Patent Publication Number: US-2022228549-A1

Title: Mutually supporting hydropower systems

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Technical Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is generally related to power generation, and more particular to hydropower systems mutually supporting each other. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     After three industrial revolutions since 1795, human has accumulated significant harm to earth&#39;s environment. Greenhouse effect caused by carbon emission, as detailed by former U.S. Vice President Gore in the documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth,” is producing immediate impact to people around the globe and many developed countries vow to switch to renewable energy sources. 
     Conventional electricity generation is achieved mainly through thermal power, hydropower, burning natural gas, wind power, and nuclear power. Among the renewable energy sources, large solar farm would affect ecosystem, and wind power is intermittent and unstable. Hydropower, in contrast, is the most stable and applicable one. 
     Conventional hydropower requires the construction of dams and large substations, leading to significant cost. Hydropower may also be influenced by drought seasons. On the other hand, seawater seems to be a more abundant and stable source that is not well utilized for power generation yet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A major objective of the present invention is to provide hydropower systems driven by seawater, thereby avoiding the construction huge dams, that are capable of mutually supporting each other. 
     The mutually supporting hydropower systems include a first hydropower system, a second hydropower system, and a third hydropower system. 
     The first hydropower system includes: 
     a first inlet channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, where the first inlet channel extends from the first inlet towards the first outlet at a preset downward angle, the first inlet channel undergoes a  180 -degree turn before connection to a first hydropower module for increasing the impact from seawater, and a number of first waterwheels are disposed at intervals between the first inlet and the first outlet along the first inlet channel; 
     a first hydropower module disposed underground for an appropriate depth including a second inlet, a second outlet and a hydropower unit, where the second inlet is connected to the first outlet; and 
     a number of first outlet channels, each including a first descending section, at least a first ascending section, at least a second descending section, at least a second ascending section and a third ascending section, where the first descending section has an end connected to the second outlet and another end connected to the first ascending section, there are same number of second descending sections and second ascending sections and they are end-to-end connected into an upward extending step-like structure, each second descending section descends for a vertical distance smaller than a vertical distance that a connected second ascending section ascends, a last second ascending section has an end connected to the third ascending section which has an outlet for discharging seawater, each of the first ascending sections, the second ascending sections, and the third ascending section is configured with a hoist device, each first waterwheel engages a hoist device through a driving shaft, each hoist device is also connected to a motor, the motors are electrically connected to the hydropower unit, 40% of the power produced by the hydropower unit is used to drive the motors, each first waterwheel, under the impact of seawater, drives a corresponding hoist device through the driving shaft, each hoist device is also driven by a corresponding motor, each motor&#39;s rotational speed is adjusted to be compatible with that of a corresponding first waterwheel, each hoist device is as such sufficiently powered to discharge seawater. 
     The second hydropower system includes: 
     a first inlet channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, where the first inlet channel extends from the first inlet towards the first outlet at a preset downward angle, and a number of first waterwheels are disposed at intervals between the first inlet and the first outlet along the first inlet channel; 
     a second hydropower module electrically connected to the first hydropower module including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a hydropower unit, where the second inlet is connected to the first outlet; and 
     a number of second outlet channels, each including a first descending section, at least a first ascending section, at least a second descending section, at least a second ascending section and a third ascending section, where the first descending section has an end connected to the second outlet and another end connected to the first ascending section, there are same number of second descending section and second ascending section and they are end-to-end connected into an upward extending step-like structure, each second descending section descends for a vertical distance smaller than a vertical distance that a connected second ascending section ascends, a last second ascending section has an end connected to the third ascending section which has an outlet for discharging seawater, each of the first ascending sections, the second ascending sections, and the third ascending section is configured with a hoist device, each first waterwheel engages a hoist device through a driving shaft, each hoist device is also connected to a motor, the motors are electrically connected to the hydropower unit, 30% of the power produced by the hydropower unit is used to drive the motors of the first hydropower system, each first waterwheel, under the impact of seawater, drives a corresponding hoist device through the driving shaft, each hoist device is also driven by a corresponding motor, each motor&#39;s rotational speed is adjusted to be compatible with that of a corresponding first waterwheel, each hoist device is as such sufficiently powered to discharge seawater. 
