Miniature hydro-power generation system

A miniature hydro-power generation system may produce electric power from a flow of liquid. The miniature hydro-power generation system may include a housing that includes a plurality of paddles positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing. The system may also include a nozzle and a centering rod extending through the housing. The housing may rotate around the centering rod when a stream of liquid from the nozzle is directed at the paddles. A generator that includes a rotor and a stator may be positioned within a cavity of the housing. The rotor may be coupled with the housing and the stator may be coupled with the centering rod. The rotor may rotate around the stator at high RPM to generate electric power when the housing rotates. The electric power may supply a load and/or may be stored in an energy storage device.

 

1. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a centering rod;

a bushing positioned to surround the centering rod;

a housing coupled with the bushing, wherein the housing and the bushing are rotatable around the centering rod;

a plurality of paddles coupled with an outer surface of the housing, wherein the paddles are generally concaved and longitudinally extend outward from the outer surface of housing perpendicular to the centering rod; and

a permanent magnet generator enclosed within the housing, the permanent magnet generator comprising a stator coupled with the centering rod and a rotor coupled with an interior surface of the housing,

wherein the rotor and stator cooperatively operate to maintain the position of the bushing surrounding the centering rod without substantial contact between the bushing and the centering rod, wherein the bushings are disposed at opposed ends of the housing and comprise an aperture to accommodate the centering rod and an outer surface formed to fit within an aperture in the outer surface of the housing.

2. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a permanent magnet that is configured to spin balance rotation of the housing.

3. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a permanent magnet having a magnetic field configured to suspend the rotor in axial alignment with the stator.

4. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, further comprising an outer housing surrounding the housing, wherein the centering rod extends through opposed ends of the housing and is non-rotatably coupled with the outer housing.

5. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical with a diameter between about 40 millimeters and about 20 millimeters and is configured to rotate above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute.

6. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein each of the bushings comprise a sleeve having an aperture formed to accommodate the centering rod.

7. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet light source coupled with the permanent magnet generator, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of coils configured to be dynamically switchable between a parallel configuration and a series configuration to provide a first voltage for initial energization of the ultraviolet light source and a second voltage for continued energization of the ultraviolet light source.

8. The hydro-power generation system of claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet light source is one of a mercury lamp and a cold cathode lamp that is initially energized and continued to be energized without a ballast.

9. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

an outer housing;

an inner housing positioned to be completely enclosed by the outer housing, the inner housing comprising a plurality of paddles configured to longitudinally extend outwardly from an outer surface of the inner housing toward the outer housing;

a centering rod fixedly coupled with the outer housing and extending through the inner housing, the inner housing rotatable within the outer housing around the centering rod;

an electrical generator disposed within the inner housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a rotor and a stator, the stator is coupled with the centering rod and the rotor is coupled with an interior surface of the inner housing and rotates around the stator as the inner housing rotates;

a nozzle penetrating the outer housing, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the inner housing; and

an interior surface of the outer housing comprising ducting configured to minimize liquid spray within the outer housing.

10. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the ducting comprises a plurality of fingers positioned in a swirl pattern that is formed to efficiently collect liquid spray within the outer housing.

11. The hydro-power generation system of claim 10, wherein the fingers are each formed as pyramid shaped members that extend outward from the interior surface of the outer housing toward the inner housing.

12. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the ducting comprises a center channel, an outer channel, and a plurality of branch channels formed in a swirl pattern in the interior surface, wherein the swirl pattern is formed based on a pattern of liquid flung from the inner housing when the inner housing is rotated.

13. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the ducting comprises a plurality of channels and a plurality of fingers, the fingers positioned along the channels to efficiently collect liquid spray and direct the liquid out of the outer housing via the channels.

14. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the rotation of the inner housing may be monitored to provide flow based measurements of the stream of liquid.

15. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the nozzle is positioned to penetrate the outer housing between the inner housing and an outlet included in the outer housing and provide the stream of liquid with substantially the same diameter as the diameter of an outlet of the nozzle.

16. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the nozzle is configured to be positioned to penetrate the outer housing to discharge a vertical stream of liquid toward an outlet included in the outer housing.

17. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the ducting is configured to channel liquid out of the outer housing so that the nozzle and the inner housing are not submerged in liquid discharged from the nozzle and remain in an airspace within the outer housing.

18. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, further comprising a an ultraviolet light source electrically coupled with the electrical generator, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of taps that are configured to be dynamically switchable between a startup voltage to initially energize the ultraviolet light source and a running state voltage to continue to energize the ultraviolet light source.

19. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the ultraviolet light source is initially energize and continues to be energized without a ballast.

20. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the ultraviolet light source is one of a mercury lamp and a cold cathode lamp.

21. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the outer housing comprises a drain section with an interior surface shaped to receive liquid at a flow trajectory angle of about twenty degrees or less, wherein the liquid received by the drain section has previously collided with the paddles.

22. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

an inner housing comprising a plurality of paddles configured to longitudinally extend outwardly from an outer surface of the inner housing;

a centering rod non-rotatably extending through the inner housing, the inner housing rotatable around the centering rod;

an electrical generator disposed within the inner housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a rotor and a stator, the stator is coupled with the centering rod and the rotor is coupled with an interior surface of the inner housing and rotates around the stator as the inner housing rotates;

a nozzle configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the inner housing; and

an outer housing non-rotatably coupled with the centering rod, wherein the outer housing is formed with a cavity to surround the inner housing and comprises a drain section configured to receive liquid after impact with the paddles, wherein the drain section is shaped to receive the liquid at a determined flow trajectory angle to minimize fluid impedance, wherein the flow trajectory angle is about twenty degrees or less.

23. The hydro-power generation system of claim 22, wherein the drain section formed in the shape of a generally cone-shaped rocket nozzle.

24. The hydro-power generation system of claim 22, wherein the outer housing comprises a nozzle section forming the top of the outer housing that is configured to receive a vertically positioned nozzle and an inner housing section configured to partially surround the inner housing to minimize fluid impedance.

25. The hydro-power generation system of claim 22, wherein the inner housing rotates at above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute in the cavity and the drain section is configured to evacuate liquid flowing at between about 0.44 liters/minute and about 4.16 liters/minute to maintain the cavity substantially dry.

26. A hydro-power generation system comprising:

a plumbing fixture;

a housing rotatable disposed in the plumbing fixture, the housing comprising a plurality of paddles that are generally concaved and positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing;

an electrical generator disposed within the housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a rotor coupled with an interior surface of the housing and a stator fixedly positioned in the housing, wherein the rotor rotates around the stator to produce electric power as the housing rotates;

a nozzle disposed in the plumbing fixture, the nozzle configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the housing;

an electrically operated valve disposed in the plumbing fixture, wherein the electrically operated valve is configured to supply a flow of liquid to the nozzle;

an energy storage device coupled with the electrical generator and the electrically operated valve; and

a voltage controller coupled with the electrically operated valve and the energy storage device, wherein the voltage controller is configured to direct the electrically operated valve to open when the voltage in the energy storage device is below a determined threshold level.

27. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the housing rotates at above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute in response to a flow of liquid striking the paddles in a range between 0.44 liters per minute and 4.16 liters per minute.

28. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a first hub and a second hub configured to be coupled together to maintain the paddles in position on the outer surface and concentrically surround the electrical generator.

29. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein liquid flowing through the nozzle in a range of between about 0.44 liters per minute and about 4.16 liters per minute results in production of electric power in a range of about 0.25 watts to about 30 watts.

30. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of vents positioned concentrically around the outer surface to evacuate liquid from the housing as the housing is rotated so that the electrical generator operates substantially dry.

31. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the plumbing fixture is a lavatory fixture.

32. A method of generating power with a hydro-power generation system, the method comprising:

accelerating the velocity of a stream of liquid with only one nozzle;

discharging the stream of liquid out of the nozzle through an airspace to strike a plurality of paddles, wherein the paddles are generally concaved and extend outward perpendicular to an outer surface of a housing;

transferring kinetic energy in the stream of liquid to rotational energy of the housing;

inducing rotation of the housing and a permanent magnet coupled with an interior surface of the housing with the stream of liquid;

rotating the permanent magnet around a stator non-rotatably positioned in the housing; and

generating electric power with the rotor and stator further comprising:

