Improvements in Turbine Apparatus for Tide Mills.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 26th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
TROYDONALDI EUITIVATION.
Improvements in Turbine Apparatus for Tide Mills.
I, JOHANN FERDINAND ROBERT KNOBLOCH, of 10 von der Tann Strasse, Hamburg,
in the Empire of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The new turbine installation is designed for utilizing water the inlet and outlet of
which changes with regard to the chamber or chambers of the turbine, that is to say
in the first place for utilizing tidal water.
This object is realized by providing the two openings of a turbine chamber for the
alternating inlet and outlet of the water with movable shutters made in one or more
parts, these shutters being adapted to be adjusted so that they will permit the
passage of the water through the turbine chamber in one or the other direction and
will at the same time shut off the water at a higher level against the water at a
lower level while the level of the water may change at will.
A constructional form of this installation in its particular application to tidal water
is as follows:
According to the width of the water course or in conformity with special conditions
of working I provide only one turbine chamber, or a greater or smaller number of
turbine chambers by the side of each other between the seaward side and the land
side of the apparatus adapted to serve as a collector, a reaction turbine being
arranged in each chamber at such a depth that it will be under water even at the
lowest level of the tide. Several turbines may of course also be arranged in one
chamber.
The openings of the turbine chambers towards the sea and towards the land, are
furnished with vertical sluice gates which are so arranged that the sluice gate
directed at the time towards the water at the higher level will stop the way between
the upper level water and lower level water below the turbines and the sluice gate
directed at the time towards the lower level water will stop the way between the
water at the upper level and that at the lower level above the turbines, whereas the
sluice gate for the higher level water allow the same to pass into the turbine
chambers and the turbines, and the sluice gate for the lower level water allows the
water passing from the turbines to flow off into the lower level water.
In its simplest form the working by means of the before described installation
will be as follows:
At the commencement of the working the water on the sea-side forms is at higher
level, whilst on the land side there is little or no water. At first the higher level
water may be shut off towards the turbines by a special sluice gate in conjunction
with the sluice gate above referred to, the said second sluice gate being let down
and closes the entrance to the turbine chambers above the turbines, or the first sluice
gate is raised by the desired height of swell. When however the higher level water
has a sufficient head, or when the latter is obtained by the occurrence of a flood, the
second sluice gate is drawn up or the first sluice gate is lowered and the sea water
allowed to pass into the turbine chambers. It runs through the turbines and drives

page_text: these round with a power which corresponds to the difference in the height of the
water into the turbine chambers on the one hand, and in the land side on the other
hand. If the spacial and structural conditions of the installation are in proper
relation to the conditions of the flood it is possible to obtain, with a gradually rising
water on the sea side and on the land side, a difference in the height which remains
approximately the same, and consequently a power which will remain the same.
When the flood reaches its highest level and the swell water time begins, a certain
waiting time occurs in the working until the sea water has sunk sufficiently by reason
of the ebb. During this time the sluice gates have to be reversed, which may be
accomplished by chains and chain wheel mechanism so that the sluice gate is let
down against the land side and the water on that side passes above the turbines,
whereas the sluice gate on the seaward side is drawn up and allows the water which
has run through the turbine to run off below. Prior to this reversal the two sluice
gates may both be drawn up for a short time, in order that the water levels in front
and at the rear of the turbines may be equalized as rapidly as practicable. When the
equalization has taken place the sluice gates are reversed, and when by the falling
of the water on the seaward side the water collected on the land side has become
the highest level, the water will pass through the turbines from the land side into the
sea, with a head of water and production of power, until the ebb time is again
followed by low water time and flood time, when the sluice gates must once more
be reversed.
The work of the turbine is taken off and utilized in any desired manner, for
instance by bevel wheels and the driving shafts to a dynamo electric machine.
With the turbine installation herein before described, regulating apparatus may be
employed which have for their object to always maintain the difference in height
between the higher water level and lower water level approximately the same.
In a simple although somewhat inaccurate manner the level of water can be
regulated by a sluice chamber which forms a special passage between the water on
the seaward side and the water on the land side. The sectional area of the passage
of the chamber may be widened or narrowed or altogether shut off by one or more
sluice gates, so that more or less water flows off from the water at the highest level
to the water at the lowest level, thereby regulating the water levels relatively to each
other. The water flowing through the chamber is indeed wasted as regards the useful
effect, this is however immaterial in the overflow of water in the utilization of tidal
water.
Moreover, the sluice chamber may be employed for the purpose of equalizing the
unequal levels of water in front and at the rear of the turbines during the waiting
time between the flood and ebb.
According to one modification the sluice chamber is situated between two turbine
chambers. In this case no coutinuous sluice gates can be used for the turbine
chamber, as would be possible without the intermediate chamber, but each chamber
has two special sluice gates. The sluice gates on the same side of the two chambers
may however be suspended from a chain wheel mechanism.
By means of the before-mentioned sluice chamber the levels of the water on the
seaward side and that on the land side may be regulated to a certain extent. It is
however preferable in any case to have apparatus by which the higher level of the
water, as formed in the turbine chambers, can be regulated relatively to the lower
level of the water either on the sea or on the land side of the apparatus because the
difference between these two levels of water is determined and the level of the upper
water in the turbine chambers will not always follow exactly the outer higher. water
level.
For such regulation I have provided the before-mentioned second sluice gates
which are suspended by chains to wheel mechanisms by the side of the inlets and
outlets of the turbine chambers. The wheel mechanisms may be operated by hand
and also by floats in order to place the sluice gates more or less in front of the inlets
and outlets, thereby changing their sectional areas and the quantity of water which
flows from the outer higher level into the turbine chambers in a unit of time.

page_text: When for example the sea forms the higher level and the flood rises rapidly, the
sluice gates drawn up in front of the inlets of the turbine chambers are lowered
somewhat thereby contracting the sectional areas of the inlets and lessening the
admission of water until the upper water in the turbine chambers indicated again
the normal differences of height relatively to the lower level on the land side. When
this difference has been obtained the sluice gates are also moved back to their
previous positions.
Under ordinary circumstances the regulating sluice gates will have to make but
small movements. When they are placed by the side of the walls of the turbine
chambers, and therefore relieved of the water pressure as far as their lower ends
lowered in front of the inlets, and consequently adapted to be moved up and down
in their guides with little friction. For enabling the regulating gates to work
automatically according to the conditions of the rise and fall of the water they may
be suspended from floats and follow the movements as soon as these become
unequal, the wheel méchanisms running at the same time or being thrown out of
gear.
According to one form of the apparatus each float is provided in a special water
shaft, one of these shafts being connected with the seaward side and the other shaft
with the land side of the apparatus, each through a pipe. Further, the shafts are in
connection with the turbine chambers through openings respectively. The pipes and
the openings may be closed by slides such closing devices being arranged to be
operated by screw spindles and hand wheels.
Each float is suspended by a closed chain from a chain wheel which is provided
Each shaft carries moreover a chain
upon au upper right hand or left hand shaft.
wheel and over these two wheels placed close together side by side passes a shorter
chain which two pulley blocks engage.
While the row of sluice gates opposite the lower water is drawn quite up and
remains in this position the row of sluice gates opposite the upper water is connected
by means of an intermediate chain to one of the block pulleys. As the chain wheels
are gauged the sluice gates are held in suspension by the floats. As moreover the
shafts are turned by the floats when these move in opposite directions the sluice gates
will remain at rest until the floats rise and descend in a uniform manner, so that the
difference in the levels remains the same, because one shaft gives out just as much
chain as the other shaft takes up or vice versa.
