the rotor blade is able to be freed from the rotor blade by the water flowing in the river; and   (x) the rotor blade is movable from the first position to the second position to free the rotor blade from the debris, and the rotor blade is movable from the second position to the first position to enable the rotor blade to resume the first position for generating the electricity.       

     The apparatus of the present invention is thus advantageous in that it is able to avoid or reduce the above problems caused by debris flowing in the river. The pivoting of the rotor blades about their inner end from the first position to the second position enables debris impacted against the rotor blades to be removed by the water flowing in the river. This provides an easy and convenient way of removing the debris. Once the debris is removed, the rotor blades are able to be moved from the second position back to the first position whereby the rotor blades are then positioned for maximum electricity production from the apparatus. 
     The apparatus is preferably one in which the rotor blade is movable between the first position and the second position by being pivotable. The rotor blades may however be movable between the first and second positions by being movable in other ways than pivotable. 
     Preferably, the first position is such that the rotor blade extends parallel to the axis of rotation. In this position, the rotor blades are able to extend at 90° from the side of the rotor. If desired however the rotor blades may extend at angles which are more than or less than 90°. 
     The apparatus of the present invention may include first biasing means for biasing the rotor blade permanently to the first position, and in which the first biasing means is such that it is configured to allow the rotor blade to move from the first position to the second position consequent upon a force on the rotor blade generated by the water flowing in the river and the debris impacted on the rotor blade exceeding a predetermined maximum value. On the predetermined maximum value being exceeded, the apparatus may be configured such that the rotor blade moves from the first position to the second position automatically. Alternatively, the apparatus may be configured such that the rotor blade is able to be moved manually or mechanically by external means. Thus, the movement may be automatic movement or movement due to the application of mover means. 
     The first biasing means is preferably a spring biasing means. Other types of biasing means may be employed. When the biasing means is a spring biasing means, then one or more springs may be employed. The spring may be coil springs or other types of springs. 
     The apparatus may include second biasing means for biasing the rotor blade from the second position to the first position after the rotor blade has moved from the first position to the second position in order to remove the impacted debris. 
     Preferably, the second biasing means is a spring biasing means. Other types of second biasing means may be employed. When the second biasing means is a spring biasing means, then the spring biasing means may be one or more springs. T e springs may be coil springs or other types of spring. Typically, the first biasing means will exert a stronger biasing force than the second biasing means. This is to ensure that the blades extend in their desired position for giving maximum electricity production for as long as possible before impacted debris causes the predetermined maximum value to be exceeded. 
     The apparatus may be one in which the rotor blades extend from one only of the first and second sides of the rotor. Preferably, the rotor blades extend from both the first and second sides of the rotor. With such a preferred configuration, the apparatus is able to have more blades for providing rotation of the rotor. Also, hydrodynamic forces on the apparatus from the flowing water are able to be balanced out by the rotor blades extending from both sides of the rotor. 
     Preferably, the apparatus is one in which the rotor rotates inside the stator. Other configurations may however be employed. 
     The rotor and the stator may conveniently be mounted in a frame. Advantageously, the frame is disc-shaped. The apparatus is then able to be deployed in the river such that the peripheral edges of the disc face the flow of water in the river. Other configurations may be employed. 
     The apparatus may include torque-balancing means for balancing torque on the apparatus caused by the water flowing in the river. The balancing of the torque is to stabilize the apparatus in use. It also helps to minimize strain on component parts of the apparatus. This in turn may give less component wear and/or less component breakages than might otherwise occur. 
     The torque-balancing means may be formed as part of the frame. Other positions for the torque-balancing means may be employed. 