     The third hydropower system includes: 
     a first inlet channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, where the first inlet channel extends from the first inlet towards the first outlet at a preset downward angle, and a number of first waterwheels are disposed at intervals between the first inlet and the first outlet along the first inlet channel; 
     a third hydropower module electrically connected to the first hydropower module including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a hydropower unit, where the second inlet is connected to the first outlet; and 
     a number of third outlet channels, each including a first descending section, at least a first ascending section, at least a second descending section, at least a second ascending section and a third ascending section, where the first descending section has an end connected to the second outlet and another end connected to the first ascending section, there are same number of second descending section and second ascending section and they are end-to-end connected into an upward extending step-like structure, each second descending section descends for a vertical distance smaller than a vertical distance that a connected second ascending section ascends, a last second ascending section has an end connected to the third ascending section which has an outlet for discharging seawater, each of the first ascending sections, the second ascending sections, and the third ascending section is configured with a hoist device, each first waterwheel engages a hoist device through a driving shaft, each hoist device is also connected to a motor, the motors are electrically connected to the hydropower unit, 30% of the power produced by the hydropower unit is used to drive the motors of the first hydropower system, each first waterwheel, under the impact of seawater, drives a corresponding hoist device through the driving shaft, each hoist device is also driven by a corresponding motor, each motor&#39;s rotational speed is adjusted to be compatible with that of a corresponding first waterwheel, each hoist device is as such sufficiently powered to discharge seawater. 
     an underground facility accommodating the first hydropower system, the second hydropower system, and the third hydropower system. 
     The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the operation principle behind the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a hydropower system according an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram showing the hydropower system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing multiple hydropower systems in parallel operation according an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic top-view diagram showing the hydropower system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic top-view diagram showing a hydropower system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     The operation principle behind the present invention is demonstrated in  FIG. 1  and explained as follows. 
     Firstly, the systems of the present invention are installed besides embankments along a sea shore. The systems have seawater inlets beneath seawater level so that seawater may be continuously drawn into an underground power plant through inlet channels at a downward angle. As seawater enters the power plant, waterwheels and gears are engaged to drive upward delivering hoist devices. Depending on the power of the power generators involved, the number of waterwheels and the length of inlet channels may be determined. By the hoist devices, the seawater is lifted upward to ground level. 
     In conformation to the law of the conservation of energy, in an embodiment of the present invention, three systems A, B, C of a same power are installed and operated simultaneously. In order to lift seawater up to ground level, each hoist device is further configured with a motor, and the motors of system A is driven by a portion of the power produced by systems B and C. 
     Assuming that, to raise seawater to ground level, each system A, B, or C, if operated independently, require 100% of power. For each system, it would acquire 40% of the required power from the push by the seawater flowing in the inlet channel, and another 40% from the hoist devices driven by the waterwheels. System A then further obtains 35% of the power produced by each of systems B and C, respectively, to drive its motors. Then, system A would theoretically obtain a total power of 40%+40%+70%=150%. 
     As to systems B and C, each of them also acquires 40% of the required power from the push by the seawater flowing in the inlet channel, and another 40% from the hoist devices driven by the waterwheels. As both systems B and C would lose 35% of their generated power to system A, both systems would theoretically obtain a total power of 65%+40%+40%=145%. If the energy conversion efficiency is 70%, system A would obtain 105%, and both systems B and C would be 101.5%, respectively. Therefore, all three systems are able to raise seawater to ground level. 
     To prevent foreign objects from entering the inlet channels of the systems, water gates are provided at the inlets to control the amount of seawater drawn and to seal the inlets. 
     The above embodiment involves three systems of identical power to extract full hydropower from one of the systems. If the described configuration cannot extract the full hydropower of a system, additional systems such as systems B, C, D, E may be installed. 
     An alternative approach to use inlet channels of greater diameters to draw more seawater to create more power from systems B and C or more powerful motors are applied to raised seawater to ground level. 
     The additional benefits of the present invention include:
         1. The present invention may be modularized and widely installed so that even countries without resources may also be energy export countries.   2. The seawater after being utilized for power generation and raised to ground level may be further used for sea farming, desalination, playground.       