channeling liquid away from the housing to avoid submerging either of the housing and the nozzle in liquid so that the housing and the nozzle are maintained substantially dry.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising rotating the housing at about 5000 revolutions-per-minute or above with kinetic energy provided by between about 0.44 liters/minute and 4.16 liters/minute of flowing liquid.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising evacuating liquid from out of the housing with a plurality of vents disposed in the surface of the housing so that the rotor and stator are substantially dry.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising maintaining the paddles in an unbroken concentric ring on the outer surface of the housing with contiguously positioned paddles and compression of the paddles between a first hub and a second hub that form the housing.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising suspending the rotor in axial alignment with the stator with a magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising maintaining both the housing and an outer housing in which the housing is confined substantially dry as liquid is sprayed by the nozzle.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising shaping the interior surface of a drain section included in the outer housing to intercept liquid that has collided with the paddles, wherein the interior surface of the drain section is configured to receive the liquid at a flow trajectory angle of about 20 degrees or less.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising capturing liquid spray external to the housing to minimize liquid impedance, wherein the liquid spray is captured with a plurality of pyramid shaped members included on an interior surface of an outer housing that surrounds the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electric power generation and, more particularly, to hydroelectric power generation with a miniature hydro-power generation system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hydro-electric power generation in which kinetic energy is extracted from flowing pressurized water and used to rotate a generator to produce electric power is known. In addition, use of other pressurized fluids such as gas, steam, etc, to rotate a generator is known. With large hydro-electric power generation operated with a large-scale water source such as a river or dam, thousands of megawatts of power may be generated using millions of gallons of flowing water. As such, conversion of the kinetic energy in the flowing water to electric power may include significant inefficiencies and yet still provide an economical and acceptable level of performance.

As the size of the hydro-electric power generation equipment becomes smaller, the magnitude of electric power produced also becomes smaller. In addition, the amount of flowing water from which kinetic energy may be extracted becomes less. Thus, efficiency of the conversion of the kinetic energy in the flow of water to electric power becomes significant. When there are too many inefficiencies, only small amounts of kinetic energy is extracted from the pressurized flowing water. As a result, the amount of electric power produced diminishes as the size of the hydro-electric power generation equipment becomes smaller.

There are many small scale systems that include flowing pressurized liquid and require electric power to operate. Some examples include residential water treatment systems, automatic plumbing fixtures, flow rate monitors, water testing equipment, etc.

There are several different types of water treatment systems that include a carbon-based filter unit and an ultraviolet (UV) light unit to filter and decontaminate the water before being dispensed for consumption. The carbon-based filter unit uses inert material to filter out particulate and organic contaminants. Ultraviolet radiation that is emitted from the ultraviolet light unit is used to neutralize harmful microorganisms present in the water.

In order to energize the ultraviolet light unit and any other electric power consuming systems that may be in the water treatment system, a power source is required. Conventional water treatment systems use power from a standard electrical outlet or a battery power source to provide the energy necessary to drive all of the components in the water treatment system, including the ultraviolet light unit. In the case of water treatment systems powered by electrical outlets, the system has limited portability and ceases to operate when there is an interruption in the electrical outlet power supply.

Water treatment systems operated from battery power sources contain only a finite supply of energy that is depleted through operation or storage of the water treatment system. In addition, replacement batteries must be readily available to keep the water treatment system operable. If a longer-term battery power source is desired, larger batteries are required that can add considerable weight and size to the water treatment system.

Some existing water treatment systems are capable of using either the standard electrical outlets or the battery power sources where the battery power source can be replenished by the electrical outlet power source. Although these water treatment systems do not require replacement batteries, the capacity and size of the batteries dictate the length of operation of the water treatment system while operating on the battery source. An electrical outlet source must also be utilized on a regular basis to replenish the batteries. In addition, these water treatment systems require additional electrical circuits and components to operate from the two different power sources.

Automatic plumbing fixtures, such as toilet valves and sink faucets may include an electrically operated valve and a sensor. The sensor may sense the presence of a user of the automatic plumbing fixture and operate the electrically operated valve to provide a flow of water in response. Both the electrically operated valve and the sensor require electric power to operate. The power may be obtained by installing an electric cable from a power distribution panel to the automatic plumbing fixture. Where the automatic plumbing fixture is installed in an existing building, installation of a power distribution panel and/or an electric cable can be costly, time consuming and difficult.

For the foregoing reasons, a need exists for miniature hydro-electric generation equipment that is small enough to fit within a system such as a water treatment system, an automatic plumbing fixture, etc. and is capable of operating with enough efficiency to produce sufficient power to operate the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a miniature hydro-power generation system that overcomes problems associated with the prior art. The embodiments of the miniature hydro-power generation system are capable of efficiently providing sufficient power to operate electrical devices by rotating at high revolutions-per-minute (RPM), such as above 5000 RPM. High RPM operation is possible due to minimization of losses and maximizing translation of the kinetic energy in a flowing liquid to rotational energy to produce electric power.

