U.S. patent application number 12/758324 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-29 for method of generating hydroelectric power.
Invention is credited to Steven J DeAngeles.
Application Number | 20100187827 12/758324 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40674949 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100187827 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeAngeles; Steven J |
July 29, 2010 |
Method of Generating Hydroelectric Power
Abstract
A system and process for generating hydroelectric power within a
body of water relying on the pressure head existing between two
depths of the water. A vertically arranged conduit or penstock has
an upper water intake and is in fluid communication with a
reservoir situated at a lower depth. In a first cycle, water flow
is established in the conduit or penstock between the water intake
and lower reservoir when the reservoir is substantially full of
air. A turbine housing is mounted adjacent the reservoir at a lower
depth than the water intake and houses an electric turbine
generator having blades mounted within the conduit or penstock to
be driven by the flow of water to generate electricity. As water is
introduced into the reservoir, air is exhausted out an air exhaust
tube to a point above the surface of the body of water. After the
reservoir is generally full of water valves are provided to cease
the flow of water through the water intake and flow of air out the
exhaust tube. An air pump thereafter introduces air into the
reservoir to force water out of a reservoir water outlet port. The
generating cycle is then repeated.
Inventors: |
DeAngeles; Steven J;
(Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Docket Clerk
1000 JORIE BOULEVARD SUITE 144
OAK BROOK
IL
60523
US
|
Family ID: |
40674949 |
Appl. No.: |
12/758324 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11998360 |
Nov 30, 2007 |
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12758324 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
290/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F05B 2210/18 20130101;
F03B 17/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
290/54 |
International
Class: |
F03B 13/10 20060101
F03B013/10 |
Claims
1. A method of generating hydroelectric power comprising the steps
of: positioning an air filled reservoir at a predetermined depth
beneath the surface of a body of water; mounting a submerged water
intake at a pre-determined position above the reservoir; connecting
a conduit between the water inlet and the reservoir; creating a
flow of water through the conduit to introduce water into the air
filled reservoir until a selected quantity of water is collected;
situating an electric generator in operative connection to the flow
of water in the conduit; generating electric power through the
electrical generator during the flow of water; ceasing the flow of
water upon a predetermined amount of water being collected by the
reservoir, and introducing a flow of air into the reservoir to
force a substantial portion of said predetermined amount of water
from the reservoir.
2. The method of generating hydroelectric power according to claim
1 further comprising the steps of: ceasing the flow of air into the
reservoir after removal of the substantial portion and sealing the
reservoir, and repeating said step for generating electricity.
3. The method of generating hydroelectric power according to claim
1 further comprising the step of: exhausting air from the reservoir
while said water is being collected in the reservoir.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates in general to hydroelectricity and,
more particularly, to a system and method for generating
hydroelectric power in an efficient and environmentally clean
manner.
[0003] 2. Summary of the Prior Art
[0004] In the prior art there have been numerous attempts to
develop satisfactory techniques of efficiently generating
electricity without pollution. Many prior systems have relied on
energy inherent in nature, including the forces found in
atmospheric winds and the of energy created by water flowing in
rivers, over dams, and the pressure differentials present at the
depths of bodies of water, such as in oceans, seas, bays, lakes,
and the like. It is the objective in the prior art when attempting
to rely on nature to provide the energy for the generation of
electricity to do for reasons of economy, efficiency, and
minimization of pollution, such as created by environmentally
harmful fossil fuels and the potential problems associated with
nuclear energy.
[0005] In some prior art power generators, attempts have been made
to employ the energy potential present in a head of water to
generate hydroelectric power. In general, prior designs relying on
pressure differential have not attained an optimum level of power
generation as is desired in the industry. An example of a known
technique for generating electric power relying on the energy
potential of a pressure head in a body of water is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,475 issued Mar. 23, 1982 to Grub. The technique
taught in Grub is subject to certain inefficiencies involving the
vertical lifting of water and other design flaws. It is desirable,
therefore, to provide an improved system and method for generating
hydroelectric power that is relatively efficient and economical to
maintain and operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is accordingly an objective of this invention to provide
an improved and economical system and method for the generation of
hydroelectric power. The system and process herein disclosed
extracts energy from the pressure head present in a body of water,
such as, for example, from an ocean, sea, bay, lake and the like.
Although the invention can operate at any depth within body of
water, depths of greater than 100 feet are preferred for best
efficiencies.
[0007] The system herein includes an upper submerged inlet port of
a vertical conduit or penstock that is selectively in fluid
communication with a sealed air filled reservoir positioned at a
lower depth of the body of water. The blades of a turbine generator
of known design are positioned within the penstock or conduit in
series with the reservoir so that energy produced by a head of
water drives the blades of the electric generator at great velocity
for generating hydroelectric power. The flow of water is created by
opening fluid control means to the reservoir at the same time fluid
control means in the intake port is opened. The water flow
continues to drive the turbine generator until such time as the
reservoir is generally filled with water as the level of water
reaches a selected point. The air within the reservoir is pushed
out through an air outlet tube during water flow process. Air pump
means in fluid communication with the reservoir acts to drive out
the collected water through a reservoir egress after the system
fluid control means that opened during generation cycle are closed.