     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first hydropower system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: 
     a first inlet channel  1  having a first inlet  10  and a first outlet  11 , where the first inlet channel  1  extends from the first inlet  10  towards the first outlet  11  at a preset downward angle, the first inlet channel  1  undergoes a 180-degree turn  12  before connection to a first hydropower module  2  for increasing the impact from seawater, and a number of first waterwheels  13  are disposed at intervals between the first inlet  10  and the first outlet  11  along the first inlet channel  1 ; 
     a first hydropower module  2  disposed underground for an appropriate depth including a second inlet  20 , a second outlet  21  and a hydropower unit  22 , where the second inlet  20  is connected to the first outlet  11 ; and 
     a number of first outlet channels  3 , each including a first descending section  30 , at least a first ascending section  32 , at least a second descending section  33 , at least a second ascending section  35  and a third ascending section  36 , where the first descending section  30  has an end connected to the second outlet  21  and another end connected to the first ascending section  32 , there are same number of second descending sections  33  and second ascending sections  35  and they are end-to-end connected into an upward extending step-like structure, each second descending section  33  descends for a vertical distance smaller than a vertical distance that a connected second ascending section  35  ascends, a last second ascending section  35  has an end connected to the third ascending section  36  which has an outlet  361  for discharging seawater, each of the first ascending sections  32 , the second ascending sections  35 , and the third ascending section  36  is configured with a hoist device  31 , each first waterwheel  13  engages a hoist device  31  through a driving shaft  131 , each hoist device  31  is also connected to a motor  34 , the motors  34  are electrically connected to the hydropower unit  22 , 40% of the power produced by the hydropower unit  22  is used to drive the motors  34 , each first waterwheel  13 , under the impact of seawater, drives a corresponding hoist device  31  through the driving shaft  131 , each hoist device  31  is also driven by a corresponding motor  34 , each motor  34 &#39;s rotational speed is adjusted to be compatible with that of a corresponding first waterwheel  13 , each hoist device  31  is as such sufficiently powered to discharge seawater; 
     where, in the present embodiment, there are three second descending sections  33  and three second ascending section  35  and, therefore, three first waterwheels  13 . The present invention is not limited as such. There may be more hoist devices  31  depending on how deep the present invention is positioned. There also may be more first outlet channels  3  depending on the amount of water discharged. A first descending section  30  may also be connected to multiple first ascending sections  32 , and then to multiple waterwheels and hoist devices to increase the amount of discharged seawater; 
     an underground facility  4  accommodating the first inlet channel  1 , the first hydropower module  2 , and first outlet channels  3 , where the facility  4  is installed behind embankment B along a sea shore, and the first hydropower module  2  is electrically connected to a public grid device  5  such as a substation so as to provide electricity to the public grid. 
     The first waterwheels  13  are pushed by seawater, which in turn engage hoist devices  31  through the driving shafts  131 . Each hoist device  31  involves a screw to lift and carry seawater upward. 
       FIG. 3  demonstrates the structure and flow of the present invention. The first inlet  10  is provided above sea level so that seawater may naturally flow into the first inlet channel  1 . The sea water in the first inlet channel  1  impacts each first waterwheel  13  to drive each hoist device  31  through the driving shaft  131 . The seawater in the first inlet channel  1  then flows to the hydropower unit  22  for power generation, where 40% of the generated power is used to drive the motors  34  which in turn engage the hoist devices  31  to discharge seawater. 
     Multiple hydropower systems of the present invention may be operated in parallel to support each other. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the present embodiment includes, in addition to the first hydropower system, a second hydropower system and a third hydropower system. 
     In the present embodiment, 40% of the power produced by the first hydropower module  2  of the first hydropower system is used to drive the hoist devices  31 . 
