DESC:HYDRO POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

Field of invention:

The present invention relates to electrical power generation, and more particularly to a hydro power generation system.

Background of the invention:

The hydro power generation includes extraction of potential energy from pressurized system of fluid and rotate a turbine coupled to generator to produce electricity. The pressurized fluid can be water or any other liquid to rotate the turbine.

A known micro/picohydro power plant for generating power/ electrical energy comprises a separate turbine (or pump as turbine (PaT)) and brushless/brushed single-phase/three-phase synchronous generator (5 kVA and above) units integrated to each other using shaft coupling or similar arrangement provided on the respective shaft of turbine and generator.

Another known hydraulic unit for power generation employs a separate turbine (or pump as turbine (PaT)) and slip-ring (not brush less) single phase synchronous generator (2.5 kVA and above) units integrated to each other using shaft coupling or similar arrangement provided on the respective shaft of turbine and generator. Other hydro generators are available with a mono block unit of turbine (or pump as turbine (PaT)) and induction motor as generator (IMAG).

Although it is a known technology of supplying power from hydraulic power plant, a variety of hydro power generators has been in use with various configurations. Accordingly the existing techniques have the deficiencies listed below:
a) No mono block hydro turbine generator set is available with brushless synchronous generator below 5 kVA.
b) Deficiency of turbine (or pump as turbine (PaT)) and synchronous generator units integrated to each other using shaft coupling or similar arrangement provided on the respective shaft of turbine and generator.
c) Turbine and generator independent mounting arrangement and individual pair of bearings increases cost and provide a reduced reliability. Such an arrangement requires larger space to occupy.
d) Hydro-turbine generator unit below 5 kVA comes with slip ring, which requires frequent maintenance.
e) The reactive power of the generator needs to be compensated to keep the voltage constant under variable load conditions. This is not possible with induction motor with fixed capacitors. Hence in the mono block turbine-induction motor unit the voltage becomes unstable.
f) The drawbacks of the monoblock unit of turbine (or pump as turbine (PaT)) and induction motor as generator (IMAG) also includes, reduced reliability, lower efficiency and requirement of costlier dynamic reactive power compensation methods.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a monoblock synchronous hydro generator that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and economic turbine generator unit.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a reliable and quality power supply below 5 kVA.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a self-compensation of reactive power so that the voltage remains stable under variable load.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide high efficiency hydro generator.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hydro power generation system comprises a hydro turbine, a mounting casing, an adaptor, a plurality of bearings, an intrinsic friction coupling and a generator that are assembled in a mono block configuration. The hydro turbine is a pump operating as a turbine. The generator is a single phase synchronous generator. A runner of the hydro turbine is mounted on a shaft of the generator to form a turbine-generator. The turbine-generator unit is supported by the plurality of bearings that make the turbine-generator unit extremely compact and economic. The plurality of bearings includes a first pair of bearings mounted at driving side and a second pair of bearings mounted at non-driving side of the generator.

The adapter is a casted /fabricated cylindrical part which has holes and spigots on either side, matching to the flanges of hydro turbine and the generator respectively. The adapter facilitates independent manufacturing of the hydro turbine and the generator as per applicable standards. The intrinsic friction coupling enables manufacturing of the generator and hydro turbine independently together with individual shafts and integration to a mono block unit at assembly stage. The torque generated by the turbine is transferred to the generator through the intrinsic friction coupling.

The hydro turbine converts the hydraulic energy in to mechanical energy. The mechanical energy gets transmitted through the intrinsic friction coupling and drives the generator. The generator converts the mechanical energy in to electrical energy and self-compensates the reactive power required under variable load conditions. Hence, the voltage is maintained constant at a rated rotational speed. Single phase alternating current is produced by the generator, hence can be directly connected to the domestic loads.

Brief description of drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a hydro power generation system in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a compact hydro power generation system comprising a miniature hydro turbine and a single-phase brush less synchronous generator for electrical power generation up to 5 kVA. The voltage and frequency of the generator has linear correlation with the rotational speed and the variable reactive power demand. Hence, the hydro power generation system keeps a stable voltage level under varying load at any particular rotational speed.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and the table given below.
Table:
Component Name Component Number
Hydro power generation system 100
Mounting casing 2
Adaptor 3
First pair of bearings 4a
Second pair of bearings 4b
Intrinsic friction coupling 5
Generator 6
Shaft 7

Referring to the figure 1, there is shown a hydro power generation system (100) (hereinafter referred as, “the system (100)”), in accordance with the present invention. The system (100) comprises a hydro turbine (1), a mounting casing (2), an adaptor (3), a plurality of bearings (4a, 4b), an intrinsic friction coupling (5) and a generator (6).

The hydro turbine (1) has a runner (not numbered) and flanges (not numbered) configured thereon. In an embodiment, the hydro turbine (1) is a pump operating as a turbine.