     The torque-balancing means preferably comprises a tail fin. Other configurations for the torque-balancing means may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a first apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a second apparatus for generating electricity from water flowing in a river; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of the apparatus shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is an end view of the apparatus shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  6    shows a first alternative rotor blade configuration to the one shown in FIG.  2 ; 
         FIG.  7    shows a second rotor blade configuration to the one shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8    shows a third alternative rotor configuration to the one shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  9    shows a fourth alternative blade configuration to the one shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  10    shows part of further apparatus of the present invention and illustrates how the rotor may have a rotor blade which is spring biased by first and second biasing means; 
         FIG.  11    is an end view of the rotor blade as shown in  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  12    is a second on the line A-A shown in  FIG.  11   ; 
         FIG.  13    shows a further alternative blade configuration with spring biasing means; 
         FIG.  14    is an end view of the blade configuration shown in  FIG.  13   ; 
         FIG.  15    is a section on the line B-B shown in  FIG.  14   ; 
         FIG.  16    is an end view which is like  FIG.  13    but which does not illustrate the spring biasing means; 
         FIG.  17    is an end view like  FIG.  14    and shows an anchor for one end of the spring biasing means shown in  FIG.  13   ; 
         FIG.  18    is a section on the line C-C shown in  FIG.  17   ; and 
         FIG.  19    is a view like  FIG.  14    and illustrates the range of movement of the rotor blade. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , there is shown apparatus  2  to generating electricity from water  4  flowing in a river  6 . The apparatus  2  comprises a stator  8  and a rotor  10  which is rotatable with respect to the stator  8  in order to generate the electricity. 
     The rotor  10  rotates about an axis  12  which extends in a direction transversely across the rotor  10  from a first side  14  to a second side  16  of the rotor  10 . 
     The rotor  10  comprises a plurality of rotor blades  18 , only one of which is shown in  FIG.  1    for simplicity of illustration. The rotor blades  18  extend from at least one of the first and second sides  14 ,  16  of the rotor  10 . More specifically, the rotor blades  18  extend just from the first side  14  of the rotor  10 . The rotor blades  18  are such that each rotor blade  18  has an inner end  20  which is adjacent the side of the rotor  10  from which the rotor blade  18  extends (i.e., the first side  14 ) and an outer end  22  remote from the inner end  20 . 
     The inner end  20  of the rotor blade  18  is movably mounted with respect to the rotor  10  such that the rotor blade  18  is movable between a first position  24  which is shown at  FIG.  1 ( a )  to a second position  26  which is shown at  FIG.  1 ( d ) . 
     The first position  24  is one in which the rotor blade  18  extends away from the first side  14  of the rotor  10  for being engaged by the water  4  such as to cause the rotor  10  to rotate to generate the electricity. 
     The second position  26  is one in which the rotor blade  18  extends closer to the first side  14  of the rotor  1 O than when the rotor blade  18  is in the first position  24 . As can best be appreciated from the sequence of  FIG.  1 ( a ), ( b ), ( c ) and ( d ) , the second position  26  is one in which debris  28  which is in the water  4  flowing in the river  6  and which has become impacted against the rotor blade  18  is able to be freed from the rotor blade  18  by the water  4  flowing in river  6 . 
     The rotor blade  18  is movable from the first position  24  to the second position  26  to free the rotor blade  18  from the debris  28 . The rotor blade  18  is movable from the second position  26  to the first position  24  to enable the rotor blade  18  to resume the first position  24  for generating the electricity. The movement of the rotor blade  18  from the second position to the first position occurs with a sequence of events extending from  FIG.  1 ( d )-( a ) . 
     The rotor blade  18  is movable between the first position and the second position by being pivotable. The rotor blade  18  may be mounted by other mounting means for enabling the rotor blade  18  to be movable between the first position  24  and the second position  26 . As can best be appreciated from  FIG.  1 ( a ) , the first position  24  is such that the rotor blade  18  extends parallel to the axis of rotation  12 . If desired, the rotor blade  18  may extend in the first position  12  at an angle to the axis  12 . 
     The inner end  20  of the rotor blade  18  is movably mounted with respect to the rotor  10  by mounting means  30 . The mounting means  30  is a pivotable mounting means. 
     The apparatus  2  includes first biasing means  32  for biasing the rotor blade  18  permanently to the first position  24 . The first biasing means  32  is such that it is configured to allow the rotor blade  18  to move from the first position  24  to the second position  26  consequent upon a force on the rotor blade  18  generated by the water  4  flowing in the river  6  and the debris  28  impacted on the rotor blade  18  exceeding a predetermined maximum value. The first biasing means  32  is a spring biasing means but it may be another type of biasing means if desired, for example rubber bands or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. When the first biasing means  32  is a spring biasing means then it may comprise one, two or more springs. The springs are typically coil springs. Referring now to  FIGS.  2 - 5   , there is shown second apparatus  34  for generating electricity from water  4  flowing in a river  6 . Similar parts as in the apparatus  2  have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. 
