Stand Alone Hydro Electric Power Supply System

Abstract

A “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” that comprises an upper water tank and a lower water tank. The tanks are positioned where the said upper water tank is placed above the said lower water tank to create a necessary water flow from top to bottom. Also used is a water pump; a first turbine to generate electricity dedicated to power the water pump so as to extract water from said lower water tank back up to said upper water tank. There is also the ability within this device for a second turbine to generate electricity for consumer usage. A plurality of pipes are also incorporated so as to create water passages between said upper water tank, said first and second turbine, and said water pump.

Claims

1. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” comprising: an upper water tank; a lower water tank, said upper water tank is placed above said lower water tank to create necessary water head; a water pump; a first turbine to generate electricity dedicated to power up said water pump to extract water from said lower water tank back up to said upper water tank; a second turbine to generate electricity for home or business usage; and a plurality of pipes to create water passage between said upper water tank, said first and second turbine, and said water pump.

2. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 1, further comprising a third turbine to generate electricity for home or business usage.

3. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 1 or 2, further comprising pipe reducers to create high speed water jet.

4. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said plurality of pipes reduce in diameter as it gets closer to water inlets of said first and second turbine to obtain a high speed water jet.

5. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a standalone support to place said upper water tank above the ground.

6. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in

1. or 2, wherein said lower water tank is placed under ground.

7. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said lower water tank is smaller than said upper water tank in size.

8. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 3, further comprising an electronic and float switches mechanism dedicated to said first, second, or third turbine.

9. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 8, further comprising emergency shut off mechanism dedicated to said water pump.

10. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 9, wherein said water pump is connected to the system backup power supply.

11. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 10, wherein said lower water tank is configured with overflow protection.

12. A stand alone “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” as in claim 11, wherein said upper water tank is pre-filled with clean filtered water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment of present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of one embodiment of present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a system diagram for one embodiment of the present invention. A “Hydro Electric Power Supply System” 100 comprises an upper water tank 101, a lower water tank 102, said upper water tank 101 is placed above said lower water tank 102 to create necessary water head; a water pump 106; a first turbine 104 to generate electricity dedicated to power said water pump to extract water from said lower water tank 102 back up to said upper water tank 101; a second turbine 105 to generate electricity for consumer usage; and a plurality of pipes to form water passage ways between said upper water tank, said first and second turbine, and said water pump.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, upper water tank 101 is placed 20-30 feet above ground, either on the roof of a building or on free standing support. Lower water tank 102 is positioned below the upper tank to collect water from the upper tank. A minimum water head is created to power up the turbine runners. Turbines 104 and 105 and lower water tank 102 may be placed under ground to prevent overheating in warmer climates. By doing so, it may help to cool the water passing through the turbines as well as lessen the noise of the turbines and water pump. It may also reduce the required height of the water tank above the ground.

[0027] Each water pipe runs from the bottom of upper tank 101 and connects to a pipe reducer 103. The diameter of said pipe reducer 103 is in line with the diameters of water inlets of said turbines 104 and 105. The pressure coming out of pipe reducer 103 will increase significantly to create a high speed water jet. It strikes the turbine runners to drive the generator producing electricity. Alternatively, to obtain a high speed water jet, each pipe can reduce in diameter as it gets closer to water inlets of said turbines 104 and 105.

[0028] Water flowing through the turbines 104 and 105 is collected in lower tank 102. For the sake of illustration, Turbine 104 is dedicated to generate electricity for AC and DC loads. Turbine 105 is dedicated to power a water pump 106. Water pump 106 is used to pump the water collected in lower water tank 102 back to upper water tank 101. So that there is always enough water in upper water tank 101 to run through said turbines 104 and 105. Water pump 106 can be connected to the system backup power supply (either a battery bank or a diesel generator or both, not shown in FIG. 1) in case that turbine 105 fails to produce electricity.

[0029] Water pump 106 pumps water up back into upper tank 101 at a rate equal to the rate of water falling through the pipes down into lower tank 102. The size of lower tank 102 is the same as size of upper water tank 101. It can be less than the size of the upper tank 101 as long as the water collected in lower tank 102 is pumped back up at the same rate of water flowing into it. Lower water tank 102 is configured with overflow discharge channel (not shown) in case of unprepared pump failure.

[0030] “HELPS” System 100 is pre-filled with clean filtered water to prevent or minimize pipe corrosion and damage to the turbines. Upper water tank 101 can be supplied with alternative reliable water sources such as city or county water, underground water. Such water intake is needed to prevent water loss during daily operation.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a functional diagram of one embodiment of present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, electricity output of turbine 201 is provided to power up water pump 204 in a known way. The water pump 204 is configured to match the speed of water inflow and outflow.

[0032] Electricity output of turbine 202 is supplied to power up home or business applications. Turbine 202 is electrically connected to a battery bank 207, AC loads 208 and DC loads 209. The details of connection are commonly known, and an example of which may be found in the following link http://www.eeca.govt.nz/sites/all/files/power-from-the-people-microgen-guide-nov2010.pdf, therefore is incorporated in the entirety by reference.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, in another embodiment according to present invention, a configuration with more than two turbines is available. Turbine 202 and turbine 203 both generate electricity for home or business general use. A higher capacity water pump 204 can be employed to accommodate increased volume of water collecting in the lower water tank.

[0034] In the event of the water pump failing, to prevent water from overflowing the lower water tank, the system includes an electronic and float switches mechanism 205, which trigger the shutoff of turbines and close water inflow pipes thereby stopping water from continuing through the turbines 201, 202 and 203.

[0035] In the event where said turbine 202 or/and 203 fails, an emergency shutoff 205 is connected to each individual turbine in a known fashion. The emergency shutoff 205 can be operated manually to shut off the system to avoid risk of lower water tank overflowing.

[0036] While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.

[0037] Additional general background, which helps to show variations and implementations, may be found in the following patent application publications, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,608 to disclose a turbine driven power generating system.

[0038] The claims as filed are intended to be as comprehensive as possible, and NO subject matter is intentionally relinquished, dedicated, or abandoned.