Abstract
A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows is provided. The apparatus has an elongated module having a mechanical side and a hydraulic side, a generator coupled to the mechanical side. The hydraulic side having a set of paddles partially submerged in a water flow. The elongated module has a pivoting point on its mechanical side so that the hydraulic side follows an arc trajectory. The paddles are configured to change positions based on the angular location of the arc trajectory.
Claims
1. A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows, the power generation apparatus comprising: an elongated module comprising a mechanical side and a hydraulic side; and a generator coupled to the mechanical side of the elongated module; wherein the hydraulic side comprises a set of paddles along such elongated module being such paddles disposed at least partially submerged in a water flow and wherein such paddles further comprise means from changing from a first position having a first effective area and a second position having a second effective area which is lower that the first effective area; wherein the elongated module is attached, on its mechanical side, to a pivoting point so that the hydraulic side follows an arc trajectory from a first angular position to a second angular position; being the paddles configured to to change to its first position when the elongated module is at the first angular location and to change to the second position when the elongated module is at the second angular location.
2. The power generation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first angular location is a location upstream the second angular location with respect to the water flow.
3. The power generation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first position of the paddles is a position wherein the paddles are substantially perpendicular to the water flow.
4. The power generation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second position of the paddles is a position wherein the paddles are substantially parallel to the water flow.
5. The power generation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongated module is connected to the generator by means of a toothed mechanism connected to a toothed wheel on the generator.
6. The power generation apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the toothed mechanism has an arc shape.
7. The power generation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises at least two elongated modules.
8. The power generation apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the elongated modules are located at different heights.
9. The power generation apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the modules are located at different angular positions.
10. The power generation apparatus according to claim 9 wherein at least two modules are coupled to move at opposite directions.
11. The power generation apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the modules are connected to opposite sides of a toothed wheel.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in one position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a general side view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in one position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation.
[0022] FIG. 3 is another general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in another position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation.
[0023] FIG. 4 is another general side view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in another position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation.
[0024] FIG. 5 is yet another general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in another position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation.
[0025] FIG. 6 is yet another general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules this time with a series of paddles at the river end of each module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The following figures are not to scale. The actual dimension and/or shape of each of the device components may vary. Only important details of the device are shown, however one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate how the overall device may be constructed, without undue experimentation. As the main function of the device relates to transforming the drag force exerted by a water flow on submerged paddles mounted in elongated modules, it is theoretically well known that such dragging force is proportional to geometrical elements of the paddle (dragging coefficient and projected area perpendicular to the flow) and properties of the flow (speed and density), so certain small geometric or shape modification of the paddles with respect the shapes shown in these figures are considered in order to increase the dragging coefficient. Regarding the paddle size and number in each elongated module, as it is proportional to the drag force, it will depend on the desired level of power generation and the conditions of the water source where it will be placed.