CA2829885A1 - Vacuum-pump generating system - Google Patents

Abstract

Vacuum-pump generating system has water-tank, vertical suction-tube split at top and merged downward into discharge-tube and turbine electric-generator.
Water in suction-tube is held by atmospheric pressure at water-tank level and upward up to closed valves. Split-tubes have two valves each which alternate, and valve at merge simultaneously driven by driving-belt. When first valve is closed, second is open and freefalling water-column is creating vacuum in tube behind. By opening first and closing second valve, water from suction-tube rapidly flows to fill vacuum causing "water-hammer". Second valves have "water-hammer" driven motors which alternate to drive driving-belt. Closed second valves accommodate air-flow from air-tube which connects them. Freefalling water-columns are further guided into discharge-tube by valve at merge. Freefalling water-columns in split-tubes are alternating in order to form steady freefall flow in discharge-tube which drives turbine electric-generator.

Description

CANADA
PATENT APPLICATION
VACUUM-PUMP GENERATING SYSTEM
INVENTOR: DEJAN KASTRATOVIC

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-1-.
VACUUM-PUMP GENERATING SYSTEM
Field of Invention This invention relates to a vacuum-pump and a hydro-electric generating system.
Background of Invention Since ancient times, hydro-power has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as watermills, sawmills, textile mills, dock cranes, lifts and power houses.
Since the early 20th century, the term is used in conjunction with the modern development of hydro-electric power. Hydro-power or water-power is power derived from the energy of falling water and running water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Kinetic energy of falling or flowing water rotates the blades of turbine, which rotates the axle. The axle has a coil which is placed between the magnets. When the coils rotate in magnetic field it induce electro-magnetic field in the coil due to change in flux. Hence, kinetic energy of flowing water is converted to electrical energy.
Most hydro-electric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water-driving a water-turbine and generator. The power extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow. A large pipe delivers water to the turbine.
Pumped storage produces electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations. At times of low electrical demand, excess generation capacity is used to pump water into the higher reservoir.
When there is higher demand, water is released back into the lower reservoir through a turbine.
Micro-hydro is a term used for hydro-electric-power installations that typically produce up to 100 kW of power. These installations can provide power to an -2-, isolated home or small community. There are many of these installations around the world, particularly in developing nations as they can provide a source of energy without a fuel.
Pico-hydro is a term used for hydro-electric power generation of under 5 kW. It is useful in small, remote communities that require only a small amount of electricity. Even smaller turbines of 200-300 W may power a single home in a developing country with a drop of only 1 m. Pico-hydro setups typically are run-of-the-river, meaning that dams are not used, but rather pipes divert some of the flow, drop this down a gradient, and through the turbine before returning it to the stream.
There are many devices and machines in prior art through the centuries such as a Heron's fountain a hydraulic machine invented by the 1st century AD
physicist Heron. The gravitational potential energy of the water which falls a long way from the basin into the lower container is transferred by pneumatic pressure tube (only air is moved upwards at this stage) to push the water from the upper container a short way above the basin. As soon as the water level in the upper container has dropped so low that the water bearing tube no longer touches the water surface, the fountain stops.
In order to make the fountain play again, the air supply container is emptied of water, and the fountain supply container and the basin are refilled. Lifting the water provides the energy required. Heron's siphon is when the upper arch of the tube is removed, and the air pressure between the two lower containers providing the positive pressure to lift the water over the arch.
Another example is a hydraulic ram, a cyclic water pump powered by hydropower. It takes in water at one "hydraulic-head" and flow rate, and outputs water at a higher hydraulic head and lower flow rate. The device uses the "water-hammer" effect to develop pressure that allows a portion of the input water that powers the pump to be lifted to a point higher than where the water originally started. The hydraulic ram is sometimes used in remote areas, where there is both a source of low-head hydropower and a need for pumping water to a destination higher in elevation than the source. In -3-, this situation, the ram is often useful, since it requires no outside source of power other than the kinetic energy of flowing water.
Unfortunately, prior art generating systems require running water or large supply of water with level difference between the source and the water's outflow.
Summary of the Invention These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a vacuum-pump system for generating electricity.
It is desirable to provide a pump which has an integral system of tubes and valves which pumps water held in a suction-tube by atmospheric pressure, and releases it downward through a discharge-tube in order to drive a turbine electric-generator.
It is desirable to provide a pump which has two discharge-tubes in order to drive a two-turbine electric-generator.
It is desirable to provide a pump which pumps water into an elevated tank from which it is pumped and released downward in order to drive a turbine electric-generator.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuum-pump generating system comprising a water tank, a vertical suction tube split at the top and merged downward into a discharge tube and a turbine electric-generator.
