Power generating apparatus and method

An energy-generation apparatus (100, 200) arranged to be positioned below a falling material and to generate electricity from the falling material, the energy-generation apparatus comprising:

• a cuboid transportable housing (1);
• a capture wheel (2) mounted on the transportable housing (1), wherein the capture wheel (2) is arranged to receive the falling material and to be caused to rotate by the falling material;
• a generator (10) located within the transportable housing (1), the generator (10) being arranged to be driven by rotation of the capture wheel (2) to generate electricity;
• and
• wherein the capture wheel (2) is mounted on a wheel shaft (3), the wheel shaft (3) passing through a wall of the transportable housing (1), such that the capture wheel (2) is located outside of the transportable housing (1) and linked to the generator (1) located within the transportable housing (1) via the wheel shaft (3).

An energy-generation apparatus (100, 200) arranged to be positioned below a falling material and to generate electricity from the falling material, the energy-generation apparatus comprising:

• a cuboid transportable housing (1);
• a capture wheel (2) mounted on the transportable housing (1), wherein the capture wheel (2) is arranged to receive the falling material and to be caused to rotate by the falling material, the capture wheel (2) comprising an outer ring (2b), and wherein an outer surface of the outer ring (2b) comprises a layer of a shock-absorbent material;
• and
• a generator (10) located within the transportable housing (1), the generator (10) being arranged to be driven by rotation of the capture wheel (2) to generate electricity.

A capture wheel (2) arranged to receive a solid falling material and to be caused to rotate by the solid falling material;

• the capture wheel (2) comprising:
• a hub (170), the hub (170) comprising a central core (2f) encapsulated in a layer of a resilient material (2g);
• and
• a wheel framework (2b, 2d, 2e) extending from the hub (170), wherein the wheel framework is connected to the layer of resilient material.

An energy-generation method (300) for generating electricity from falling material, the energy-generation method (300) comprising:

• obtaining (302) an energy-generation apparatus (100) comprising a transportable housing (1) and a capture wheel (2) arranged to be mounted thereon;
• positioning (304) the energy-generation apparatus (100) beneath the falling material such that the capture wheel (2) receives the falling material and is caused to rotate thereby, wherein the positioning (304) the transportable housing (1) comprises removing the capture wheel (2) from inside the transportable housing (1) and mounting the capture wheel (2) on the transportable housing (1);
• and
• generating (306) electricity using a generator (10) located within the transportable housing (1) and arranged to be driven by rotation of the capture wheel (2).