The generator (6) has a shaft (7) arranged at a centre thereof and flanges (not numbered) configured thereon. In the embodiment, the generator (6) is a single phase synchronous generator. The runner of the hydro turbine (1) is mounted on the shaft (7) of the generator (6) to form a turbine-generator unit that rotates according to the hydro power. The turbine-generator unit is supported by the plurality of bearings (4a, 4b) that make the turbine-generator unit extremely compact and economic. The plurality of bearings (4a, 4b) includes a first pair of bearings (4a) mounted at driving side and a second pair of bearings (4b) mounted at non-driving side of the generator (6).

In a preferred embodiment, the components the hydro turbine (1), the mounting casing (2), the adaptor (3), the first pair of bearings (4a), the intrinsic friction coupling (5), the generator (6) and the second pair of bearings (4b) are assembled in a mono block configuration.

Specifically, the adapter (3) is a casted /fabricated cylindrical part which has holes and spigots on either side, matching to the flanges of turbine (1) and generator (6) respectively. The adapter (3) facilitates independent manufacturing of the turbine (1) and generator (6) as per applicable standards.

The torque generated by the turbine is transferred to the generator through friction coupling (5). A tie rod (not shown) is fixed to the conical end of the shaft (7) at the turbine (1) side that passes to then on driving side of the generator (6) through the center hole provided in the shaft (7). Frictional force is generated at the conical end of the turbine shaft (1) by tightening a nut on the threaded end of the tie rod at the non-driving side of the generator (6). The intrinsic friction coupling (5) enables manufacturing of the generator (6) and the hydro turbine (1) independently together with individual shafts and integration to a mono block unit at assembly stage.

The hydro turbine (1) converts the hydraulic energy in to mechanical energy. The mechanical energy gets transmitted through the intrinsic friction coupling (5) and drives the generator (6). The generator (6) converts the mechanical energy in to electrical energy and self-compensates the reactive power required under variable load conditions. Hence, the voltage is maintained constant at a rated rotational speed. Single phase alternating current is produced by the generator (6) hence can be directly connected to the domestic loads.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The system (100) provides a self-compensation of reactive power so that the voltage remains stable under variable load at any particular rotational speed.
2. The intrinsic friction coupling (5) enables the manufacturing of the generator (6) and hydro turbine (1) independently together and integrating to form a mono block unit at the assembly stage.
3. The turbine-generator unit having mono block design is compact and economic.
4. The system (100) has brushless single-phase generator for producing reliable and quality power supply below 5 kVA. Hydro turbine with Brushless synchronous generator below 5 kVA is not available commercially.
5. The system (100) converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy using synchronous generator which is more efficient than induction motor operating as generator.
6. In the system, turbine runner is mounted on the shaft (7) of the generator (6) and the complete rotating assembly is supported by only two bearings, this makes the turbine-generator unit extremely compact and economic.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A hydro power generation system (100) comprising:
a hydro turbine (1) having a runner and flanges configured thereon;
a mounting casing (2) operably connected to the hydro turbine (1);
an adaptor (3) assembled therein;
a generator (6) having a shaft (7) arranged at a center and flanges configured thereon, wherein the runner of the hydro turbine (1) is mounted on the shaft (7) of the generator (6) to form a turbine-generator unit;
a plurality of bearings (4a, 4b) arranged for supporting the turbine-generator unit thereby making the turbine-generator unit extremely compact and economic, the plurality of bearings (4a, 4b) including,
• a first pair of bearings (4a) mounted at driving side of the generator (6), and
• a second pair of bearings (4b) mounted at non-driving side of the generator (6); and
an intrinsic friction coupling (5) formed between the hydro turbine (1) and the generator (6) for transferring torque generated by the hydro turbine (1) to the generator (6);
wherein, the hydro turbine (1) converts the hydraulic energy in to mechanical energy that gets transmitted through the intrinsic friction coupling (5) and drives the generator (6) and the generator (6) converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy and self-compensates reactive power required under varying loads, thereby maintaining constant voltage at rated rotational speed.

2. The hydro power generation system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydro turbine (1), the mounting casing (2), the adaptor (3), the first pair of bearings (4a), the intrinsic friction coupling (5), the generator (6) and the second pair of bearings (4b) are assembled in a mono block configuration.

3. The hydro power generation system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydro turbine (1) is a pump operating as a turbine.

4. The hydro power generation system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein generator (6) is a single phase synchronous generator.

5. The hydro power generation system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tie rod is fixed to a conical end of the shaft (7) at side of the hydro turbine (1) that passes to then on the driving side of the generator (6) through a center hole provided in the shaft (7) and frictional force is generated at the conical end of the turbine shaft (1) by tightening a nut on the threaded end of the tie rod at the non-driving side of the generator (6).

6. The hydro power generation system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter (3) is a casted cylindrical part having holes and spigots on either side, matching to flanges of the hydro turbine (1) and the generator (6) respectively, thereby facilitates independent manufacturing of the hydro turbine (1) and the generator (6) as per applicable standards.

7. The hydro power generation system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intrinsic friction coupling (5) enables manufacturing of the generator (6) and the hydro turbine (1) independently together with individual shafts and integration to a mono block unit at assembly stage.

Dated this 19th day of February 2020

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for Applicant)
(IN/PA-2337)