After evacuation of the water from the reservoir, the system is
ready for another cycle. To increase power output, multiple
reservoir chambers and conduits are used to provide more continuing
operation of the system
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the system for
generating hydroelectric power of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention for
generating hydroelectricity employing a plurality of water
flows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a first embodiment
of the system for generating hydroelectric power in accordance with
the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 2. The
system 2 uses components submerged in a body of water 4, such as an
ocean, lake, sea, bay and the like, that extract the energy derived
from the pressure head present at a predetermined depth. An upper
platform 6 is mounted above the water surface 4' at a selected
height. The platform 6 can comprise any known platform design that
employs support columns (not shown) extending to the floor of the
body 4 of water. Other methods of supporting the platform 6 may be
employed, whether structural or using flotation means. The platform
6 carries a plurality of downward extending cable attachments 8,
such as, for example, four or more in number. Other support devices
such as struts and the like may be used in place of the cables 8.
The cables 8 support an enlarged water intake 8' at a position
submerged beneath the surface 4' of the body of water 4. A sealed
reservoir 10 is supported on the bottom 12 of the body 4 of water
by legs or pillars 14. The reservoir 10 is sealed to retain air
within its interior chamber 16. As will be described later herein,
the chamber 16 is designed to be substantially filled with water
during the power generating cycle of system 2 after which the water
is removed from chamber 16 by air pressure to complete the
operating cycles of the system 2. The selected capacity of
reservoir 10 is dependent on numerous physical factors, including,
but not limited to the desired output and efficiency of system 2.
For example, the reservoir 10 may have capacity of twenty million
gallons, although a smaller or larger capacity may be employed
dependent on desired results.
[0011] A generally vertical conduit or penstock 20 is selectively
in fluid communication with a port 22 provided in the lower portion
of inlet water intake 8'. The conduit or penstock 20 may comprise
either a flexible or rigid structure. An electrically controlled
valve 24 is operatively mounted in port 22 to control the flow of
water into the conduit or penstock 20. A sealed turbine housing 30
having an air filled interior is mounted adjacent the reservoir 10
and receives a portion of the downward extending conduit or
penstock 20 with suitable sealing between the interior of housing
30 and the surrounding water. An electric turbine generator 32 of
conventional design is suitably mounted exteriorly of the portion
of conduit or penstock 20 within the turbine housing 30. The
electric turbine 32 generates electric power through the rotation
of turbine blades 32' that are mounted within the conduit or
penstock 20 and drive the generator in a known manner. As should be
appreciated, multiple electric turbine generators (not shown) may
alternatively be positioned within turbine housing 30 and each may
have turbine blades within the conduit or penstock 20 to generate
electricity in concert with each other. The conduit or penstock 20
passes in and out of the turbine housing 30 and is in selective
fluid communication with an intake port 34 of reservoir 10. A flow
valve 36 is provided in operative relationship to intake port 34 to
selectively allow flow through conduit or penstock 20 and drive the
turbine generator 32. Suitable electric lines (not shown) are
connected to turbine generator 32 and distribute the generated
electricity to a distribution system (not shown) situated at
suitable exterior location from system 2.
[0012] The reservoir 10 is intended to be positioned at a depth of
about 300-500 feet beneath the water intake 8' so as to generate a
large flow of water through conduit or penstock 20 created by the
significant pressure differential existing between the air filled
chamber 16 and the water intake 8' as result of the pressure head
of water existing above the reservoir 30. The water entering intake
8' falls from a great height to the air filled reservoir at a large
rate of flow through the conduit or penstock 20. It is within the
scope of the invention to situate the reservoir 10 above or below
the range of 300-500 feet dependent on the body of water and the
desired efficiency and power to be generated. From the foregoing it
should be apparent that a flow of water is attained through conduit
or penstock 20 when valves 24 and 36 are opened at essentially the
same time. An air inlet tube 50 that may be carried by platform 4
is operatively connected at its upper end above the surface 4'of
the body of water to an air pressure pump 52 that is mounted on
platform 4. The air pressure pump 52 can be a conventional device
driven by wind mill vanes 52a. Alternatively, the air pump 52 may
be driven by solar energy, a fossil fuel, or by using a portion of
the electricity generated by turbine generator 32 of system 2
through an electric connection line (not shown). The air inlet tube
50 extends downward and is coupled in fluid communication with the
chamber 16 of reservoir 10 by an inlet port 58 having a one way
valve 58'. An air outlet tube 60 is connected to an air outlet port
62 of reservoir 10 and extends upward in connected relationship to
platform 6 to an air outlet 64 to exhaust air from reservoir 10
during the electricity generating cycle. A valve 66 is mounted in
reservoir port 62 which opens in concert to the opening of valves
24 and 36. An electrically powered door 70 which opens and closes a
water outlet 72 is mounted on reservoir 10 for emptying chamber 16
after it has been generally filled with water following the
electricity generating cycle, as determined by level detector 17.
