# US 8,770,916 B1 · Hydroelectric power generation system

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- Number: US 8,770,916 B1
- Document ID: US8770916B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/825,285
- Filed: 2013-01-18
- Published: 2014-07-03
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-31
- Assignees: Kiyotoshi Murai
- Applicants: Kiyotoshi Murai
- Inventors: Kiyotoshi Murai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770916B1

## CPC

- F01D 1/32: with pressure velocity transformation exclusively in rotor, e.g. the rotor rotating under the influence of jets issuing from the rotor, {e.g. Heron turbines (the working fluid being a combustion products F02C3/165; jet propulsion plants per se F02K)}
- F03B 3/00: Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
- F03B 3/08: with pressure-velocity transformation exclusively in rotors
- F03B 11/002: {Injecting air or other fluid (F03D80/40, F03B11/04, F03B15/00 take precedence)}
- F03B 11/02: Casings {(spiral or volute casings F03B3/186)}
- F03B 17/005: {Installations wherein the liquid circulates in a closed loop (F03B13/06 takes precedence); Alleged perpetua mobilia of this or similar kind (perpetua mobilia using hydrostatic thrust or buoyancy F03B17/04)}
- F05B 2240/123: Nozzles
- F05B 2240/242: of reaction type
- F05B 2240/93: on a structure floating on a liquid surface
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Provide a hydroelectric power generation system that can increase generation efficiency by keeping the rotational resistance of the runner low, while preventing water contamination at the same time. The hydroelectric power generation system has: a first water storage tank 20 with a high-pressure water injection port 21 on the bottom face; a runner 40 which is stored in a condition of floating in the first water storage tank; and multiple transmission members 50 that contact the outer periphery surface of the runner and transmit the rotational force of the runner to the principal axis of rotation 61 in the generator unit 60. The runner has: a casing 41 of a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and having an opening 41b at the center of the bottom face; an introduction pipe 42 that rises upward from the opening to introduce into the casing high-pressure water injected from the injection port; first guide pipes 43 that extend radially from around the introduction pipe to the inner side face of the casing; and first injection nozzles 44 provided at the tips of the first guide pipes; wherein the reactive force of the high-pressure water injected from the first injection nozzles is utilized to turn the runner. Use of no bearing eliminates the problem of lower rotational efficiency of the runner due to generation of frictional resistance at the bearing, and the problem of lubricating oil leaking out of the system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydroelectric power generation system, having:
a first water storage tank with a high-pressure water injection port on a bottom face;
a runner which is stored in a condition of floating in the first water storage tank; and
multiple transmission members that contact an outer periphery surface of the runner and transmit a rotational force of the runner to a principal axis of rotation in a generator unit;
said hydroelectric power generation system characterized in that the runner has a casing of a cylindrical shape with a bottom and having an opening at a center of the bottom face; an introduction pipe that rises upward from the opening to introduce into the casing high-pressure water injected from the injection port; multiple first guide pipes that extend radially from around the introduction pipe to an inner side face of the casing; first injection nozzles provided at tips of the first guide pipes; and
wherein a reactive force of the high-pressure water injected from the first injection nozzles in a circumferential direction of the casing is utilized to turn the runner.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that reverse injection nozzles are provided on an inner face of the first water storage tank which inject water in a direction opposite an injection direction of the high-pressure water from the first injection nozzles.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the runner has:
an outer introduction pipe whose diameter is larger than that of the introduction pipe and which rises upward from the opening wherein the introduction pipe is inserted inside the outer introduction pipe;
multiple second guide pipes that extend from around the outer introduction pipe radially to the inner side face of the casing; and
second injection nozzles provided at tips of the second guide pipes;
wherein each first injection nozzle and each second injection nozzle are integrated near the inner side face of the casing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 3, characterized by having at least one of a first connection pipe that interconnects the multiple first guide pipes and a second connection pipe that interconnects the multiple second guide pipes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 3, characterized in that the first guide pipes, first injection nozzles, second guide pipes and second injection nozzles are arranged in such a way that they do not overlap vertically in a plan view.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the first guide pipes and second guide pipes is made smaller in cross-section area toward a radial outward direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 3, characterized in that a screw is provided below the outer introduction pipe and this screw rotates together with the runner to take water from the first water storage tank into the outer introduction pipe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the inner side face and bottom face of the first water storage tank has surface irregularities.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A hydroelectric power generation system according to claim 1, characterized by having a second water storage tank at a position where a level of water therein becomes higher than a level of water in the first water storage tank, so that a water level difference between the first water storage tank and second water storage tank is utilized to generate high-pressure water.