     In  FIGS.  2 - 5   , the apparatus  32  has been shown with the rotor blades  18  in the first position  24 . The rotor blades  18  are shown as extending from the first side  14  of the rotor  10  and also from the second side  16  of the rotor  10 . 
     In the apparatus  34 , the mounting means  30  is again a pivotable mounting means  30 . The rotor  10  rotates in the stator  8 , as it does in the apparatus  2 . The rotation of the rotor  10  in the stator  8  is best appreciated from  FIGS.  2  and  3   . The stator  8  is disc-shaped and has a relatively narrow width, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS.  2  and  5   . 
     The stator  8  and the rotor  10  are mounted in a frame  36 . 
     The apparatus  34  includes torque-balancing means  38  for balancing torque on the apparatus  34  caused by the water  4  flowing in the river  6 . The torque-balancing means  38  is formed as part of the frame  36 . The torque-balancing means  38  comprises a tail fin  40 , control ailerons  42  and ballast weights (not shown}. The apparatus  34  also comprises a portion  44 . 
       FIG.  6    shows a rotor blade  46  having curved blade elements  48 ,  50  mounted on a shaft  52 . The rotor blade  46  Is of a Savonius shape. 
       FIG.  7    shows a rotor blade  54  having curved blade elements  56 ,  58  mounted on a shaft  60 . The rotor blade  54  is of a Darrieus rotor blade shape. 
       FIG.  8    shows a rotor blade  62  having three flat blades  64 ,  66 ,  68  mounted on a shaft  70 . The rotor blade  62  is of an H-Darrieus shape. 
       FIG.  9    shows a rotor blade  72  having three helix-shaped blades  74 ,  76 ,  78  which are mounted on a shaft  80  via mounting struts  82 . The rotor blade  72  is of a helix shape. 
       FIGS.  10 - 12    show a rotor blade  84  having a base  86 . The rotor blade  84  has an inner end  20  and an outer end  22 . Inside the rotor blade  84  is mounted first biasing means  32  in the form of first spring biasing means  32  having a coil spring  88  located between an anchor pin  90  and an anchor cable  92 . 
     The rotor blade  84  is also provided with second biasing means  94  for biasing the rotor blade  84  from the second position  26  to the first position  24  after the rotor blade  84  has moved from the first position  24  to the second position  26  in order to remove the impacted debris. The second biasing means  94  is a second spring biasing means  94  comprising a coil spring  96  which is anchored at one end to an anchor pin  98  and which is anchored at the other end to an anchor cable  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  13 - 18   , there is shown a rotor blade  102  which is like the rotor blade  84 . Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In the rotor blade  102 , there is only one biasing means which may be regarded as being the first biasing means  32 . This biasing means  32  acts as both the first biasing means  32  and the second biasing means  94  in the rotor blade  84 . 
       FIG.  19    illustrates how the rotor blade  102  is able to pivot about its mounting means  30  over an angle of 45° to either side of the first position  24  pivotal movement will only be required in the direction of flow of the water  4  in the river  6 . Making the pivotable mounting means  30  such that the rotor blade  102  can pivot in either direction, enables the rotor blade  102  to be easily and appropriately mounted on any chosen side  14 ,  16  of the apparatus of the invention. Pivoting occurs about two pivot pins  104 ,  106 . 
     The connection of the coil springs to the cables in the apparatus  84 ,  102  is advantageous in that the cables are easily able to be bent around surface configurations which would not allow the coil springs similarly to be bent. 
     It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the stator, the rotor, the rotor blades, the mounting means and the torque-balancing means may be of different constructions to those shown. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned and/or shown above, taken singly or in any combination. 
     The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives. 
     Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. 
     In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant cannot be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended. 
     Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims. 
     What is claimed is: