Hydro-Current Energy Converter

This invention relates generally to hydro-dynamic motors, and specifically to a motor which is useful for generating electricity by capturing naturally available energy from a flowing stream of water, such as the Gulfstream found along the coastal areas of the Eastern United States; rivers such as the Mississippi, canals, etc., wherein a flowing stream is created by ocean tides or other flowing streams created by man and transferred therefrom the appropriate lines to shore installations or floating installations for ultimate consumer use. Because of the energy which is created by the flow of water, as enumerated above, its capture and conversion into electrical energy for consumer use is without the need for the use of other fuels, such as fossilized fuels. Mother nature herself, or in some cases, man, has created an untapped, constantly available source of energy. The economic strangehold placed upon the United States by the OPEC nations by our reliance on fossilized fuels can be greatly reduced by the reduction of so-called "Power and Light Companies[']" need for burning off OPEC fuels. The hue and cry against nuclear power plants can be stilled in great part by their replacement with this device, individually or in strings, planted on our ocean or river beds or in proximity thereof, where that energy now being lost daily can be converted into electrical energy. All of this can be done without pollution or further reliance on OPEC for our daily needs, as we have become obligated to do. Day in and day out, the Gulfstream moves along our Southern coast. Day in and day out energy of water flow lost, which could be readily converted into useable electrical energy. The same loss applies to all of our great flowing rivers and tidal canals. While our country experiments with windmills, solar energy, etc., the daily loss of water current energy goes on. While many have talked about capturing the energy of the Gulfstream, no one has come forward with a simple, pollution-free manner of doing so until this device has been presented. For example: the Gulfstream moves at approximately four miles per hour. Current therefrom channelled into this device as it travels over the cone is accelerated to some six miles per hour, striking the fixed vanes on the back area of the cone and then deflected some ninety degrees against the vanes on the rotor which is mobile, and which turns the generator enclosed inside the cone, generating the electrical power, which is then transmitted to a shore installation for distribution or otherwise transmitted via floating platform or other similar device to shore installation for ultimate consumer use.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a hydro-dynamic device which will capture the naturally occurring energy in a flowing stream of water and convert such into electrical energy for user consumption.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hydro-dynamic motor of improved efficiency which has an internal chamber for accelerating the water flow prior to its reaching the internal rotor blade.

And yet still another object of this invention is to provide a source of energy for providing electricity which does not disturb ecology, which does not use up fossil fuels or create air pollution or nuclear danger.

To secure these and other objects that shall become apparent hereinafter, there is provided a hydro-dynamic motor comprising a rigid, tubular primary housing which may be anchored or permanently mounted so that it does not move relative to the ocean bed or bottom. The tubular housing is elongated and is disposed so that its longitudinal axis is substantially along the line of direction of the moving stream of water.

The front and rear entrances of the housing include circular panels appropriately supported by radial members which act to guard or shield the interior of the housing from receiving any articles from the surrounding water that might damage the rotor or internal structure of the motor. The circular panels also act as guides for the flow of the water into the entrance and out the exit of the exterior housing.

Within the exterior housing is mounted a second housing which contains an electrical generator. The second housing is mounted centrally along the longitudinal axis of the first housing on flat, radially disposed panels connected between the inside of the exterior housing to the secondary housing. The support panels are connected along segments of the interior housing and also act as guides for the water flowing into the primary housing. The front face (upstream) of the secondary housing is an elongated cone with the apex and axis of the cone being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the exterior housing. The base diameter of the cone is approximately the diameter of the circular housing containing the generator and is unitarily formed therewith, making the generator housing a sealed unit as is described in greater detail below. The conical shape of the secondary housing in conjunction with the inner surface of the primary housing acts to increase the flow of water within the primary housing, causing the increased velocity of the water due to the reduction of the effective cross-sectional flow through area of the general housing.

Immediately downstream of the secondary housing is a rotor having a plurality of angularly disposed blades relative to a plane through the rotor. These blades are effectively sized so that the blades radially traverse the interior area from the surface of the interior housing to the perimeter of the internal diameter of the primary housing such that water flowing into the primary housing (initially caused by the current of the stream) is accelerated by the conical shape of the secondary housing, prior to striking the rotor blades much as water waves approaching a shoreline accelerate as the waves travel along the increasingly shallow (i.e. upwardly sloping) sea bed. The circular rotor housing is mounted centrally on a shaft, the shaft being connected to the generator within the secondary housing and appropriately sealed to prevent water from being received into the secondary housing. A third or tertiary housing mounted on the other side of the rotor and supported on the inside of the housing is utilized to support the rotor shaft and to aid in reducing eddy currents or cavitation for enhancing efficiency after the water flow has passed the rotor blades. Additional guide vanes may be utilized downstream of the rotor blades which also support the tertiary housing.

Fixed to the secondary housing just prior to the rotor are static guide vanes which are angled relative to a diametral plane along the longitudinal axis of the exterior housing to cause a deflection of the water flow so that it may strike the angled rotor blades at the maximum reactive force angle. Thus, the static guide vanes, which may be, for example, at an approximate forty-five degree angle in conjunction with the rotor blades which are also at the exemplery reciprocal forty-five degree angle, in effect cause the water flowing past the guide vanes to strike the rotor blades at approximately a ninety degree angle. Thus, maximum force is applied to the rotor blade.

To recover the electrical energy from the generator, appropriate electrical cables or conduits are connected between the generator and the inside of the secondary housing to some remote exterior location outside of the motor itself. This could be deployed to some location on shore which receives and transmits the enegy to the users.

The instant invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, it being understood, however, that the invention is capable of extended application, and is not confined to the precise disclosure. Changes and modifications may be made that do not affect the spirit of the invention, nor exceed the scope thereof, as expressed in the appended claims. Accordingly, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view partially cut away of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view partially in cross-section of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a front end elevational view of the present invention looking down towards the inflow of the water into the device.

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the rotor and static deflecting blades as used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the view of FIG. 4 with the rotor advanced relative to the static deflecting blades.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a rearward perspective view of the invention with a ballast system. The direction of the view is towards the rear entrance (upstream end) of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the invention with the ballast system.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tripod, on which the invention could be mounted for permanent, installation on the sea floor.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is shown generally at 10 comprised of a primary, rigid, tubular housing 12 that may be constructed of any substantial material that is not corroded by sea water or fresh water, such as stainless steel or the like. A secondary housing 14 is mounted within the tubular primary housing 12 on four panels 16, 18, 24, and 58 which are rigid, flat panels disposed substantially to form quadrants radially and are fixed to the secondary housing 14 supporting it centrally along the longitudinal axis of the primary housing.

The secondary housing 14, which has a conical front face, contains an electrical generator 34 having externally leading electrical lines 36 disposed through seals 38 and 40 ultimately terminating at a remote location on a floating station or other transmission means to receive electrical energy from generator 34 for consumption. The downstream end of housing 14 includes a sealed support shaft bearing 42 which allows shaft 32 connected to the generator and to a rotor 28 to be sealed.

A teritary housing 46, which is also conically shaped in an opposite direction to that of housing 14, includes a sealed bearing 44 at the terminal end of shaft 32, allowing the shaft to rotate properly without allowing water into the tertiary housing. The tertiary housing is also supported by four rigid planar panels 48, 50, 52, and an opposite panel not shown, such that the panels form quadrants, allowing the support panels to also act as water flow guide vanes for water leaving the rotor 28.

The upstream end, which is shown in FIG. 2, is the left end of the primary housing 12, includes circular panels 20 and 22 somewhat concentrally disposed (see FIG. 3) which act as a guard to prevent any type of harmful objects which would damage the static or rotor blades or the internal secondary housing from being received within the primary housing 12. The circular panels 20 and 22 also act to guide the flow of water into the external housing.

A plurality of static guide vanes 26 are firmly affixed to the downstream peripheral end of housing 14 to cause deflection of water flowing longitudinally into the primary housing 12 for a more efficient contact with the rotor blade 30 fixed to rotor housing 28 which is keyed into shaft 32 such that as the rotor 30 turns due to the flowing water, the rotor housing 28 which is keyed (not shown) to shaft 32 causes the generator shaft 32 to rotate the generator mechanism, generating electricity.

Note that the rotor blades form an angle with the statis guide vanes of approximately ninety degrees to provide the maximum reactive force on the rotor. The angle is adjusted slightly to compensate for the relative motion of the rotor blades relative to the static blades to maximize the reactive force of the flowing water on the rotor blade. The angles of static guide vanes--and rotor blades--are also such that the flow incident on each results in torques on each that are oppositely directed. Were this not so, energy converter 10 would tend to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Rotor housing 28 can be constructed with internal hollow air filled spaces (not shown). Besides reducing the rotor's inertia and saving on material cost, such spaces provide positive buoyancy to lessen friction between shaft 32 and bearings 42, 44.

The conical secondary housing 14, which has the apex of its conical shape disposed in an upstream direction, in conjunction with the interior surface of the primary housing 12, act to accelerate the water received in the upstream end of the primary housing 12 as it travels through primary housing 12. This enhances the energy output of the motor.

The conical shape of the tertiary housing 46 in conjunction with the support guide panels 48, 50, 52, and the panel (not shown) on the opposite side and with circular guard panels 54 and 56 also enhance the flow pattern past the rotor blades to reduce turbulence, eddy currents, or any type of cavitation for increased efficiency.

The entire motor, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, could be permanently mounted with a rigid frame or platform and placed on an ocean, lake, or river bottom, or could be anchored by appropriate lines at a preferred depth to maximize or take advantage of particular current occurring in nature.

For example, if currents are particularly favorable near the river or sea bottom, one can permanently mount energy converter 10 on an appropriate support structure resting on the bottom. Such a support structure is illustrated in FIG. 9, which shows tripod 90 holding energy converter 10. Converter 10 can be fixed to surface 91 of tripod 90 by lines 92, which could be cables attached to eyelets 93. Alternatively, one could bolt or weld converter 10 directly to surface 91, or otherwise attach 10 to 91 by any appropriate means. Legs 94 of tripod 90 may be of adjutable length to accomodate variations in the river/sea bed's contour. In the illustrated embodiment, legs 94 have telescoped within them members 95, which are sealed to legs 94 by bearing seal 96. Telescoped members 94, 95 can be hydraulically operated to individually adjust the length of each tripod leg.