     The second hydropower system includes: 
     a first inlet channel  1 A having a first inlet and a first outlet, where the first inlet channel  1  A extends from the first inlet towards the first outlet at a preset downward angle, and a number of first waterwheels are disposed at intervals between the first inlet and the first outlet along the first inlet channel  1 A; 
     a second hydropower module  2 A electrically connected to the first hydropower module  2  including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a hydropower unit  22 A, where the second inlet is connected to the first outlet; and 
     a number of second outlet channels  3 A, each including a first descending section  30 , at least a first ascending section  32 , at least a second descending section  33 , at least a second ascending section  35  and a third ascending section  36 , where the first descending section  30  has an end connected to the second outlet  21  and another end connected to the first ascending section  32 , there are same number of second descending section  33  and second ascending section  35  and they are end-to-end connected into an upward extending step-like structure, each second descending section  33  descends for a vertical distance smaller than a vertical distance that a connected second ascending section  35  ascends, a last second ascending section  35  has an end connected to the third ascending section  36  which has an outlet  361  for discharging seawater, each of the first ascending sections  32 , the second ascending sections  35 , and the third ascending section  36  is configured with a hoist device  31 A, each first waterwheel  13  engages a hoist device  31 A through a driving shaft  131 , each hoist device  31  is also connected to a motor  34 , the motors  34  are electrically connected to the hydropower unit  22 A, 30% of the power produced by the hydropower unit  22 A is used to drive the motors  34  of the first hydropower system, each first waterwheel  13 , under the impact of seawater, drives a corresponding hoist device  31 A through the driving shaft  131 , each hoist device  31 A is also driven by a corresponding motor  34 , each motor  34 &#39;s rotational speed is adjusted to be compatible with that of a corresponding first waterwheel  13 , each hoist device  31 A is as such sufficiently powered to discharge seawater. 
     The third hydropower system includes: 
     a first inlet channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, where the first inlet channel extends from the first inlet towards the first outlet at a preset downward angle, and a number of first waterwheels are disposed at intervals between the first inlet and the first outlet along the first inlet channel; 
     a third hydropower module  2 B electrically connected to the first hydropower module  2  including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a hydropower unit  22 B, where the second inlet is connected to the first outlet; and 
     a number of third outlet channels  3 B, each including a first descending section, at least a first ascending section, at least a second descending section, at least a second ascending section and a third ascending section, where the first descending section has an end connected to the second outlet and another end connected to the first ascending section, there are same number of second descending section and second ascending section and they are end-to-end connected into an upward extending step-like structure, each second descending section descends for a vertical distance smaller than a vertical distance that a connected second ascending section ascends, a last second ascending section has an end connected to the third ascending section which has an outlet for discharging seawater, each of the first ascending sections  32 , the second ascending sections  35 , and the third ascending section  36  is configured with a hoist device  31 B, each first waterwheel  13  engages a hoist device  31 B through a driving shaft  131 , each hoist device  31 B is also connected to a motor  34 , the motors  34  are electrically connected to the hydropower unit  22 B, 30% of the power produced by the hydropower unit  22 B is used to drive the motors  34  of the first hydropower system, each first waterwheel  13 , under the impact of seawater, drives a corresponding hoist device  31 B through the driving shaft  131 , each hoist device  31 B is also driven by a corresponding motor  34 , each motor  34 &#39;s rotational speed is adjusted to be compatible with that of a corresponding first waterwheel  13 , each hoist device  31 B is as such sufficiently powered to discharge seawater. 
     30% of the power produced respectively from the hydropower units  22 A and  22 B, together with 40% of the power produced from the power unit  22 , are used to drive the motors  34  with full 100% power so that the motors  34  have enough power to discharge seawater. 
     The first hydropower system, second hydropower system, and third hydropower system mutually support each other to drive their respective hoist devices  31  to discharge seawater. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the hydropower unit  22 A is electrically connected to motors  34  to drive hoist devices  31  for seawater discharging. The remaining power then may be directed to the public grid device  5 . 
     The first inlet  10  is provided beneath sea level of ocean A so that seawater may be naturally drawn without external force or a reservoir like a conventional dam. The first inlet channel  1  may be configured with filter screens (not shown) or water gate (not shown). The third ascending section  36 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , may be directed toward a direction different from that of the first inlet channel  1  to avoid conflict. As shown of  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment of the present invention, the outlet  361  of the third ascending section  36  is connected to a seawater farming facility D for enhanced economic benefit. The outlet  361  may be provided beneath sea level so that the height difference between the first inlet  10  and the outlet  361  may be further utilized for power generation. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.