The hydro-power generation system may include a generally cylindrical housing having a plurality of paddles positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing. The paddles may be generally concaved and extend perpendicular from the outer surface of the housing. The hydro-power generation system may also include a nozzle, a centering rod and an electrical generator. The nozzle may be configured to direct a stream of high velocity liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the housing. The centering rod may extend through a cavity include in the housing. The housing may rotate around the centering rod in response to liquid striking the paddles.

The electrical generator may be a permanent magnet generator that is positioned within the cavity of the housing. The electrical generator includes a rotor coupled with the housing and a stator coupled with the centering rod. As the housing rotates, the rotor may be positioned in the housing to rotate around the stator and generate electric power. The rotor may produce a magnetic field that suspends the rotor around the stator in axial alignment. The housing may include bushings that surround the centering rod. Since the rotor is suspended around the stator, the housing is suspended around the centering rod. The bushings therefore surround the centering rod with little or no contact between the housing and the centering rod to reduce rotational friction and further improve efficiency as the housing rotates.

The housing may be formed from a first hub coupled with a second hub to form the cavity. The paddles may be held between the first and second hubs when the first and second hubs are engaged. The paddles may form a ring of paddles that concentrically surrounds the housing. The housing may also include a plurality of vents that are configured to evacuate liquid from the cavity when the housing rotates to reduce fluid impedance. The cavity therefore remains substantially dry as the paddles are subject to a stream of liquid from the nozzle and the housing rotates at high RPM.

The housing may be positioned completely within an outer housing. The outer housing may include an interior surface and an outlet. The interior surface may include ducting to reduce liquid spray and therefore reduce fluid impedance when the stream of liquid is directed at the paddles. The ducting may include fingers and channels to reduce the liquid spray and also channel liquid out of the outer housing. The fingers and channels may be configured in a swirl pattern on the interior surface based on the dispersion pattern of liquid being flung from the rotating housing. Liquid may be continuously channeled out of the outer housing by the ducting so that the outer housing remains substantially dry. The inner housing and the nozzle may therefore operate without being submerged in the liquid to further reduce fluid impedance and improve efficient energy transfer.

The hydro-power generation system may also include a plumbing fixture such as an automatic toilet flush fixture. The plumbing fixture may include an electrically operated valve, an energy storage device, a power controller, a sensor and a generator. The generator may produce electric power from a flow of liquid as previously described. The electric power may be stored in the energy storage device and used to energize the power controller, the sensor and the electrically operated valve. When the sensor senses use of the toilet, the electrically operated valve may be energized to open and provide a flow of liquid. The flow of liquid may be used by the generator to produce electric power to re-charge the energy storage device. The power controller may monitor the level of stored power in the energy storage device. If the level of stored power becomes low, the power controller may activate the electrically operated valve to open, and the generator may re-charge the energy storage device.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, viewed in conjunction with the appended drawings. The foregoing discussion has been provided only by way of introduction. Nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on the following claims, which define the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a water treatment system coupled to one embodiment of the hydro-power generation system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of one embodiment of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the water treatment system and the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 1 rotated 90 degrees with a portion of the hydro-power generation system sectioned away.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of another embodiment of the hydro-power generation system.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 4 taken along line 5—5.

FIG. 6 illustrates the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 4 rotated 90 degrees with a portion of the hydro-power generation system sectioned away.

FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the hydro-power generation system coupled to the water treatment system.

FIG. 8 represents a top view of the embodiment of the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 7 with a portion of the stator housing sectioned away.

FIG. 9 represents a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the hydro-power generation system.

FIG. 10 represents a cross-sectional view of a portion of the hydro-power generation system of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 represents a side view of another embodiment of the hydro-power generation system.

FIG. 12 represents an end view of a nozzle illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 represents a cross-sectional view of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 12 taken along line 13—13.

FIG. 14 represents another cross-sectional view of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 12 taken along line 14—14.

FIG. 15 represents a cross-sectional view of a portion of an outer housing of the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 11 taken along line 15—15.

FIG. 16 represents a side view of the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 11 with an inner housing removed.

FIG. 17 represents a cross-sectional view of a bottom portion of the outer housing of the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 11 taken along line 17—17.

FIG. 18 represents an exploded perspective view of an inner housing included in the hydro-power generation system illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 19 represents a perspective view of a padd