Masayuki Okumura.Masayuki Okumura.Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de S. Paulo (Brazil)

INTRODUCTION:INTRODUCTION: The traditional Hydroelectric plants supplying the major portion of electricity throughout world, are already well-known. However, since consumption is climbing at an astronomical rate and capacity of generation is limited, chiefly because the hydric reserves are practically becoming used up, and the reaction of environmentalists for the preservation of the nature is gathering intensity, scientists attempt to supplement it by alternative non-polluting energy sources, and one them is eolic (air power) energy.

OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: The authors propose a new Hydro-Eolic to substitute Hydro Electric Plant currently in use, based on the “Y” or water trompe principle.

METHODS: METHODS: It consists of interposing a “Y” or water trompe between the water reservoir and the flight channel, installing a hydraulic turbine in one of the branches and an eolic (air power) in the other one of the “Y”.

RESULTS: RESULTS: When the water (F) passes through (A), the flow will cause suction of environmental air (H), that passing through (B) will produce rotation of the blades and both turbines will generate electrical current.

DISCUSSION: DISCUSSION: Since current hydro-electric plants are already functioning (including the two greatest in the world – Itaipu (Brazil) and Three Gorges (China), we could supplement them by installing pipes containing an eolic turbine (G), with one of the extremities surpassing the water level (I) of the reservoir (2) in contact with the environment (I) and the other extremity terminating in the flight channel (4) within the water level (G), producing air suction that upon passing through the turbine would produce another electric current.

INTERPRETATION:INTERPRETATION: In order to minimize or even solve one of these problem – that of the electrical emergency – we are suggesting a simple, practical, economical system of nearly immediate solution, with almost no maintenance and operational cost; it is the generation of wind-water electrical energy. Depending on Depending on the capacity of suction of the trompe, other eolic turbines could be installed in the the capacity of suction of the trompe, other eolic turbines could be installed in the pipe upstream, or downstream from the hydraulic turbine. pipe upstream, or downstream from the hydraulic turbine. Indication of eolic energy is limited, since the present windmill (turbines) function with an air flow between 30 and 120 Km/h, if the wind speed is under 30 km/h, it will not generate eletricity. If above 120 Km/h the blades will break, besides the drawback of the flow not being constant.Presently when cracks were detected (June 2003) in the Three Gorges Dam (Popular Republic China), our suggestion is to add a supplementation of the electric energy.

CONCLUSION: CONCLUSION: The changeover from a Hydroelectric to a hydro-eolic Plant:a) Maintaining the electric potential programmed andb) reducing the environmental impact by reducing the size of the reservoir.

HYDRO-EOLIC ELECTRIC ENERGYHYDRO-EOLIC ELECTRIC ENERGY HYDROELECTRIC TO HYDRO-EOLIC

HYDROELECTRIC TO HYDRO-EOLIC

1 - River2 - Reservoir3 - Main Dam4 - Flight channel A - Hydraulic turbineB - Eolic turbine within damC - Eolic turbine exterior

D- Exit

E - Aerial pipe crossing water of reservoir

F - Admission of water from reservoir

G- End of Aerial pipe of Y branches (hydraulic and eolic turbine)

H- Entrance of air to eolic turbine (B)

I - Entrance of air to eolic turbine exterior©, (supplement pipe)

LEGENDS:

H

I