The water in the suction-tube is held by atmospheric pressure at the water-tank level and upward up to the closed valves. The split-tubes have two valves each which alternate, and valve at the merge simultaneously driven by the driving-belt. When first valve is closed second is open and freefalling water-column is creating a vacuum in the tube behind. By opening first and closing second valve, water from the suction-tube rapidly flows to fill vacuum causing the "water-hammer". The second valves have "water-hammer"
driven motors which alternate to drive the driving-belt. Closed second valves accommodate air-flow from air-tube which connects them. Freefalling water-columns are further guided to the discharge-tube by valve at the merge. Freefalling water-columns in split-tubes are -4-, alternating in order to form steady freefall flow in the discharge-tube which drives the turbine electric-generator.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuum-pump generating system comprising a vertical suction-tube split at the top which continue downward as a two separate discharge-tubes in order to drive two turbines of an electric-generator. The valves are independently driven by solenoids in synchronized manner. The "water-hammer" relief-valves are integrated into the second valves. The water-columns in discharge-tubes are alternating and freefalling in sequence separated by the air. A flywheel is provided to maintain constant angular-velocity and smooth rotation of the two-turbine electric-generator.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuum-pump generating system comprising a short discharge-tubes, which pumps water into an elevated tank. The valves are simultaneously driven by a driving-belt driven by an electric-motor. The "water-hammer" relief-tubes are relieving pressure into the discharge-tubes. From the elevated tank, water is siphoned in order to drive the turbine electric-generator.
Description of Drawings In illustration which FIGURE 1 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4;
FIGURE 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, 3, 4;
FIGURE 3 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the vacuum-pump generating system in accordance the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3;
FIGURE 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 8;
FIGURE 6 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, 7, 8;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 8;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the vacuum-pump generating system in accordance an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 7;
FIGURE 9 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 10, 11, 12;
FIGURE 10 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 9, 11, 12;
FIGURE 11 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 9, 10, 12;
FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the vacuum-pump generating system in accordance an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 9, 10, 11.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 4 show a vacuum-pump generating system 1 of the present invention.
The vacuum-pump generating system has a tank 21 which contains water 22. A
suction-tube 31 is positioned vertically at the tank 21 with bottom end open below the water 22 level. At the top, the suction-tube 31 is split into two u-tubes 32 and 32a with two-way ball-valves 41 and 41a at the end, respectively. The suction-tube 31 and u-tubes 32, 32a contain waters 22a and 22b, respectively, which are held by atmospheric-pressure at the water 22 level in the tank 21. Thus, suction-tube 31 can't be longer than m. From the two-way ball-valves 41, 41a continue downward the vacuum-tubes 33, 33a containing the water-columns 22c, with the three-way ball-valve 42 and 42a at the end, respectively. Between the three-way ball-valves 42 and 42a is the air-tube 35 with the opening 35a at the top. From the three-way ball-valves 42, 42a continue downward the discharge-tubes 34, 34a containing the water-columns 22d, merged into the discharge-tube 36 with the guiding-valve 43 at the merge. The two-way ball-valves 41, 41a, the three-way ball-valves 42, 42a and the guiding-valve 43 are driven by the driving-belt 65. The water-columns 23e freefall from the discharge-tube 36 and rotates the turbine 72 and the shaft 73 which drives the electric-generator 71.
The two-way ball-valve 41 and the three-way ball-valve 42 alternate and as a set alternate with corresponding set of valves, the two-way ball-valve 41a and the three-way ball-valve 42a, which also alternate between themselves.
By closing the two-way ball-valve 41 and opening the three-way ball-valve 42 a water column 22c is, due to gravitation free falling from the vacuum-tube 33 into the discharge-tube 34 creating the vacuum behind, in the vacuum-tube 33.
By opening the two-way ball-valve 41 and closing the three-way ball-valve 42 a water 22b from the u-tube 32 is rapidly flowing to fill the vacuum in the vacuum-tube 33. A rapid-flow is stopped by the closed three-way ball-valve 42 causing a "water-hammer"
effect.
The same process is occurring in corresponding tubes 33a, 34a and two-way ball-valve 41a, three-way ball-valve 42a in an alternate manner.
The three-way ball-valve 42 has water-hammer motor 54 which drives the three-way valve 42 and the drive-pulley 62 simultaneously. A kinetic-energy from an interrupted water-flow in form of pressure will open a one-way relief-valve 53 and travel via relief-tube 51 to a turbine of the water-hammer motor 54 (not shown).
Consequently, the water hammer-motor 54 will rotate the three-way ball-valve 42 and the drive-pulley 62 for 1/4 turn while suppressing a spring or compressed gas (not shown).
After 1/4 turn the spring will be released or gas decompressed and it will return the three-way ball-valve 42 at its original position (not shown). After rotating the turbine of the water-hammer motor 54 pressure will be relieved via relief-tube 52 into the discharge-tube 34.
The same process is occurring in corresponding tubes, valves and motor in an alternate manner (not shown).
Alternatively, the water-hammer motor 54a can operate without the one-way relief-valve 53 and the relief-tube 52. Consequently, the water will be pushed-back through the relief-tube 51a into the vacuum-tube 33a, due to a released spring or decompressed gas (shown for illustration purposes).

