System and method for an in-conduit hydroturbine
AssigneeInpipe Energy, Inc.
InventorsMichael Connor, Jr., Thomas Beales, Gregory T. Semler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and methods for an electric power generating system are described. In one example, the electric power generating system includes a controller that adjusts a speed of a turbine that is located along a bypass conduit via a regenerative drive in response to a downstream pressure. The electric power generating system also includes a bypass valve that is located along the bypass conduit to control a system pressure when the turbine is not adjusted responsive to the downstream pressure.
Claims19
An electrical power generating system, comprising:
- a bypass conduit including a bypass control valve and a turbine;
- a primary conduit including a primary control valve;
- and
- a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory that causes the controller to:
- responsive to a fluid flow rate through the primary conduit being greater than a minimum threshold flow rate, adjust a speed of the turbine in response to a downstream pressure while the bypass control valve is fully open,
- where the downstream pressure is a pressure in the primary conduit downstream of the primary control valve.
A method for an electrical power generating system, comprising:
- responsive to a flow rate through a primary conduit being greater than a minimum threshold flow rate, via a controller, fully opening a bypass control valve and adjusting a speed of a turbine in a bypass conduit in response to a downstream pressure in a fluid distribution system, the downstream pressure being a pressure in the primary conduit downstream of a primary control valve, the bypass conduit parallel with the primary conduit, the bypass control valve positioned in the bypass conduit.
An electrical power generating system, comprising:
- a bypass conduit including a bypass control valve and a turbine;
- a primary conduit including a primary control valve;
- and
- a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory that causes the controller to operate the electrical power generating system in a plurality of operating states including a fourth operating state where the bypass control valve is fully open, and a speed of the turbine is adjusted in response to a downstream pressure when a fluid flow rate through the primary conduit is greater than a minimum threshold flow rate, where the downstream pressure is a pressure in the primary conduit downstream of the primary control valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.