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in one position and with semicircle rack (semicircular toothed wheel) in contact with a power take off system during operation. The apparatus is composed by a least two elongated modules 1 and 2, attached to a pivoting axis 3. At the river or water end of each of the elongated modules there is a set of paddles. The set of paddles 4a of elongated module 1 is in a position parallel to the direction of the river or water flow, therefore having the paddles 4a little exposure to the drag force of the current of the water or fluid, the elongated module 1 is located at a first angular position. In this position of paddles 4a, the water end of the elongated module 1 is moving upstream. The set of paddles 4b of elongated module 2 is in a position perpendicular to the direction of the river or water flow, therefore having the paddles 4b totally exposure to the drag force of the current of the water or fluid. In this position of paddles 4b, the water end of the elongated module 2 is moving downstream. At the mechanical side, at the end of elongated module 1 there is a semicircular rack 5a that is in contact with the upper side of large pinion or dented wheel 6, as to transmit the upstream movement of the set of paddles 4a to shaft 7, converting the elongated module 1 movement to a rotary movement. Looking at large pinion or dented wheel 6 from left to right in FIG. 1, pinion 6 is moving clockwise at this moment. At the land end of elongated module 2 there is a semicircular rack 5b that is in contact with the lower side of large pinion or dented wheel 6, as to transmit the downstream movement of the set of paddles 4b to shaft 7, converting the elongated module 2 movement to a rotary movement. Looking at large pinion or toothed wheel 6 from left to right in FIG. 1, pinion 6 is moving clockwise at this moment. The movements of both elongated modules 1 and 2 shift or change direction when the position of paddles 4a and 4b change from parallel and perpendicular and from perpendicular to parallel respectively in relation to the direction of the flow current, the apparatus according to the present invention can be configured to change the position of the paddles depending on the angular position of the elongated body. This repeats the cycle again but now in the opposite direction, ending with pinion 6 moving counterclockwise if seen from left to right in FIG. 1. Then shaft 7 transmit the back and forth rotary movement derived from the cycles described above to a gearbox 8 which purpose is to convert this back and forth rotary movement to a rotary movement in a single direction. This rotary movement in a single direction is then transmitted to shaft 9 that transmits this power to a generator or drive any other mechanical or electrical device. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the power take off system is in land (left of coast line 10) mounted on a chassis 11. The paddles at the river end of elongated modules 1 and 2 change positions (parallel or perpendicular the direction of the flow) through component 12a and 12b respectively. In order to give stability to the set of paddles at the river end of each elongated module, there are float 13a and 13b just above each set of paddles.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a general side view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in one position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation. As it can be seen from the figure, the paddle 4a of elongated module 1 are in a position parallel to the direction of the flow, making the river end of the elongated module 1 move inward in FIG. 2. Also as it can be seen from the figure, the paddle 4b of elongated module 2 are in a position perpendicular to the direction of the flow, exposing it to the full drag force of the water and making the river end of the elongated module 2 move outward in FIG. 2. In this figure, the bottom of the river 14 can be seen and also the different in size of elongated modules 1 and 2 can be appreciated. This different in size of the elongated modules 1 and 2 is necessary as to avoid collision of the paddles when they pass site by site during each cycle.
[0029] FIG. 3 is another general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in another position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation. The set of paddles 4a of elongated module 1 is in a position perpendicular to the direction of the river or water flow, therefore having the paddles 4a maximum exposure to the drag force of the current of the water or fluid, i.e., a maximum effective area. In this position of paddles 4a, the water end of the elongated module 1 is moving downstream. The set of paddles 4b of elongated module 2 is in a position parallel to the direction of the river or water flow, therefore having the paddles 4b minimum exposure to the drag force of the current of the water or fluid, i.e., having a minimum effective area. In this position of paddles 4b, the water end of the elongated module 2 is moving upstream. At the land end of elongated module 1 there is a semicircular rack 5a that is in contact with the upper side of large pinion or dented wheel 6, as to transmit the upstream movement of the set of paddles 4a to shaft 7, converting the elongated module 1 movement to a rotary movement. Looking at large pinion or dented wheel 6 from left to right in FIG. 3, pinion 6 is moving counterclockwise at this moment.
[0030] FIG. 4 is another general side view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in another position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation. As it can be seen from the figure, the paddle 4a of elongated module 1 are in a position perpendicular to the direction of the flow, exposing it to maximum drag force of the current and making the river end of the elongated module 1 move outward in FIG. 4. Also as it can be seen from the figure, the paddle 4b of elongated module 2 are in a position parallel to the direction of the flow, exposing it to minimum drag force of the water and making the river end of the elongated module 2 move inward in FIG. 4.
[0031] FIG. 5 is yet another general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules with paddles at one end (the river side end) in another position and with semicircle rack in contact with a power take off system during operation. The set of paddles 4a of elongated module 1, in a position perpendicular to the direction of the river or water flow, has reached the end of its cycle and is at the farthest down position in FIG. 5.
[0032] FIG. 6 is yet another general top view of the first embodiment of two elongated modules this time with a series of paddles at the river end of each module. The set of paddles 4a and 4b of elongated modules 1 and 2 are composed of several paddles in order to increased power take off of the system or device.
