In-pipe hydro-electric power system, turbine and improvement

Abstract

A helical turbine configured to rotate transversely within a cylindrical pipe under the power of fluid flowing either direction therethrough is operatively coupled with a rotating machine or generator to produce work or electricity. The twisted blades of the turbine define a right circular cylinder when the shaft mounting them rotates under the influence of fluid flow through the pipe. In one embodiment, baffles are provided at least upstream of the cylindrical turbine and within the cylindrical pipe to control flow through the cylindrical turbine. The twisted blades of the helical turbine are airfoil in cross section, as are the radial struts or spokes that mount the twisted blades to the rotatable shaft, thereby to optimize hydrodynamic flow, to minimize cavitation, and to maximize conversion from axial to rotating energy.

1 . A cylindrical-turbine power generating system that generates power from the movement of fluids, the system comprising:
 a rotatable turbine mounted for rotation with a shaft, the shaft configured to be mounted for rotation between diametrically opposing sidewalls of a generally cylindrical pipe in transverse orientation to the long axis of the pipe, the turbine including plural helically twisted blades defining a generally cylindrical sweep when rotated on the shaft, and   one or more baffle assemblies, each baffle assembly including plural radially extending and inclined baffles configured between the turbine and the generally cylindrical pipe, each baffle assembly configured to direct a determined volume of fluid flowing within the generally cylindrical pipe through the transversely oriented rotatable turbine to cause rotation of the turbine.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein two or more the baffle assemblies are provided on either side of the turbine within the generally cylindrical pipe, and wherein the rotatable turbine is configured to rotate in the same rotational direction regardless of the direction of generally axial fluid flow within the generally cylindrical pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 two diametrically opposed mounts for rotatationally mounting either end of the turbine shaft; and   a generally cylindrical tee section mounted around an access hole formed in the generally cylindrical pipe, the generally cylindrical tee section axially aligned with the shaft, the generally cylindrical tee section including a concave plate characterized by an inverted spherical dome that effectively covers the access hole, supports one of the mounts, and thereby shortens the distance between the two diametrically opposed rotatable-shaft mounts and thus the length of the rotatable shaft.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a piece of rotating machinery that sits on top of the concave plate, the piece of rotating machinery mounted to an end of the shaft located within the generally cylindrical tee section for rotation with the shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the piece of rotating machinery is an electric generator or the like. 
     
     
         6 . A power generator system for use in a fluid-conveying pipe, the system comprising:
 a turbine comprising:   a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate within diametrically opposed mounts within a generally cylindrical fluid-conveying pipe, the shaft configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to a long axis of the generally cylindrical pipe, a proximal end of the shaft configured to operatively couple with a piece of rotating machinery;   a pair of mounts, a first one thereof configured to mount a distal end of the shaft for rotation in a first circularly cross-sectional sidewall of a generally cylindrical fluid pipe and a second one thereof configured to mount an intermediate part of the shaft for rotation within the generally cylindrical pipe with the shaft extending through the second one of the mounts; and   a plurality of blade assemblies coupled with the shaft between the pair of mounts and extending radially outwardly from the shaft, the blade assemblies being substantially evenly spaced apart therearound, the blade assemblies collectively defining a generally cylindrical shape.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of blade assemblies includes a helically curved blade mounted on opposite spokes extending radially from a central hub. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of blades has an airfoil cross section. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of blades assemblies includes a helically curved blade having an airfoil cross section along substantially the entire length of each blade. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the overall shape of the turbine is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a pair of opposing hubs coupled with the shaft at the distal and intermediate ends thereof, wherein   each blade assembly includes opposing spoke portions radially extending from each of the opposing hubs, each spoke portion having an airfoil cross section, and wherein each blade assembly further includes an intermediate helically curved and twisted blade portion extending helically between the opposing spoke portions.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plural blades number three, and wherein an angle of inclination of each of the plurality of blades relative to a central axis of the shaft is approximately 30 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising:
 four inclined and radially inwardly extending baffles configured on at least one end of the turbine to extend between the perimeter of the plurality of blade assemblies and an interior of a sidewall of a generally cylindrical pipe, thereby to route a volume of fluid in the generally cylindrical pipe smoothly through the generally cylindrical turbine.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the baffles is notched at a curved extremity where it meets the sidewall, thereby to route a volume of fluid in the generally cylindrical pipe into a region outside the baffles. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  which further comprises:
 a pair of opposing generally circular hubs each including plural mounting brackets at radially spaced intervals therearound, the plural mounting brackets mounting opposing ends of corresponding ones of the plural blade assemblies.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a generally cylindrical pipe configured with a diameter substantially equal to the distance between the pair of mounts, the generally cylindrical pipe mounting the turbine for rotation therein in response to fluid flow through the generally cylindrical pipe.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 an electric generator operatively coupled with a proximal end of the shaft for rotation therewith to produce hydro-electric power in response to fluid flow through the generally cylindrical pipe.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the turbine is configured to rotate in the same rotational direction regardless of direction of generally axial fluid flow through the pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the turbine further comprises:
 opposing hub assemblies, each including a plurality of mounting brackets for securely affixing opposite ends of the corresponding plurality of blade assemblies to the shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising:
 opposing shaft couplers for securely affixing the corresponding hub assemblies to the shaft.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of blades define a nominal solidity of between approximately 15% and 50%. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of blades is inclined at angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to a central axis of the shaft. 
     
