Energy generating unit

Abstract

An energy generating unit for generating electric energy from water power is provided. At least one turbine system is installed in a conventional standard container in a channel which rungs in the standard container. The channel is arranged in the flow direction of a surrounding body of water. A fishway is provided on or in the standard container.

Claims

1. An energy generating unit for generating electrical energy from water power, comprising: a commercially available standard shipping container insertable into a surrounding body of water having a flow direction; at least one turbine system installed in a channel extending inside the commercially available standard shipping container in the flow direction; and at least one fishway provided at least one of in the commercially available standard shipping container and on at least one external side of the commercially available standard shipping container, wherein at least one of the at least one fishways provided on at least one external side of the standard shipping container is arranged in the flow direction of the surrounding body of water, extends between the shipping container and a bank of the body of water, and includes a plurality of inflatable flow-slowing barriers configured to be inflated by at least one of a gas and a liquid, the plurality of inflatable flow-slowing barriers extending partially between the at least one external side of the standard shipping container and the bank of the body of water such that flow along the at least one external side of the standard shipping container is not stopped.

2. The energy generating unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one further channel extending inside the commercially available standard shipping container in the flow direction in which no turbine is provided.

3. The energy generating unit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: flow-slowing barriers provided in the further channel.

4. The energy generating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one turbine system includes a centrifugal pump impeller as a turbine wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an energy generating unit, viewed from above, in the direction of flow of the body of water and from the side in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a first alternative embodiment of the energy generating unit according to the invention, and

(3) FIG. 3 shows a second alternative embodiment of the energy generating unit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) A body of water 1, in particular flowing water, is shown in FIG. 1, it being advantageous if the banks and the bed 2 of the body of water 1 run as straight as possible. The direction of flow 3 is indicated by arrows. When there is a sufficient flow, it is advisable to introduce an energy generating unit into the body of water 1, it being accommodated in a standard shipping container 4, as shown in FIG. 1. This standard shipping container 4 dams the body of water 1 so that there is a difference in level between the upstream side 5 and the downstream side 6. This difference is compensated by the water flowing laterally past the standard shipping container or, as shown in the middle of FIG. 1, through a channel 7 provided in the standard shipping container 1. A section through the standard shipping container 1 is shown in the lower part of FIG. 1, a turbine 9 and a switch box 10 being shown schematically, the switch box 10 representing all the components which are necessary for converting the mechanical kinetic energy of the turbine into electrical energy. The electrical energy generated is guided through a cable 8 to a consumer unit or fed into an existing network. The arrangement shown corresponds essentially to the already known prior art.

(5) A first alternative embodiment of the energy generating unit according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2. The standard shipping container 4 is arranged in the body of water 1. The inside of the standard shipping container 4 is equipped as in the example shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3. The standard shipping container 4 divides the flow of water into a part that flows through the channel 7 through the inside of the standard shipping container 4 and discharges its energy to the turbine there, and a part that flows laterally past and under the standard shipping container 4. According to the invention, at the sides that face the bank and the bed of the body of water 2, the standard shipping container 4 has flow barriers 11 which reduce the flow of water in the edge area. The flow of water around the standard shipping container 4 is decelerated but is not completely stopped. In this partial flow of the body of water, fish and other aquatic animals are able to pass by the energy generating unit unharmed. Other flow barriers which are attached from the bankside in such a way that a meandering flow of water occurs are not shown in FIG. 2.

(6) In the form shown, the energy generating unit according to the invention can be introduced very flexibly into the bed of the body of water. It can be used directly to generate electrical energy without almost any further expense. If the energy generating unit is removed from the bed of the body of water, no other structures need to be removed apart from the standard shipping container.

(7) FIG. 3 shows a second alternative embodiment of the energy generating unit according to the invention in plan view. The arrangement of channel 7 and turbine 9 can be seen in the cross-section of the standard shipping container 4. In addition, a further channel 12 is shown which is designed as a fishway. The flow through this further channel 12 is decelerated by flow barriers 13. On its external sides, the standard shipping container 4 has flow barriers 11 which seal the area between the standard shipping container 4 and the bank 2. As a result of this seal, the damming effect of the energy generating unit can be adapted according to the requirements for energy generation and to the local marginal conditions of the body of water. For optimal adaptation to the geometry of the bank area and the bed of the body of water, the flow barriers 11 are produced from an elastic material which can be pumped up like a balloon, the surrounding water being suitable for filling them. The location and filling process for the flow barriers 11 are designed in such a way that the local ecosystem is minimally affected; in particular for example, a protective grating in the region of the flow barriers 11 prevents individual fish from being trapped between two flow barriers 11 during the filling process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(8) 1 Body of water 2 Bank/bed 3 Direction of flow 4 Shipping container 5 Upstream side 6 Downstream side 7 Channel 8 Electricity network 9 Turbine 10 Switch box 11 Flow barrier 12 Fish ladder 13 Flow barrier

(9) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.