초록 ▼

The present invention provides a hydroelectric device having a closed conduit portion extending along an elevational drop, with a turbine positioned at a lower elevation and in fluid communication with the closed conduit portion. The closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressu

The present invention provides a hydroelectric device having a closed conduit portion extending along an elevational drop, with a turbine positioned at a lower elevation and in fluid communication with the closed conduit portion. The closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressure head therein, the fluid impacting the turbine in such a manner as to operate the turbine and produce electricity therefrom.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A hydroelectric device comprising: a closed conduit portion extending from a first elevation to a second elevation; a generator positioned at said second elevation and in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion; a riser portion extending from a third elevat

The invention claimed is: 1. A hydroelectric device comprising: a closed conduit portion extending from a first elevation to a second elevation; a generator positioned at said second elevation and in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion; a riser portion extending from a third elevation to a fourth elevation in fluid communication with a turbine such that a fluid passing through said turbine is directed into said riser portion; wherein said closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressure head therein, said fluid engaging said generator portion in such a manner as to operate said generator portion and produce electricity therefrom, and further wherein said riser portion is in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion at substantially a fourth elevation of said riser portion such that vaporized fluid moves from said riser portion into said closed conduit portion in such as manner as to condense to form a liquid for formation of said pressure head therein; at least one minor attached to said riser portion along a length thereof, said minor adapted to capture sunlight and direct said sunlight at said riser portion and thereby heating said riser portion, said mirror being able to rotate over the course of a day to capture a maximum amount of sunlight at any given time; a collection portion fixedly attached to said closed conduit portion at a first elevation, said collection portion adapted to collect fluid and direct said fluid into said closed conduit portion; a condenser portion fixedly attached to said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said condenser portion adapted to condense water from an atmosphere surrounding said condenser portion and direct said water into said closed conduit portion; a photovoltaic array in electrical communication with at least said condenser portion of said hydroelectric device and positioned to receive sunlight over at least a portion of a day, at least a portion of a quantity of electricity produced by said photovoltaic array being directed to said condenser portion for the powering thereof; a first reservoir portion positioned along a length of said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said first reservoir portion having a first reservoir inlet and a first reservoir outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said closed conduit portion enters said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir inlet and accumulates within said first reservoir portion, and further wherein fluid exits said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir outlet and is directed through a portion of said closed conduit portion to said generator portion, said fluid accumulated within said first reservoir portion contributing to said pressure head acting on said generator portion; an exit conduit in fluid communication with said generator portion such that fluid passing through said generator portion is directed into said exit conduit; a second reservoir portion positioned along a length of said exit conduit and in fluid communication therewith, said reservoir having a second reservoir inlet and a second reservoir outlet; a valve portion in fluid communication with said exit conduit, said valve having a first setting and a second setting, wherein fluid exiting said generator portion enters said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir inlet thereof and accumulates therein, and further wherein fluid accumulated in said second reservoir portion exits said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir outlet thereof, and further wherein when said valve is positioned at a first setting said fluid is directed into said riser portion, and when said valve is positioned at a second setting said fluid is directed away from said hydroelectric device for use outside of said device; a bulb portion positioned along a length of said riser portion and in fluid communication therewith, said bulb portion having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said riser portion enters said bulb portion through said inlet and accumulates therein, and further wherein said heat-generation portion is adapted to heat said bulb portion, and further wherein, upon heating, fluid exits said bulb portion via said outlet and flows through a remaining portion of said riser portion; a steam turbine operably positioned along a length of said riser portion at an elevation wherein fluid within said riser portion is present in the form of steam as a result of the operation of said heat-generating portion, said steam engaging said steam turbine and said steam turbine producing electricity therefrom; and a wind turbine in electrical communication with at least said condenser portion of said hydroelectric device and positioned to be impacted by wind over at least a portion of a day, at least a portion of a quantity of electricity produced by said wind turbine being directed to said condenser portion for the powering thereof. 