JPH0247599B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a power generation device that utilizes natural heat.

Conventionally, energy for operating a generator has been obtained from the head, velocity, or pressure of water or air, from burning fossil fuels, from nuclear reactions, from geothermal heat, etc. These energies drive waterwheels, windmills, turbines, and generators, but they require extremely large-scale equipment, consume limited natural resources, and produce air pollutants. These problems include that there is a great concern that they will emit harmful radiation, that the energy supply is extremely unstable, and that it is extremely difficult to store the generated energy.

Therefore, it has been proposed to generate electricity by using solar heat to generate steam and drive a steam engine. Steam cannot be generated and stored all the time, and must be generated and used only when generating electricity, making it impossible to generate electricity during times when solar heat is not available. Furthermore, since the water wheel is driven by the pressure and speed of water pushed out of the cylinder using steam pressure, only a very small amount of power can be generated.

The present invention solves the problems of the above-mentioned technology in that it is impossible to generate electricity during times when solar heat is not available and can only generate electricity on a very small scale. To provide a power generation device capable of converting energy into gas pressure and storing it, driving a water turbine at any time with the water head given by head and gas pressure to provide a stable power supply, and capable of generating a considerable amount of power. The purpose is to

That is, in order to achieve this object, the present invention provides, as a first means, a heating chamber that heats and expands gas using natural heat, a liquid tank and an adjustment tank whose tops are respectively connected to the heating chamber, and It is equipped with a water wheel for driving a generator, which is installed at a lower place than the tank and connected to the bottom of the tank via an on-off valve, and a reservoir for maintaining the water head, which is connected to the bottom of the adjustment tank, and the heated and expanded gas is heated and expanded in the adjustment tank. The liquid is pushed out into the reservoir and stored in the tank, and when the opening/closing valve is opened, the liquid in the tank is sent to the water turbine and driven by the water head given by the head and the pressure of the gas.

Further, as a second means, in addition to the first means, a return pipe having a water storage tank and a pump and connecting the water wheel and the liquid tank is provided, and the used liquid is returned from the water storage tank to the liquid tank. The structure is as follows.

With this configuration, the pressure gas generated by heating and expanding with natural heat is stored in the adjustment tank, and during power generation, a water head is applied to the liquid in the tank due to the head difference between the liquid tank and the water wheel and the pressure of the stored gas. This will drive the water turbine and generate electricity.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Two sets of equipment indicated by A and B are prepared for one generator 2 that is operated using a water turbine 1 as the prime mover. .

This equipment has a heating chamber 3 filled with gas such as carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, or atmospheric air, and a liquid tank 5 and an adjustment tank 10 whose tops are connected to the heating chamber 3 through pipes 4 and 6, respectively. The liquid tank 5 reaches the water turbine 1 through a pipe 9 having an on-off valve 8 connected to the bottom. The bottom of the regulating tank 10 is connected to a reservoir 11 through a pipe line 12, and these constitute a pressure regulating section 7. A heat exchanger 13 is installed in the heating chamber 3.
is provided, and directs solar heat or geothermal heat to the heat exchanger 13 to heat and expand the gas to generate pressure, and in some cases it may be used to cool the gas.

The liquid tank 5 and the liquid tank 10 are installed at a lower place than the heating chamber 3, and the water turbine 1 is installed at a lower place than the liquid tank so that a sufficient water head can be obtained. Further, the reservoir 11 is installed at a sufficiently high location so that water is always contained in the adjustment tank 10 against the pressure of the heated gas, and the water is stored in a volume greater than the volume of the adjustment tank 10.

Prior to the start of operation, liquid and water are filled in the liquid tank 5 and the adjustment tank 10 up to the positions indicated by symbols L ₁ and l ₁ in the equipment A, and the on-off valve 8 is closed. When the gas in the heating chamber 3 is heated and expanded in this state, the water in the adjustment tank 10 is pushed out to the reservoir 11, the water level drops to the position _l2 , and the pressure gas is stored in the adjustment tank 10. Next, if you stop heating the gas or open the on-off valve 8 while continuing heating,
A liquid tank 5 that is given a water head due to the head difference between the liquid tank 5 and the water turbine 1 and the pressure of the gas stored in the adjustment tank 10.
The liquid falls through the pipe 9, drives the water wheel 1, operates the generator 2, and enters the liquid storage tank 14.

