"DISCRETE POWER CONVERTER"
1. Statement of the Problem
The purpose of the proposed project is to extend the
possibilities of the application of small power plants, transforming the
potential energy of the fluid mass (water) into the kinetic energy of
rotational motion of the principal element of the converter, namely of the
water runner (turbine). The proposed converter eliminates the following
restrictions inherent in the known devices, such as the water runner:
1.1. The water runner (or the
hydroturbine) transforms the potential energy of water lifted by a dam into the
mechanical energy of only one kind of motion, namely of the continuous
rotational motion. Other kinds of mechanical motion which are used in practice
can be obtained only with the help of additional converting mechanisms.
1.2. When the energy is
converted in the water runner (or hydroturbine), it is essentially impossible
to obtain a mechanical force larger than that exerted on the working blade by
the moving water. This force can be increased only by lifting the level from
which the water flows relatively to the converter itself. However, this way
entails great expense, for example the construction of higher dams.
1.3. In converters of the water
runner (or hydroturbine) type only water can be used as the fluid mass; other
fluid or free-flowing industrial media such as pulp, grain, gravel,
free-flowing or granulated materials etc. cannot be applied.
2. Proposed Solution
I found that this purpose could
be achieved by engineering employing a new type of the converter, which is
based on an innovatory principle different from the known ones and has a new
design. As regards the principle on which the operation of the new converter is
based, its difference from the known converters is that the continuous working
regime is replaced by the discrete and periodical one. This means that the
energy conversion, i.e. doing the work on a fluid or a free-flowing mass
to move it in the gravity field, is accomplished discretely and not
continuously as it is done, for example, in the water runner. The innovation
consists in the replacement of the traditional element converting the potential
energy of the fluid mass (exclusively the water), namely of the water runner
(turbine), by the new mechanism � discrete power converter.
This mechanism simultaneously
converts the potential energy of either fluid or free-flowing mass into the
kinetic energy of two kinds of motion: the reciprocating motion executed in the
vertical plane, and the reciprocating rotational motion, executed in the
horizontal plane (so that restriction 1.1. is eliminated).
Output force of discrete
converter can be multiplied frequentativly (as well as lever) in depend on its
geometrical dimensions (so that restriction 1.2. is eliminated).
Another fluid or free-flowing
industrial media such as pulp, grain, gravel, free-flowing or granulated
materials etc. can be applied in discrete converter because gravity
force of fluid or free-flowing mass is not so exerted on working blade as known
hydroturbine, but is extered on storage reservoirs of special shape and size,
in which the flow of the fluid or free-flowing mass is accumulated (so that
restriction 1.3. is eliminated).
A small-scale prototype of the
discrete power converter has been constructed and tested successfully.
ABSTRACT
We
propose a quantized converter of the potential energy of a fluid or a
free-flowing mass located in a natural or an artificial storage which should
always be situated at a higher level than the aforementioned converter in the
accepted geodesic coordinate system.
In
contrast to the known converters, such as the water runner (turbine), operating
in continuous regime and transforming the potential energy of water lifted by a
dam into the mechanical energy of rotational motion, the said converter
operates in a quantized periodical regime and transforms the potential energy
of a fluid or a free-flowing mass into the mechanical energy of two kinds of
motion: the periodical reciprocating motion of two working rods, executed in
the vertical plane, and the periodical reciprocating rotational motion of the
shaft, executed in the horizontal plane.
For
this purpose the quantized energy converter is designed as an equal-arm rocking
lever, rocking on the shaft in the bearing supports relatively to the vertical
pedestal. At the ends of the working rocking lever the identical storage
reservoirs of a special shape and size are located, in which the flow of the
fluid or free-flowing mass is accumulated.
When
the converter operates, each arm of the rocking lever can alternately occupy
one of the two limiting positions relatively to the horizontal basis - the
lower or the upper one. The difference in height between these limiting
positions determines the working throw of the converter and proportionally
increases the accumulated potential energy.
By
gravity of the mass accumulated in the reservoir, that arm of the rocking lever
which occupies the upper limiting position moves to the lower one, thus giving
rise to a torque about the shaft which is rigidly connected to the rocker
lever. Simultaneously, the arm acting as a lever imparts the translational
downward motion to the rod hinged to this arm.
As
a result, the mechanical energy of the two kinds of motion (rotational and
translational) can be applied to carry out a useful work upon mechanical loads,
hooked up to the shaft or to the rod, correspondingly.
When
the filled reservoir switches to the lowest position, it empties spontaneously
owing to its special shape which ensures the necessary displacement angle of
the accumulated fluid or free-flowing mass; simultaneously, the opposite arm of
the rocking lever moves to the upper limiting position necessary for the
filling of the corresponding reservoir.
The
alternate switch of the fluid or free-flowing mass flow direction to the left
or to the right storage reservoir is accomplished automatically using a
directing pipe and two flexible mechanical feedbacks. These feedbacks cause the
reciprocating rotational movements of the directing pipe about the vertical
pedestal, similar to those of the working rocking lever but executed in
antiphase; as a result, the flow of the moving mass is always directed only
into that reservoir (right or left) which at the moment occupies the upper
limiting position.
Owing
to the mechanical feedbacks, as well as to the utilization of the part of the
working throw energy for the returning of the device to the initial state, the
converter operates in the free-running mode with two stable states and the
switch between them, similar, for example, to the regime of the bistable
electronic trigger .
Thus,
the proposed quantized energy converter can be utilized as a power drive for
mechanisms operating in reciprocating rotational and translational modes,
without using the other kinds of energy (the electrical one etc.).