- 7.-The drive-pulleys 62 and 62a are driven by the water-hammer motors 54 and 54a, respectively; they alternate in order to drive the drive-belt 65. The drive-belt 65 drives the pulleys 61 and 61a which rotate the two-way ball-valves 41 and 41a, respectively. The drive-belt 65 also drives the drive-pulley 63 with compound bevel-wheel 64 which rotates corresponding bevel-ring 43a. The bevel-ring 43a drives the guide-valve 43 at merged discharge-tubes 34, 34a and around the pivot-point 43b.
When freefalling water-columns 22d pass through the three-way ball-valves 42 and 42a, they rotate % turn to close and to accommodate air-flow from the opening 35a at the air-tube 35. From the discharge-tubes 34 and 34a the freefalling water-columns 22d are further guided into the discharge-tube 36 by the guiding-valve 43 at the merge. The water-columns 22d in the discharge-tubes 34 and 34a alternates to form a steady freefall flow in the discharge-tube 36 in order to rotate the turbine 72 and shaft 73 which drives the electric-generator 71.
To prime the system manually, the bottom end of the suction-tube 31 is closed with the screw-cap and the tank 21 is filled with the water 22 (not shown). The two-way ball-valve 41 is opened; the two-way ball-valve 41a and the three-way ball-valve 42 are closed. The screw-plug 32c is removed. The water is poured through the opening 32b to fill the suction-tube 31, the u-tubes 32, 32a and the vacuum-tube 33 thoroughly. The screw-plug 32c is screwed-back into the opening 32b. The screw-cap at the bottom end of the suction-tube 31 is removed. Thus, the waters 22a, 22b and 22c in the tubes 31, 32, 32a and 33 are held by atmospheric-pressure at water 22 level in the tank 21. The screw-plugs 32c are corresponding to the u-tubes 32 and 32a cavities in order to prevent cavitations. The push-to-turn spring-knob 66 is provided at the pulley 61a for manual initial % turn in order to actuate the vacuum-pump generating system 1, after which a spring-knob 66 will pop-up and disengage the pulley 61a (not shown).
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is self-sufficient and primarily intended for the areas with limited access to the water and no accesses to an energy sources. Preferably it should be secured to a structure, a self-supported or guyed mast with a ladder, a safety cage, a safety anchor and a pulley at the top (not shown).

