Hydroelectric power system and pump
AssigneeYourbrook Energy Systems Ltd.
InventorLaird Galen Bateham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydroelectric power system and pump suitable for the system are disclosed which can make efficient use of the energy available in water flows with considerably variable flow rates. A simple, compact variable displacement axial piston pump can be operated so as to provide an essentially constant output pumping pressure and variable output volume that varies efficiently in accordance with water flow rate. The system is particularly suitable for shoreline tidal power generation and provides firm power output throughout the tidal slacks occurring during the tidal reversals.
Claims9
A hydropower pump comprising:
- a variable displacement piston pump comprising a rotating shaft, a fixed piston cylinder cluster, a fixed manifold and valve assembly, a piston assembly, a rotating swash plate pivot assembly, and a control assembly for adjusting the angle of the swash plates in the swash plate pivot assembly;
- and
- a waterwheel blade directly connected to the rotating shaft.
A method for generating hydroelectric power comprising:
- identifying a source of flowing water wherein the a water speed of the flowing water varies over a range greater than about 1 m/s in breadth;
- providing a hydropower pump including a variable displacement piston pump having a rotating shaft, a fixed piston cylinder cluster, a fixed manifold and valve assembly, a piston assembly, a rotating swash plate pivot assembly, and a control assembly for adjusting an angle of swash plates in the swash plate pivot assembly, the hydropower pump also including a waterwheel blade directly connected to the rotating shaft of the variable displacement piston pump;
- providing a supply of pumpwater;
- positioning the waterwheel blade in the flowing water such that the rotating shaft rotates with the flowing water and pumps pumpwater from the supply;
- controlling the angle of the swash plates in the pump such that the angle is decreased and increased in accordance with a respective decrease and increase in water speed of the flowing water while maintaining an essentially constant output pressure of pumpwater from the pump over most of the water speed range;
- and
- storing the pumped pumpwater in an upper reservoir positioned above the hydropower pump.
A hydropower pump comprising:
- a variable displacement piston pump selected from the group consisting of a variable displacement axial piston pump and a variable displacement radial piston pump, the variable displacement piston pump comprising a rotating shaft, a fixed piston cylinder cluster, a fixed manifold and valve assembly, a piston assembly, a rotating assembly adjusting displacement, and a control assembly controlling the rotating assembly;
- and
- a waterwheel blade directly connected to the rotating shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.