2. A hydroelectric device comprising: a closed conduit portion extending from a first elevation to a second elevation; a generator positioned at said second elevation and in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion; a riser portion extending from a third elevation to a fourth elevation in fluid communication with a turbine such that a fluid passing through said turbine is directed into said riser portion; wherein said closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressure head therein, said fluid engaging said generator portion in such a manner as to operate said generator and produce electricity therefrom, and further wherein said riser portion is in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion at substantially a fourth elevation of said riser portion such that vaporized fluid moves from said riser portion into said closed conduit portion in such as manner as to condense to form a liquid for formation of said pressure head therein; at least one minor attached to said riser portion along a length thereof, said minor adapted to capture sunlight and direct said sunlight at said riser portion and thereby heating said riser portion, said mirror being able to rotate over the course of a day to capture a maximum amount of sunlight at any given time; a condenser fixedly attached to said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said condenser adapted to condense water from an atmosphere surrounding said condenser portion and direct said water into said closed conduit portion; a photovoltaic array in electrical communication with at least said condenser of said hydroelectric device and positioned to receive sunlight over at least a portion of a day, at least a portion of a quantity of electricity produced by said photovoltaic array being directed to said condenser portion for the powering thereof; a first reservoir portion positioned along a length of said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said first reservoir portion having a first reservoir inlet and a first reservoir outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said closed conduit portion enters said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir inlet and accumulates within said first reservoir portion, and further wherein fluid exits said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir outlet and is directed through a portion of said closed conduit portion to said generator, said fluid accumulated within said first reservoir portion contributing to said pressure head acting on said generator; an exit conduit in fluid communication with said generator portion such that fluid passing through said generator portion is directed into said exit conduit; a second reservoir portion positioned along a length of said exit conduit and in fluid communication therewith, said reservoir having a second reservoir inlet and a second reservoir outlet; a valve portion in fluid communication with said exit conduit, said valve having a first setting and a second setting, wherein fluid exiting said generator portion enters said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir inlet thereof and accumulates therein, and further wherein fluid accumulated in said second reservoir portion exits said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir outlet thereof, and further wherein when said valve is positioned at a first setting said fluid is directed into said riser portion, and when said valve is positioned at a second setting said fluid is directed away from said hydroelectric device for use outside of said device; a bulb portion positioned along a length of said riser portion and in fluid communication therewith, said bulb portion having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said riser portion enters said bulb portion through said inlet and accumulates therein, and further wherein said heat-generation portion is adapted to heat said bulb portion, and further wherein, upon heating, fluid exits said bulb portion via said outlet and flows through a remaining portion of said riser portion; a steam turbine operably positioned along a length of said riser portion at an elevation wherein fluid within said riser portion is present in the form of steam as a result of the operation of said heat-generating portion, said steam engaging said steam turbine and said steam turbine producing electricity therefrom; and a wind turbine in electrical communication with at least said condenser portion of said hydroelectric device and positioned to be impacted by wind over at least a portion of a day, at least a portion of a quantity of electricity produced by said wind turbine being directed to said condenser portion for the powering thereof. 3. A hydroelectric device comprising: a closed conduit portion extending from a first elevation to a second elevation; generator; an exit conduit in fluid communication with said generator portion such that fluid passing through said generator portion is directed into said exit conduit; a second reservoir portion positioned along a length of said exit conduit and in fluid communication therewith, said reservoir having a second reservoir inlet and a second reservoir outlet; a valve portion in fluid communication with said exit conduit, said valve having a first setting and a second setting, wherein fluid exiting said generator portion enters said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir inlet thereof and accumulates therein, and further wherein fluid accumulated in said second reservoir portion exits said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir outlet thereof, and further wherein when said valve is positioned at a first setting said fluid is directed into said riser portion, and when said valve is positioned at a second setting said fluid is directed away from said hydroelectric device for use outside of said device; a bulb portion positioned along a length of said riser portion and in fluid communication therewith, said bulb portion having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said riser portion enters said bulb portion through said inlet and accumulates therein, and further wherein said heat-generation portion is adapted to heat said bulb portion, and further wherein, upon heating, fluid exits said bulb portion via said outlet and flows through a remaining portion of said riser portion; and a steam turbine operably positioned along a length of said riser portion at an elevation wherein fluid within said riser portion is present in the form of steam as a result of the operation a generator positioned at said second elevation and in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion; a riser portion extending from a third elevation to a fourth elevation in fluid communication with a turbine such that a fluid passing through said turbine is directed into said riser portion; wherein said closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressure head therein, said fluid engaging said generator in such a manner as to operate said generator and produce electricity therefrom, and further wherein said riser portion is in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion at substantially a fourth elevation of said riser portion such that vaporized fluid moves from said riser portion into said closed conduit portion in such as manner as to condense to form a liquid for formation of said pressure head therein; at least one minor attached to said riser portion along a length thereof, said minor adapted to capture sunlight and direct said sunlight at said riser portion and thereby heating said riser portion, said mirror being able to rotate over the course of a day to capture a maximum amount of sunlight at any given time; a first reservoir portion positioned along a length of said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said first reservoir portion having a first reservoir inlet and a first reservoir outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said closed conduit portion enters said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir inlet and accumulates within said first reservoir portion, and further wherein fluid exits said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir outlet and is directed through a portion of said closed conduit portion to said generator, said fluid accumulated within said first reservoir portion contributing to said pressure head acting on said of said heat-generating portion, said steam engaging said steam turbine and said steam turbine producing electricity therefrom. 4. The hydroelectric device according to claim 3, further comprising a condenser fixedly attached to said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said condenser adapted to condense water from an atmosphere surrounding said condenser and direct said water into said closed conduit portion. 5. The hydroelectric device according to claim 3, further comprising a photovoltaic array in electrical communication with said hydroelectric device and positioned to receive sunlight over at least a portion of a day, at least a portion of a quantity of electricity produced by said photovoltaic array being directed to said hydroelectric device for the powering thereof. 6. The hydroelectric device according to claim 3, further comprising a wind turbine in electrical communication with said hydroelectric device and positioned to be impacted by wind over at least a portion of a day, at least a portion of a quantity of electricity produced by said wind turbine being directed to said hydroelectric device for the powering thereof. 7. A hydroelectric device comprising: a closed conduit portion extending from a first elevation to a second elevation; a generator positioned at said second elevation and in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion; a riser portion extending from a third elevation to a fourth elevation in fluid communication with a turbine such that a fluid passing through said riser portion is directed to said turbine; wherein said closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressure head therein, said fluid engaging said generator in such a manner as to operate said generator portion and produce electricity therefrom, and further wherein said riser portion is in fluid communication with said closed conduit portion at substantially a fourth elevation of said riser portion such that vaporized fluid moves from said riser portion into said closed conduit portion in such as manner as to condense to form a liquid for formation of said pressure head therein; at least one minor attached to said riser portion along a length thereof, said minor adapted to capture sunlight and direct said sunlight at said riser portion and thereby heating said riser portion, said at least one minor being rotatably attached to said riser portion such that said at least one minor is able to rotate over the course of a day to capture a maximum amount of sunlight at any given time; a first reservoir portion positioned along a length of said closed conduit portion and in fluid communication therewith, said first reservoir portion having a first reservoir inlet and a first reservoir outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said closed conduit portion enters said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir inlet and accumulates within said first reservoir portion, and further wherein fluid exits said first reservoir portion via said first reservoir outlet and is directed through a portion of said closed conduit portion to said generator portion, said fluid accumulated within said first reservoir portion contributing to said pressure head acting on said generator portion; an exit conduit in fluid communication with said generator portion such that fluid passing through said generator portion is directed into said exit conduit; a second reservoir portion positioned along a length of said exit conduit and in fluid communication therewith, said reservoir having a second reservoir inlet and a second reservoir outlet; a valve portion in fluid communication with said exit conduit, said valve having a first setting and a second setting, wherein fluid exiting said generator enters said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir inlet thereof and accumulates therein, and further wherein fluid accumulated in said second reservoir portion exits said second reservoir portion through said second reservoir outlet thereof, and further wherein when said valve is positioned at a first setting said fluid is directed into said riser portion, and when said valve is positioned at a second setting said fluid is directed away from said hydroelectric device for use outside of said device; a bulb portion positioned along a length of said riser portion and in fluid communication therewith, said bulb portion having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid flowing through said riser portion enters said bulb portion through said inlet and accumulates therein, and further wherein said heat-generation portion is adapted to heat said bulb portion, and further wherein, upon heating, fluid exits said bulb portion via said outlet and flows through a remaining portion of said riser portion. 8. The hydroelectric device of claim 7, wherein the hydroelectric device is a free-standing structure and is not part of a separate structure.