     
         23 . A cylindrical turbine power generating system that generates power from the movement of fluids, the system comprising:
 a turbine comprising:   a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate within diametrically opposed mounts within a generally cylindrical pipe, the shaft configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the fluid flow, with one end of the shaft configured to operatively couple with a piece of rotating machinery;   a plurality of bearings, a first bearing configured to mount a distal end of the shaft farthest from the generator to a first support for rotation and a second bearing configured to mount an intermediate part of the shaft to a support for rotation, with the shaft extending through the second of the bearings; and   a plurality of blades coupled with the shaft between the pair of bearings, the blades extending radially outwardly from the shaft, the blades being substantially evenly spaced apart around the shaft, the blades when rotated around the shaft generally defining a cylinder, the blades being helically twisted and being characterized along their substantial length by an airfoil cross section.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of blades is mounted to the shaft with radially extending spokes also characterized along their substantial length by an airfoil cross section. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the number of blades is three, and wherein each of the plurality of blades of the turbine extends in an approximate 60 degree arc around the defined cylinder's cross-sectionally circular circumference. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of blades of the turbine includes a uniformly sized and shaped airfoil cross-section along substantially the entire length of each blade. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , which further comprises:
 a pair of opposing generally circular hubs attached to the shaft of the generally cylindrical turbine, each hub including plural mounting brackets at radially spaced intervals around their circumference, the plural mounting brackets mounting opposing ends of the plurality of blades via corresponding plural spokes.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of blades extends in a helical arc around the circumference of the cylinder. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of blades define a solidity of between approximately 15% and 30%. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising:
 an electric generator operatively coupled with the proximal end of the shaft for rotation with the shaft to produce electric power in response to fluid flow.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the turbine is configured to rotate in the same direction, regardless of the direction of fluid flow. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each of the mounts securing the turbine shaft includes bearings. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising:
 four inclined and radially extending baffles configured on either end of the turbine to extend between the perimeter of the plurality of blades and an interior of a sidewall of a generally cylindrical pipe, thereby to route fluid in the generally cylindrical pipe through the generally cylindrical turbine.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein each of the four baffles is inclined relative to the cylindrical pipe at an angle of between approximately 5 and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the baffles is notched at a curved extremity where it meets the sidewall, thereby to route a volume of the fluid in the generally cylindrical pipe into a region outside the baffles. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein each of the mounts includes spherical roller bearings. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the shaft includes an axially linearly toothed exterior surface. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising:
 opposing hub assemblies configured to mount the plural blades, the hub assemblies including axially linearly toothed interior surfaces mate-able with the toothed exterior surface of the shaft; and   opposing shaft couplers for securely affixing the corresponding hub assemblies to the shaft.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising:
 a generally cylindrical pipe configured with a diameter slightly greater than the distance between the pair of hubs on the turbine shaft, the generally cylindrical pipe mounting the turbine for rotation therein in response to fluid flow through the generally cylindrical pipe.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 an electric generator or the like operatively coupled with a proximal end of the shaft for rotation therewith to produce electric power in response to fluid flow through the generally cylindrical pipe.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the turbine is configured to rotate in the same rotational direction, regardless of the direction of generally axial fluid flow through the pipe. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein each of the mounts securing the turbine shaft includes bearings. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 a generally cylindrical tee section configured to mount to an outer sidewall of the generally cylindrical pipe, the tee section housing an electric generator that is operatively coupled for rotation with the shaft of the turbine to produce electric power when the turbine is rotating.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising:
 a cylindrically arched plate configured to cover an access hole in the generally cylindrical pipe to substantially prevent fluid flow into the generally cylindrical tee section.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 46  further comprising:
 a circular flat or concave plate that covers the access hole into the generally cylindrical tee section.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  further comprising:
 a generator that sits on top of the circular flat or concave plate.   
     
     
         47 . In a cylindrical turbine including a central shaft, opposing hubs, spokes mounted on the opposing hubs and extending radially therefrom, with the spokes mounting helically twisted blades on their distal ends, the improvement comprising:
 configuring the spokes and the twisted blades with substantially uniformly sized and shaped airfoil cross sections thereon along the substantial lengths of each.   
     
     
         48 . The improvement of  claim 47 , wherein there is no configuring of any of the spokes or twisted blades with transversely mounted radial blades thereon.