Power Plants

Description of Patent #: 692392, 1018099, 9927251 etc.

Title: Device for the production of electrical energy from water power

Technical Field

The present invention involves a device for producing electrical energy from waterpower using a hydroelectric installation equipped with a turbine and generator providing an output of up to 200 kW per Container, specified as one Transportable Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Current State of Technology

Plants of this relatively low size have proved themselves very capable of generating local electricity in the widest variety of locations. To operate, they need a medium-sized stream with a flow of approximately 300 -1200 l/s and a drop of several meters over not too great a distance. (Typically, a drop of 2 - 10 m is enough.) Mountainous regions are the main areas where suitable streams can be found in large numbers.

Usually, these hydroelectric power plants are installed in a small building and connected to the water flow using inflow and outflow pipes. This building is fitted with special foundations designed to receive the turbine and generator, and must be constructed according to the specifications of the hydroelectric plant manufacturer.

Representation of the Invention

The invention constitutes a device for hydroelectric power generation of the type described above, whereby the entire hydroelectric power plant or, at least its turbine and generator, is/are installed in a common standard container, as used for ship, air, rail or road transportation.

Its mounting inside the container considerably facilitates the hydroelectric power plant’s transportation, installation and commissioning. Not only does the container serve as a transportation container, it also replaces the building which until now, has been necessary onsite. The container allows the hydroelectric power plant to be completely pre-installed and tested by the manufacturer. This means that no specially trained personnel are required at the operating site. Being pre-installed, the invented device constitutes an operational, compact power plant. The entire power plant is mobile and can be located temporarily at sites where it is neither necessary nor financially viable to install a permanent power supply. Where diesel generators are virtually the only power generation devices used, it also avoids the troublesome noise and exhaust fumes that these give off.

Well-known is, that one in a container installed power plant as a complete unit can be buried together with the water inlet and outlet, absolute invisible, into the ground.

Apart from connection to the water flow, the onsite construction measures necessary for set-up of the invented device are restricted to providing a sufficiently solid base for it, such as a simple concrete platform or four-sided concrete plinth. Moreover, this task is easy achievable by personnel with no special knowledge. If the container is not partly or completely buried in the ground, special anchoring methods are used to attach the container to the platform or plinth, such as a frame that supports and surrounds the container, and these will be prefabricated by the manufacturer and delivered along with the container.

It is preferable to install the hydroelectric power plant within a braced frame, and to insert both frame and plant into the container. No special changes are necessary to the container itself, apart from installing a lockable opening for allowing in and outflow; and this ensures that it can be transported in the usual manner. Once mounted in this way, the hydroelectric power plant and its frame will be removed from the container, affording good maintenance or repair accessibility.

The frame can also be fitted with boxes or tanks, and these are kept empty during transportation. On arrival at the operating site, however, they can be filled with sand, comparable material or water. When so filled, they can support the turbine and generator, thus replacing the fixed pedestal generally in use until now.

Further accessory components will be specified, giving still further advantages. For example, a closed anteroom can be added onsite partly using the container doors. Further, all these components will be prefabricated and delivered along with - and inside - the container.

Inside the container the power plant can also be mounted contrariwise, in order that the water supply enters through the rear wall of the container and the outlet through the front door.

Obviously there can be easy mounted several containers/power plants side by side, or one upon the other, installed under or above ground.