The water level in the liquid tank 5 gradually decreases, and the pressure air in the adjustment tank 10 is pushed out through the heating chamber 3 to the liquid tank 5 by the water head stored in the reservoir 11, and the liquid tank 5 and the maintenance tank 10 are The water level at equipment B is of sign
When the positions shown by L ₂ and l ₃ are reached, close the on-off valve 8,
The on-off valve 8 of the other equipment is opened and the liquid in the liquid tank 5 is sent to the water turbine 1 to generate electricity. A return pipe 17 is installed from the water turbine 1 through a water storage tank 14 and a pump 15, branching from its discharge port, passing through on-off valves 16, and reaching the liquid tanks 5 of each equipment A and B. A part of the generated electric power is used to operate the pump 15 and inject the liquid in the water storage tank 14 into the liquid tank 5 of the inactive equipment until the water level reaches _L1 , thereby heating the gas and preparing for the next operation. The on-off valve 16 of the return line 17 is opened only during pump operation, and at this time it is preferable to cool the gas to lower the pressure and facilitate the injection of liquid.

In addition, it is possible to have a single water turbine generator generate electricity for a certain period of time using one set of equipment A, or use three or more sets of equipment A, B, etc. to perform continuous power generation over a long period of time, or A part of the equipment can be used as spare equipment to be operated during inspections and repairs. In addition, the volume and height positional relationship of the heating chamber 3, liquid tank 5, and adjustment tank 10 are determined not only by the pressure value to be applied to the liquid, but also by the amount of liquid or water flowing into the heating chamber 3 or from the liquid tank 5 or adjustment tank 10. The settings are taken into consideration to prevent complete outflow, and shielding plates 18 and 19 are fitted almost tightly into the liquid tank 5 and the adjustment tank 10 to prevent gas from dissolving. Furthermore, a gas replenishment port 20 is provided in the heating chamber 3, so that the reduced gas can be replenished as needed.

Additionally, water or seawater is generally used as the liquid for driving the water turbine 1, and after use, it may be disposed of through the water storage tank 14, and fresh liquid may be injected into the liquid tank 5 each time. Furthermore, in order to store the pressure gas in the adjustment tank 10 of the pressure adjustment section 7 and to maintain a water head sufficient for pumping the gas to the liquid tank 5 when the generator 2 is operated, the reservoir 11 is installed at a high place, and the water level is increased. It is also possible to take measures such as applying a heavy object to the surface.

As described above, according to the present invention, gas is heated and expanded using solar heat or geothermal heat, the resulting pressure is applied to liquid, and a water wheel is driven by the water head given by the head and gas pressure. Therefore, even if a large head cannot be obtained, it is possible to generate electricity by providing a sufficient head of water with the pressure of the gas, and because it uses natural heat to heat the gas and utilize its expansion action. Not only does it not consume limited natural resources and cause problems such as emitting air pollutants or emitting harmful radiation, it also provides a stable energy supply and allows small-scale equipment to provide a stable power supply. can.

In addition, since the pressurized gas obtained by heating is stored in a regulating tank, it becomes possible to convert energy obtained from solar heat or geothermal heat into pressure due to gas expansion and store it easily, allowing power generation to be started at a desired time. Not only does it have advantages, but since the pressurized gas in the regulating tank is pushed out to the liquid tank using the water head of the reservoir, the liquid in the liquid tank provides a sufficient water head, making it possible to generate a considerable amount of power.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the liquid from which the water turbine generator is operated is stored in a liquid storage tank and returned to the liquid tank for circulation, so there is no need to worry about dust or foreign matter getting into the system, and the system can be installed even in places where water for power generation is difficult to obtain. It is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are layout diagrams showing embodiments of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Water turbine, 2... Generator, 3... Heating chamber, 5... Liquid tank, 7... Pressure adjustment part, 8... On-off valve, 10... Adjustment tank, 11... Reservoir, 13... Heat exchanger, 14... Water tank, 15...Pump, 17...Return pipe line.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A heating chamber that heats and expands gas using natural heat, a liquid tank and an adjustment tank whose tops are respectively connected to the heating chamber, and which are installed at a lower location than the liquid tank and whose tops are connected to the heating chamber. A water wheel for operating a generator is connected to the bottom via an on-off valve, and a reservoir for maintaining the water head is connected to the bottom of the regulating tank, and the heated and expanded gas is pushed into the regulating tank and the liquid is pushed out to the reservoir. A power generation device utilizing natural heat, characterized in that when the on-off valve is opened, the liquid in the liquid tank is sent to the water turbine using a water head given by the head and the pressure of the gas to drive the water. . 2. A heating chamber that heats and expands gas using natural heat, a liquid tank and an adjustment tank each having its top connected to the heating chamber, and a heating chamber installed at a lower location than the liquid tank and connected to the bottom through an on-off valve. A water wheel connected to the generator for operation, a reservoir for maintaining the water head connected to the bottom of the adjustment tank, and a return pipe having a water storage tank and a pump and connecting the water turbine and the liquid tank, The liquid in the liquid tank is pushed out into the reservoir and stored therein, and when the opening/closing valve is opened, the liquid in the liquid tank is sent to and driven by the water head given by the head and the pressure of the gas. A power generation device using natural heat, characterized in that the used liquid is returned from the water storage tank to the liquid tank.