High-mass hydro rotor for hydroelectric power generation
OwnerLeonard Van Haeckeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A run-of-the-river hydroelectric generating plant is disclosed, in which river water is diverted downstream, used in the hydroelectric generation process, and sent back to the river. A high-mass, large diameter hydro rotor for hydroelectric power generation is disclosed. A large diameter circular horizontal water flow, the desired water flow regime, is created to float and rotate the high-mass hydro rotor, which is coupled to a turbine shaft. Extremely high torque and angular momentum is provided for conversion into extremely high energy output. The desired water flow regime can be augmented with different configurations of penstocks, intake channels, and discharge channels.
Claims19
A hydroelectric generation system comprising:
- a water intake to receive water from a first elevation;
- a circular horizontal flow channel receiving said water from said water intake at a second, lower elevation, said circular horizontal flow channel comprising a depth and a width;
- a water discharge receiving said water from said circular horizontal flow channel to discharge said water to a third elevation lower than said second elevation;
- a floating rotating body carried by said water in said circular horizontal flow channel and rotating about an axis of said circular horizontal flow channel, said floating rotating body comprising a plurality of spaced apart barges;
- and
- a coupling between said floating rotating body and at least one of an electric generating system, a pump, and a compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.