In
addition, the proposed quantized converter is suitable for generating the
electrical energy in small power plants (avoiding building the expensive dams)
which primordially use the potential energy of a fluid or a free-flowing mass
located above (in horizontal level) than the converter in question.
Applications of the discrete
power converter
Possible
fields of application of the proposed discrete power converter are determined
by its features distinguishing it from the known converters, as well as by the
peculiarities of its design.
Let
us first define the factors necessary to provide the working regime of the
power converter based on the physical principle of its operation.
1.
Availability of a sufficient supply (resources) of a fluid or a free-flowing
mass serving as a working material which activates the power converter.
When
considering this factor, it is expedient to classify the said resources into
two groups based on their origin:
1.1.
Natural resources:
� water;
� gravel and crushed stone;
� free-flowing sands;
� grain and seeds
1.2.
Artificial resources resulting from industrial production or serving as
components of various multi-ton technological processes (both continuous and
discrete ones):
� pulps;
� granulated materials;
� different powders;
� water mixtures of
comminuted ores;
� sewage
2.
Providing an elevation of the source of a fluid or a free-flowing mass over the
converter itself. It is clear that the higher is this elevation
Dh = hs - hc,
where
hs is the geodesic coordinate of the source of the moving
mass (the input level),
and
hc is the geodesic coordinate of the level at which the
exhausted moving mass is
withdrawn
by the converter (the output level),
the larger the potential energy
capacity of the source in question.
Based on different combinations
of the influences of the afore-listed factors 1 and 2, the possible
applications of the proposed converter can be divided into two groups:
� independent applications for which the power converter is designed as a
self-dependent object connected only to a natural source (see classification in
1) of a moving mass and intended to generate useful energy;
� "built-in" applications in which the power converter is
designed and created as a built-in component of various existing technological
processes dealing with moving many tons of materials in the vertical plane. In
this case the main purpose is to save, renew or generate useful energy.
It is clear that every
application of the proposed power converter must be of practical use, i.e.
must have a "useful function" which can also serve as a
classification factor. The useful function is determined by the character of
the mechanical load connected to the power converter and by the type of the
mechanical motion utilized in the converter. The following useful functions can
be suggested:
3.
Compressed air production. In this application a reciprocating motion of the rocking lever
(constituting the main part of the converter), executed in the vertical plane
by gravity of the moving mass, is used. In this case pneumatic piston pumps whose
working rods are hinged to the corresponding arms of the rocking lever are used as mechanical load.
4.
Pumping of water and other liquids. In this application a reciprocating
motion of the rocking lever, executed in the vertical plane by gravity of the
moving mass, is used. In this case hydraulic piston pumps with working rods
hinged to the corresponding arms of the rocking lever serve as mechanical load.
5.
Obtaining of large mechanical forces acting periodically (hydraulic or
pneumatic drives). In this application a reciprocating motion of the rocking
lever, executed in the vertical plane under the influence of the moving mass,
is used. As mechanical loads the hydro- (or pneumo-) cylinders of hydraulic
(pneumatic) boosters are utilized; their working rods are connected to the
corresponding arms of the rocking lever .
6.
Electric energy production. In this application the energy conversion sequence is somewhat more
complicated than that in 3 and 4; namely, the output of the hydraulic (or
pneumatic) piston pump is connected to the input of the hydraulic (pneumatic)
turbine mechanically loaded onto electric generator. In order to smooth out the
pulsing action on turbine, it is possible to incorporate a mechanical energy
accumulator, e.g. an eccentric flywheel, between the input of turbine
and the output of the piston pump.
7.
Separation (screening, flushing) of different fractions of fluid or
free-flowing media in various technological processes. In this application a reciprocating
rotational motion of the shaft of the rocking lever, executed in horizontal
plane about the (vertical) pedestal of the converter, is used. In this case
various swinging sieves, sifts and sizing screens whose swing axes are
connected to the shaft of the rocking lever can be applied as mechanical loads.
8.
Based on various combinations of factors mentioned in 1 and 2, we can determine
a list of objects both of natural and artificial origin, which involve
displacements of many tons of fluid or free-flowing masses in the vertical
plane and are most suitable for utilization as the sources of energy
(resources) for the proposed power converter:
8.1.
waterfalls;
8.2.
mountain lakes and rivers;
8.3.
rapids at the plain rivers;
8.4.
artificial waterfalls formed by diverting the plain rivers and lakes to
neighbouring gorges, valleys and ravines;
8.5.
open casts for sand, crushed stone and gravel exploitation;
8.6.
elevators and drying units for grain and seeds;
8.7.
open casts for mining and processing of comminuted ores and minerals;
8.8.
granulation towers, columns and other devices;
8.9.
drying complexes and units in which vertical (downward) displacements of
multi-ton free-flowing masses are involved;
8.10.
transportation complexes and units involving vertical (downward) displacements
of many tons of fluid and free-flowing masses;
8.11.
systems for waste water disposal (sewage) and drainage systems.
9.
On the basis of the whole set of the aforementioned factors, it is possible to
outline the areas of industry which are most suitable for the introduction
of the proposed power converter:
9.1.
hydroelectric power engineering (micro-hydroelectric stations and units);
9.2.
water supply, irrigation and watering;
9.3.
water purification and sewerage;
9.4.
ore mining and processing industry;
9.5.
chemical industry (multi-ton production);
9.6.
metallurgical industry (multi-ton production);
9.7.
building materials industry;
9.8.
food industry (multi-ton production);
9.9.
special application: small power units without heat radiation and noise
sources.