JP-2026075790-A - Hydroelectric power generation facilities

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a hydroelectric power generation system that can generate electricity more efficiently than conventional systems by utilizing the flow of water in rivers, irrigation canals, etc. [Solution] The present invention relates to a hydroelectric power generation facility that generates electricity by water power while moored in the middle of a water flow, comprising: a float 1 forming a hull that floats on the water; a channel 2 provided in the shape of a groove in the float 1 that is open in the direction of the water flow when the float 1 is moored and whose bottom surface is submerged below the waterline; a water turbine 3 mounted on the float 1 to rotate in response to the water flow through the channel 2; and a generator 6 mounted on the float 1 to generate electricity using the rotational force of the water turbine 3, wherein the width and depth dimensions of the water intake 2a of the channel 2 are formed to gradually expand toward the upstream side. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

• 石野 泰造

Assignees

• 株式会社タダノインフラソリューションズ

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20241023

Claims (3)

1. A hydroelectric power generation facility that generates electricity by hydropower while moored in the middle of a water flow, comprising: a float forming a hull that floats on the water; a channel provided in the float in a groove shape that is open in the direction of the water flow when the float is moored and whose bottom surface is submerged below the waterline; a turbine mounted on the float to rotate in response to the water flowing through the channel; and a generator mounted on the float to generate electricity using the rotational force of the turbine, wherein the width and depth dimensions of the water intake of the channel are formed to gradually expand toward the upstream side.
2. A hydroelectric power generation facility according to claim 1, wherein multiple floats, each equipped with a water channel, a water turbine, and a generator, are moored in a chain in the direction of water flow, and the discharge port of the water channel of each float is positioned to face the intake port of the immediately following float.
3. The hydroelectric power generation equipment according to claim 2, wherein the width dimension of the rear of each float is formed to gradually narrow towards the downstream side in order to facilitate the water intake of the float immediately following it.

Description

This invention relates to hydroelectric power generation equipment that uses water power from rivers, irrigation canals, etc., to generate electricity. Conventionally, methods have been proposed to generate electricity by using the flow of water in rivers and irrigation canals to rotate water turbines. For example, patent applications have already been filed for the prior art documents listed below. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-58885Patent No. 6511642Patent No. 7314433 This is a plan view showing an embodiment of the hydroelectric power generation equipment of the present invention.This is a view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1.This is a view from the direction of the arrow III-III in Figure 2.This is an explanatory diagram showing how multiple floats are connected and moored in a chain-like fashion. The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, showing a hydroelectric power generation facility that generates electricity by being moored in the middle of a water flow. Reference numeral 1 in the figures indicates a float forming a hull that floats on the water. This float 1 has a channel 2 that opens in the direction of water flow (from left to right in Figure 1) when moored, and its bottom surface is submerged below the waterline. The width and depth of the water intake 2a in the channel 2 gradually expand as it moves upstream (to the left in Figure 1). Furthermore, a water turbine 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the float 1 so as to rotate in response to the flow of water through the water channel 2. This water turbine 3 is rotatably supported by bearings 4 and 5 so as to roll vertically along the direction of water flow in the water channel 2. Furthermore, a generator 6 is mounted horizontally on the upper surface of the float 1, in front of the water turbine 3, straddling the water passage 2. A chain 11 is wrapped around and stretched between a sprocket 8 on the input shaft 7 of the generator 6 and a sprocket 10 on the bearing 5 side end of the rotating shaft 9 of the water turbine 3, enabling torque transmission between the two. This allows the generator 6 to generate electricity using the rotational force of the water turbine 3. Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple floats 1, each equipped with a water channel 2, a water turbine 3, and a generator 6 as described above, are moored in a chain in the direction of water flow. The discharge port 2b of the water channel 2 of each float 1 is positioned to face the intake port 2a of the immediately following float 1. Additionally, the width of the rear of each float 1 is formed to gradually narrow towards the downstream side to facilitate the guidance of water to the intake port 2a of the immediately following float 1. Therefore, by structuring the water intake 2a of the water channel 2 in this manner, the width and depth dimensions gradually expand towards the upstream side. This allows the water flow to be smoothly guided from a wide area and efficiently taken into the water channel 2. Furthermore, after being taken in through the intake 2a, the flow path is narrowed, increasing the flow velocity. This, in turn, improves the rotational speed of the turbine 3, increasing power generation and resulting in more efficient power generation than before. Furthermore, by arranging multiple floats 1, each equipped with a water channel 2, a turbine 3, and a generator 6, in a chain-like fashion in the direction of water flow, and positioning the discharge port of the water channel 2 of each float 1 to face the intake port 2a of the immediately following float 1, it becomes possible to create a larger-scale power generation facility by generating electricity with the turbines 3 of multiple floats 1. Furthermore, when multiple floats 1 are moored in a chain in the direction of water flow, even if energy is lost in the front row and the water flow velocity decreases, the intake port 2a of the next float 1 smoothly guides the water flow from a wide area again, efficiently drawing it into the waterway 2. After being drawn in through the intake port 2a, the flow path is narrowed, increasing the flow velocity again. This allows the floats 1 in the back row to generate electricity without a decrease in efficiency, just like the front row. Furthermore, in this particular embodiment, the width dimension of the rear of each float 1 is formed to gradually narrow towards the downstream side in order to facilitate the guidance of water to the intake opening 2a of the float immediately following it. This makes it possible to smoothly guide water around both sides of the rear of the front row of floats 1 to the intake opening 2a of the float immediately following it. Therefore, according to the above embodiment, power generation can be performed more efficiently than conventional methods by utilizing the flow of water in rivers and i