Alternatively, if there is an energy-source a motor-pump may be used to prime the vacuum-pump generating system 1(not shown).
In another embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 8, the vacuum-pump generating system la has two separate discharge-tubes 37a, 37b and two turbines 72a, 72b. The two-way ball valves 41, 41a and the three-way ball-valves 42, 42a are independently driven by the solenoids 55 in a synchronized manner. The one-way relief-valves 56 and 56a are integrated into the three-way ball-valves 42 and 42a, respectively. When freefalling water-columns 22d pass through the three-way ball-valve 42 or 42a, the solenoid 55 rotate valves 1/4 turn to close them and to accommodate the air-flow from the opening 35a at the air-tube 35, consequently the one-way relief-valves 56 and 56a are exposed in order to relief the "water-hammer" pressure into the three-way ball-valves 42, 42a and the air-tube 35. The freefalling water-columns 22d in the discharge-tubes 37a and 37b are alternating and freefalling in sequence separated by the air in order to drive the turbines 72a and 72b, respectively. The flywheel 74 is provided to maintain constant angular-velocity and smooth rotation of the turbine 72a, 72b and the shaft 73 which drives the electric-generator 71. The electrical-power required for the solenoids 55 operations is supplied by the turbine electric-generator 71.
For the initial actuation of the vacuum-pump generating system 1 a a rechargeable-battery or an electrical-power source may be used.
In another embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 12, the present invention may be modified to pumps the water into an elevated tank 21b. The vacuum-pump generating system 1 b has two short discharge-tubes 38a and 38b. The two-way ball-valves 41, 41a and the three-way ball-valves 42, 42a are driven simultaneously by the driving-belt 65a. The driving-belt 65a is driven by the electric-motor 59. The relief-tubes 57 and 57a have the one-way relief-valves 53, and they are relieving a pressure into the discharge-tubes 38a and 38b, respectively. From the elevated tank 21b, the water 22 is siphoned via siphon 39 in order to drive the turbine 72 of the electric-generator 71. The siphon 39 has the two-way ball-valve 44 with the knob 44a at the bottom end.
To prime the siphon 39 manually, the top end of the siphon 39 is closed with the screw-cap (not shown). The two-way ball-valve 44 is closed. The tank 21b is filled with the water 22.

The screw-plug 39b is removed. The water is poured through the opening 39a to fill the siphon 39, thoroughly. The screw-plug 39b is screwed-back into the opening 39a. The screw-cap from the top end of the siphon 39 is removed. The water 22f in the siphon 39 is held by atmospheric-pressure at water 22 level in the tank 21b. Thus, the siphon 39 can't be longer than 10 m. The screw-plug 39b is corresponding to the siphon's 39 u-tube cavity in order to prevent cavitations. By opening the two-way ball-valve 44 with the knob 44a, the vacuum-pump generating system lb is actuated. The electrical-power required for the electric-motor 59 operation is supplied by the turbine electric-generator 71.
Alternatively, instead of the siphon 39, the vacuum-pump generating system 1 or 1 a with the extended discharge-tubes 36 or 37a and 37b, respectively, may be used in order to drive the turbine electric-generator 71 (not shown).
Alternatively, more than one elevated tank 21b with corresponding vacuum-pump generating systems can be used in order to achieve greater level difference between the source and the water's outflow.
Alternatively, the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be modified to incorporate a different manner of driving the valves and relieving the "water-hammer" pressure, as illustrated.
Alternatively, instead of water, a fluid with greater specific-weight may be used. Consequently, the generating system will be proportionally smaller, due to the atmospheric-pressure.
Preferably, the tubes and fittings are constructed out of extruded and injection molded PVC plastic, respectively. The tanks are constructed out of injection molded polyethylene plastic.
The above description makes it apparent to a person skilled in the art that the present invention could be readily modified. It is understood that changes in style, size, components and component position may be effective without departure from the spirit of the invention and with the scope of the attached claims.