If it is impractical, or undesirable, to mount energy converter 10 to the bottom, one can suspend converter 10 at desired depths by use of the floatation system illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The floatation system has floatation tanks 70, 71 attached by straps 72 to housing 12 of converter 10, and compressed air storage tank 73. Tanks 70, 71 are partially air filled (76) and partially water filled (77), to produce correct ballast. Connecting the interior of compressed air tank 73 to floatation tanks 72 is air line 74 having air valve 75. To decrease the ballast of converter 10, valve 75 is opened, and compressed air in tank 73 allowed to enter either of tanks 71, as appropriate, causing water in tanks 71 to be ejected (e.g. via check valves, or remotely controlled valves whose operation is keyed to operation of air valve 75). Ballast can be increased by bleeding off air in tanks 71 by any appropriate means. Valve 75 may be remote controlled, or automatically controlled responsive to the buoyancy or list of converter 10. A series of the motors as shown may be deployed side by side at spaced apart intervals along such a stream.

As shown, the generator is encapsulated in the secondary housing and is sealed from the exterior water so that the interior of the secondary housing does not receive any harmful water from the surrounding environment. The secondary housing can also be firmly conducted so as to dissipate heat generated by generator 34 through the heat exchange relationship of the water flowing through the primary housing.

FIG. 3 shows an end view looking from the upstream end of the device showing the circular guard panels 20 and 22 which are attached to the support guide panels 16, 18, 24, and 58. The static guide vanes 26 disposed around the peripheral end of interior housing 14.

Looking at FIGS. 4 and 5, one embodiment of the relationship of the rotor blades is shown compared with the static guide vanes 26. Note that the rotor blades 30 are spaced such that two adjacent sets of rotor blades have the same spacial distance circumferentially around the rotor as two static guide vanes 26. This insures that at any instant in time with respect to the relative movement of the rotor and the guide vane, at least two and normally three rotor blades are in the flow path between guide vanes. A plane through the longitudinal axis of the primary housing radially disposed and perpendicular to the peripheral surface of the rotor housing 28 and to the secondary housing 14 shows that the rotor blades are disposed at approximately a forty-five degree angle to such a plane as is the static guide vanes on the opposite side of the plane, forming an approximate ninety degree angle between the static guide vanes 26 and the rotor blades 30. The blade and static guide angles could be adjusted slightly to compensate for the apparent relative motion between the moving rotor blades and the static guide blades to effect maximum reactive force on the rotor of the moving water shown by the arrows.

It should be emphasized that, to be commercially viable, energy converter 10 normally must be of enormous size. This is so because converter 10 will normally be exposed to relatively mild currents, having relatively small kinetic energies per unit of cross-sectional flow. Hence, to garner and generate appreciable power, the flow cross section and turbine rotor 30 of converter 10 must be huge, and the angular velocity of rotor 30 correspondingly small. The embodiment of FIG. 6 is particularly adapted to such conditions.

In FIGS. 6, turbine shaft 32 connects to pump shaft 60 via gear box 61. The purpose of the gearing in gear box 61 is to increase the slow angular velocity of shaft 32 to a magnitude more appropriate to the machinery inside housing 14. Gear box 61 can be a variable transmission to accomodate varying speeds of shaft 32 resulting from varying flow velocities through converter 10. Housing 14 is filled by fluid 63, which can be lubricating fluid. Shaft 60 drives pumps 62, 63, each of whose suction ends are open to fluid 63. Pump 63 moves fluid 63 against a further turbine rotor 64 which, via intermediate gear box 65, drives electrical generator 34. The variable gearing in box 65 operates to ensure that generator 34's rotor turns within a narrow range of optimal frequencies. Shifting of gears within box 65 can be controlled locally and automatically by electronic controller 66 located within housing 14, or remotely via control signal transmission line 67. Pump 62 circulates fluid 63 through heat exchange coil 68 wrapped about the exterior of housing 14 so that mechanical heat generated within housing 14 may be more easily rejected to sea/river water traversing the length of energy converter 10.

In operation, the motor as shown is deployed in an appropriate, natural environment having a current of water, such as in the Gulfstream. The device is anchored such that the upstream surface and opening of the primary housing 12 faces into and along the directional movement of the stream. The electrical outlet conduit 36 is then coupled to an appropriate station for distribution to the consumer. As water flows through the primary housing, it is accelerated over the conical shape of the secondary housing 14, strikes the static guide vanes 26 where it is deflected for reactive contact with rotor blades 30. The force on the rotor blades 30 causes the rotor housing 28, which is key locked into shaft 32, to rotate, thus rotating shaft 32. As shaft 32 rotates, the generator mechanism rotates, generating electricity. The expanded water, after striking rotor blade 30, then passes over tertiary housing 46 along the guide panels 38, 50, 52, through the circular guard panels 54 and 56. Thus, naturally occurring energy can be recovered in a most efficient way without disturbing the environment.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.