Hydroelectric System

Abstract

A hydroelectric system converts kinetic energy from water flowing off a roof of a building into electrical energy. The system comprises a turbine having a rotor and a generator disposed in a down pipe. The down pipe has an upper end that receives water running off the roof via gutters. The down pipe comprises first and second channels that extend from the upper end to respective outlets. Each of the outlets direct water onto the rotor causing rotation in the same direction. The channels are configured in a manner so that water entering the down pipe initially flows through the first channel and out from a first outlet. However in a heavy downpour the first channel may overflow into the second channel to subsequently flow out of a second outlet providing further drive to the rotor. A regulating reservoir is provided at the upper end of the down pipe to provide a controlled steady flow of water through the first channel. The reservoir has an upright wall provided with a lower outlet and an upper outlet. When water collects in the reservoir at a level below the outlet it flows into the first channel via the first outlet. If rain water volume within the reservoir increases sufficiently water will eventually flow through the second outlet into the first channel providing additional pressure to drive the turbine. Should the water level in the reservoir increase at a sufficiently greater rate than it flows out from the outlets it may then overflow the wall to flow down the second channel.

1 . A hydroelectric system for converting kinetic energy from water flowing off a roof of a building into electrical energy, the system comprising:
 a turbine having a rotor;   one or more down pipes each having an upper end for receiving the water, each down pipe further comprising at least two channels, each channel extending from the upper end to a respective outlet, each outlet disposed to direct water flowing there from on to the rotor to cause rotation of the rotor in the same direction, the channels being configured in a manner so that at least one channel can overflow into another channel.   
     
     
         2 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 1 , wherein adjacent channels are provided with corresponding upper edges of progressively increasing height whereby water overflowing the upper edge of one channel flows into an adjacent channel. 
     
     
         3 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the channels are provided with different hydraulic diameters. 
     
     
         4 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic diameter of a first of the channels into which water entering each down pipe initially flows is smaller than the hydraulic diameter of other channels. 
     
     
         5 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 1  or  2 , further comprising one or more gutters configured to receive water flowing from the roof and directing the water into each down pipe; and one or more roof channels, each roof channel disposed on the roof and extending diagonally from an upper portion of the roof to the gutter. 
     
     
         6 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 1  or  2 , further comprising a water flow regulating reservoir for at least one of the channels, the reservoir comprising an outlet in fluid communication with that channel, the outlet formed at a location below an upper edge of that channel and dimensioned to regulate flow of water collected in another reservoir, down that channel. 
     
     
         7 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 6 , wherein each reservoir is formed between a first wall of its associated channel, the first wall constituting the upper edge of that channel and a second wall spaced from the first wall, the second wall having an upper edge located below the upper edge of the first wall and wherein the outlet is formed in the second wall below the upper edge of the second wall. 
     
     
         8 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the rotor comprises an Archimedes screw having an axis of rotation parallel to a direction of flow of water from the channels. 
     
     
         9 . A hydroelectric system for converting kinetic energy from water flowing off a roof of a building into electrical energy, the system comprising:
 a turbine having a rotor;   one or more down pipes each having an upper end for receiving the water, each down pipe further comprising at least two channels, each channel extending from the upper end to a respective outlet, each outlet disposed to direct water flowing there from on to the rotor to cause rotation of the rotor in the same direction, the channels being configured in a manner so that at least one channel can overflow into another channel; and   one or more water storage tanks in fluid communication with each down pipe for storing water that passes through each down pipe.   
     
     
         10 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more water storage tanks each comprise an overflow valve configured to open and release excess water to drain from the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 9 , wherein adjacent channels are provided with corresponding upper edges of progressively increasing height whereby water overflowing the upper edge of one channel flows into an adjacent channel. 
     
     
         12 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 9  or  11 , wherein the channels are provided with different hydraulic diameters. 
     
     
         13 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydraulic diameter of a first of the channels into which water entering each down pipe initially flows is smaller than the hydraulic diameter of other channels. 
     
     
         14 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 9  or  11 , further comprising one or more gutters configured to receive water flowing from the roof and directing the water into each down pipe; and one or more roof channels, each roof channel disposed on the roof and extending diagonally from an upper portion of the roof to the gutter. 
     
     
         15 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 9  or  11 , further comprising a water flow regulating reservoir for at least one of the channels, the reservoir comprising an outlet in fluid communication with that channel, the outlet formed at a location below an upper edge of that channel and dimensioned to regulate flow of water collected in another reservoir, down that channel. 
     
     
         16 . The hydroelectric system according to  claim 15 , wherein each reservoir is formed between a first wall of its associated channel, the first wall constituting the upper edge of that channel and a second wall spaced from the first wall, the second wall having an upper edge located below the upper edge of the first wall and wherein the outlet is formed in the second wall below the upper edge of the second wall. 
     
     
         17 . The hydroelectric system according to  claims 9  or  11 , wherein the rotor comprises an Archimedes screw having an axis of rotation parallel to a direction of flow of water from the channels.