On the other hand, when a differential movement occurs between the two floats as
during the flood the water at the higher level rises in a disproportionate manner
as compared with the water at the lower level or as during ebb the lower level water
sinks in a disproportionate manner as compared with the upper level water, the left
hand shaft winds up less chain than the right hand shaft unwinds or the right hand
shaft winds up less chain than the left hand shaft unwinds and in both cases the
pulley sinks a little. The regulating sluice gates of one or the other row also sink
a little, contract the passage and thereby establish again the proper difference in the
height of the two levels as before described.
In order that the floats may act properly it is necessary during the flood to shut,
off the water shaft from the sea, to open the same towards the turbine chambers, to
shut off the other water shaft from the turbine chambers, and to open the same
towards the land all by means of suitable slides. During the ebb time, on the other
hand, the slides which have hitherto been closed will have to be kept open, and the
slides which have been open will have to be kept closed.
The slides may also be replaced by special ante-chambers one of which is directed*
towards the sea and connected with one float shaft, whilst the other is directed towards
the land and in connection with the other float shaft. Then the regulating sluice
gates are placed in these ante-chambers, in order to regulate the inlet of the water
into the antechambers by means of these gates and the floats in the manner
hereinbefore set forth.
In lieu of the special small regulating sluice gates the closing gates may also be
used for regulating the conditions of the water level, being attached to the floats, and

page_text: the said regulating sluice gates being dispensed with. Use may also be made of
regulating slides or annular gates which are adapted to be displaced relatively to the
inlets of the turbine cells, being arranged round the turbines.
1
1007
Improvements in Turbine Apparatus for Tide 11.
I, JOHANN FERDINAND ROBERT KNOBLOCH, of No. 10 von der Tann Strasse, Hamburg,
in the Empire of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The new turbine installation is designed for utilizing water the inlet and outlet
of which changes with regard to the chamber or chambers of the turbine, that is to
say in the first place for utilizing tidal water.
This object is realized by providing the two openings of a turbine chamber for
the alternate inlet and outlet of the water with movable shutters made in one or
more parts, these shutters being adapted to be adjusted so that they will permit the
passage of the water through the turbine chamber in one or the other direction
and will at the same time shut off the water at a higher level against the water at a
lower level while the level of the water may change at will.
A constructional form of this installation in its particular application to tidal
water is as follows:
According to the width of the water course or in conformity with special
conditions of working I provide only one turbine chamber, or a greater or smaller
number of turbine chambers by the side of each other between the seaward side and
the land side of the apparatus adapted to serve as a collector, a reaction turbine
being arranged in each chamber at such a depth that it will be under water even at
the lowest level of the tide. Several turbines may of course also be arranged in
one chamber.
The openings of the turbine chambers towards the sea and towards the land, are
furnished with vertical sluice gates which are so arranged that the sluice gate
directed at the time towards the water at the higher level will block the way between
the upper level water and lower level water below the turbines, and the sluice gate
directed at the time towards the lower level water will block the way between the
water at the upper level and that at the lower level above the turbines, whereas the
sluice gate for the higher level water allows the same to pass into the turbine
chambers and the turbines, and the sluice gate for the lower level water allows the
water passing from the turbines to flow off into the lower level water.
In its simplest form the working by means of the before described installation will
be as follows:
At the commencement of the working the water on the sea-side forms the higher
level water, whilst on the land side there is little or no water. At first the higher
level water may be shut off towards the turbines by a special sluice gate in conjunction
with the sluice gate above referred to, the said second sluice gate being let down
and closes the entrance to the turbine chambers above the turbines, or the first sluice
gate is raised by the desired height of swell. When however the higher level water
has a sufficient head, or when the latter is obtained by the occurrence of a flood, the
second sluice gate is drawn up or the first sluice gate is lowered and the sea water

page_text: allowed to pass into the turbine chambers. It runs through the turbines and drives
these round with a power which corresponds to the difference in the height of the
water in the turbine chambers on the one hand, and in the laud side on the other
hand. If the spacial and structural conditions of the installation are in proper relation
to the conditions of the food it is possible to obtain, with a gradually rising water
on the sea side and on the land side, a difference in the height which remains
approximately the same, and consequently a power which will remain the same.
