SMALL TURBINES IN WATER RECLAMATION FACILITIES FOR GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY

摘要

Turbine assemblies including small turbines coupled to generators are sequentially located in a fast-flowing treatment channel of a water reclamation facility. Each turbine assembly may include a vertical turbine shaft mounted on a brace suspended above water level, with the turbine blades submerged in the flow. The distal end of the vertical turbine shaft may be free (unattached) to the bottom or to any other part of the channel, and may be supported by two or more bearings mounted to the brace. The brace may be generally horizontal and may span the channel and be anchored to opposing walls thereof. An encased generator may be located in an air space between the water level and a removable cover. Power may be collected from the generators via insulated wiring incorporated into a main power cable for distribution to an energy consumption source.

主权项

1. A power generation system, comprising:
a sequential array of turbine and generator assemblies positioned within an effluent flow of a wastewater treatment process downstream of a primary treatment process each providing output power to a main collection cable, wherein each assembly comprises:
a generator located above a water level of the effluent flow,a turbine located in the effluent flow and configured for turning around a substantially vertical shaft coupled to and below the generator; and
at least one bearing enclosing a portion of the shaft, mounted to an upper portion of a channel containing the effluent flow above the water level, wherein an end of the substantially vertical shaft distal from the generator is unconstrained, whereby the substantially vertical shaft is cantilevered from the at least one bearing.