System of power generation from rainfall on buildings and structures

Abstract

The invention indicates ways to assemble turbines, pipes, and check valves as a set or series of sets to produce electricity from rainwater off of high rises, buildings, parking garages, and other structures.

Claims

1. A system for generating electricity via a pressurized downspout pipe in which a water column is stored on the side of the building and activated via rainfall which activates a pressure sensitive check valve to a turbine.

2. A series of assembled pressurized downspout pipes, check valves, turbines, and overflow containers optimized to generate electricity at varying rates of rainfall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0006] FIG. 1a-1d: Drawings indicating a single assembled set of the energy producing apparatus

[0007] FIG. 2a-2d : Drawings showing a series of assembled energy producing sets

[0008] FIG. 3a-3b : Drawing showing a series of assembled energy producing sets on a building

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is a combination of a series of sealed downspouts and turbines optimized to convert the potential energy of rainfall on top of a building to power. The sealed downspouts each go to a specific turbine. The combination of the sealed downspout and turbine are optimized for a specific flow rate of water or amount of rainfall. When one sealed downspout has reached its maximum flow rate, it will overflow into the next downspout in the series. This repeats down the series until there is no more rainfall overflow. Due to the variable nature in rainfall, its possible to have 1 of the turbines in the series running or multiple.

[0010] The sealed downspouts are each filled with water even while the turbines are not running. A check valve is located at the bottom of each sealed downspout such that water is only allowed to pass once the water column reaches a specific height or water pressure. Water is corralled by taking advantage of the roof architecture or via the construction of additional slopes. The trigger of the check valve is rainfall which will raise the height of the water column in the sealed downspout as water is corralled into the sealed downspout. Once the check valve is opened, rain water will be pushed out via the high pressure of the water column through a small hole at the bottom of the sealed pipe in a jet like fashion to power a turbine.

[0011] Turbines have commonly been in use in rivers and lakes, but have not been adapted for use with buildings or many different city structures. Utilizing small turbines with a series of check valves and sealed downspouts has the potential to generate high amounts of hydroelectric power during rain. Several models have been developed to highlight the amount of electricity generated. A moderate rainfall (0.1 inch/hour) has the potential to generate large amounts of power on a high rise, apartment building, or parking garage. The USF Beard parking garage would generate an estimated 3000 Kw/h in a moderate rainfall utilizing an optimized series of downspouts, check valves, and turbines. The Rivergate tower in Tampa would generate an estimated 4000 Kw/h in a moderate rainfall utilizing an optimized series of downspouts, check valves, and turbines.