When the flood reaches its highest level and the swell water time begins, a certain
waiting time occurs in the working until the sea water has sunk sufficiently by reason
of the ebb. During this time the sluice gates have to be reversed, which may be
accomplished by chains and chain wheel mechanisin so that the sluice gate is let
down against the land side, and the water on that side passes above the turbines,
whereas the sluice gate on the seaward side is drawn up and allows the water which
has run through the turbine to run off below. Prior to this reversal the two sluice
gates may both be drawn up for a short time, in order that the water levels in front,
and at the rear of the turbines may be equalized as rapidly as practicable. When
the equilization has taken place the sluice gates are reversed, and when by the falling
of the water on the seaward side the water collected on the land side has become the
highest level, the water will pass through the turbines from the land side into the
sea, with a head of water and production of power, until the ebb time is again followed
by low water time and flood time, when the sluice gates must once more be reversed.
The work of the turbine is taken off and utilized in
manner, for
instance by bevel wheels and driving shafts to a dynamo electric machine.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my invention in its simplest form
may be carried into practice.
any desired
Figure 1 is a vertical section through one of the turbine chambers of the new
turbine installation or tide inill;
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line I-II (Figure 1) and
Figure 3 is a similar view like Figure 1 showing a modification of the sluice gates.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
According to the special conditions one turbine chamber K or series of such
turbine chambers is arranged side by side between the sea S and a suitable inland
reservoir H of sufficient capacity. In each chamber K there is erected a suitable
turbine T or a number of such turbines at such a depth that the said turbine or
turbines will be under water even at the lowest low water level.
The openings of the turbine chambers facing seaward and the inland reservoir are
provided with sliding gates a a¹ (Figure 1) or with swing or turn gates a² a³ (Figure 3)
respectively. The gates or shutters a a¹ and a² a3 are capable of being placed or
adjusted in their position so that the water may pass through the turbine chamber in
the one or the other direction although it passes the turbine only in one and the
same direction thus admitting the latter to be driven always in the same direction.
According to Figure 1 the gates or shutters a a2 are placed in such a manner, that
the gate a (or a²) facing the higher water level, blocks or shuts off the water passage
below the turbine, while the gate a¹ (or a³) facing the lower water level obstructs or
checks the water passage above the turbine. The moving or motive water therefore
passes above the first named gate a into the chamber K, through the turbine T and
then below the second gate a¹ into the reservoir with the lower water level. It is
obvious that if a turbine is used into which the motive water shall enter from below,
the position of the gates a a' must be reversed accordingly.
The stopping of the swing gates a² a³ is effected of course in quite a similar
manner to that of the sliding gates and will be clearly understood from Figure 3.
In order to allow above and below the turbine a free passage of the water from the
sea to the inland reservoir and vice versa, the gates may be brought out of the way
either by raising or lifting the gates a a¹ up into the turbine chamber or by turning
the gates a² as into their horizontal position, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3.
The swing gates a² a³ being hinged by the intermediate floor or platform t may be
operated in a similar manner to the sliding gates a a¹ by chains a or the like.

page_text: The possibility of bringing the gates out of the way of the water or in an ineffective
position respectively is of high importance in view of the equalization of the water
levels in front and at the rear of the turbine, which equalization must take place as
rapidly as possible after each working period.
The gates may also be used for regulating the differences in height between the
higher and lower water level, and for this purpose the said gates may be more or
less closed or opened respectively.
The gates therefore serve, as the case may be, the purpose of leading the motive
water properly through the turbine, or of equalizing the water levels after each
working period, or of regulating the difference in height between the said water
levels during the working periods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
In a turbine installation for utilizing water the inlet and outlet of which changes
with regard to the turbine chamber, a stationary turbine or turbines within a
turbine chamber, the inlet and outlet opening of the latter being provided with
movable gates designed to alternately block or shut off the water passages above and
below the turbine or turbines or to make these passages partly or entirely free,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 26th day of October 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.