The sliding door 70 alternatively can comprise a conventional valve
if desired. A conventional computer device 80 is mounted on
platform 4 and is electrically connected to electrically operated
to valves 24, 36, 58' and 66, sliding door 70, the controls of air
pump 52 and to level detector 17 to open and close the valves and
operate the air pump 52 in accordance with the sequence of
operation of the invention.
[0013] In operation, during a non-generating cycle with the
reservoir 10 containing water after an electricity generating
cycle, the air pump 52 is actuated by computer 80 and pumps air at
a predetermined pressure through air inlet tube 50 and into the
chamber 16. At the same time sliding door 70 opens port 72 while
valves 24, 36 and 66 remain closed. The air flow created by pump 52
forces the water out of the chamber 16 through water outlet 72.
Once the reservoir is substantially filled with air, the port 72 is
closed by sliding door 70 to seal the chamber 16 while the air pump
52 ceases operation with valve 58' closing. It is not necessary,
however, to force all of the water out of the reservoir 10. The
valves 24, 36, and 66 thereupon are opened at generally the same
time. Water rapidly falls into water intake 8' and downward through
conduit or penstock 20. The water flow through the conduit or
penstock 20 enters the turbine housing 30 to drive the turbine
blades 32' thereby generating electricity. Subsequently, the water
falls into chamber 16 forcing air out through air outlet tube 60.
The air outlet tube 60 may be tapered to increase the air flow rate
through the tube so that the stream of air from air outlet 64 can
be used to rotate the windmill vanes 52' to charge the air pump 52
in known manner. Once the reservoir 10 is substantially filled with
water as determined by water level detector 17, the valves 24, 36
and 66 are closed and the previous cycle of forcing water from the
reservoir 10 is repeated. It should be clear that the system 2
provides successive cycles of power generation and removal of water
from the chamber 16 to complete the process of generation.
[0014] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a second
embodiment of the invention, generally designated by reference
numeral 2a. For a greater and more continuous power output, the
system 2a establishes a plurality of water flows to generate
electricity in two successive cycles, such as two separate flows as
shown in FIG. 2. If desired, it is within the scope of the
invention to run the redundant components of FIG. 2 generally
simultaneously if desired. It should further be clear that system
2a could be modified further by employing more than two conduits
establishing more than two water flows to generate electricity.
[0015] In FIG. 2, an upper platform 6a is elevated above the water
surface 4' at a selected height. Cables 8a support a pair of
enlarged water intakes 8a' beneath the surface 4' of the body of
water. A sealed reservoir 10a is mounted on the bottom 12 of the
body of water by legs or pillars 14a. The reservoir 10a is sealed
to selectively contain air within a pair of interior chambers 16a,
16b. A wall 18a divides the interior of the reservoir 10a to create
the chambers 16a, 16b. As will be described later herein, the
chambers 16a,16b are designed to be substantially filled with water
on a successive basis during the power generating cycles of system
2a after which the water is removed from either chamber 16a,16b by
air pressure to complete alternate operating cycles of the system
2a. As described in connection with the description of the first
embodiment of FIG. 1, the selected capacity of reservoir 10 is
dependent on numerous physical factors, including, but not limited
to, the desired output and efficiency of system 2. It is within the
scope of the invention to employ duplicate reservoirs (not shown)
rather than the divided reservoir 10a as shown in FIG. 2.
[0016] A pair of conduits or penstocks 20a are selectively in fluid
communication with separate ports 22a which are provided in the
lower portion of the pair of inlet water intakes 8a'. Electrically
controlled valves 24a are respectively mounted in ports 22a to
control the separate flows of water into the respective conduits or
penstocks 20a. A sealed turbine housing 30a is mounted adjacent the
reservoir 10a and receives a portion of both conduits or penstocks
20a with suitable sealing between the interior of housing 30a and
the surrounding water. An electric turbine 32 of conventional
design for generating electricity is operative mounted with in
housing 30a and has turbine blades 32a' respectively mounted for
rotation within each of the conduits or penstocks 20a in a known
manner. It is within the scope of the invention to employ multiple
turbine electric generators (not shown) in association with each
conduit or penstock 20a, if desired. The pair of conduits or
penstocks 20a pass in and out of the turbine housing 30a and are in
selective fluid communication with separate intake ports 34a in
communication with chambers 16a, 16b of reservoir 10a. A pair of
electrically controlled flow valves 36a are provided in operative
relationship to intake ports 34a to selectively create a flow of
water through either of the pair of conduits or penstocks 20a and
drive the turbine generator 32, whereby the separate flows of water
effect successive cycles of the generation of electricity. The
generation of electricity of the system 2a is based on the same
principle as the system 2 of FIG. 1. The rapid flow of water
through conduits or penstocks 20a is derived from the pressure
differential existing between the separate air filled chambers
16a,b and the water intakes 8a' due to the head of water existing
above the reservoir 10a. From the foregoing it should be apparent
that the two successive separate flows of water through conduits or
penstocks 20a occur when valves 24a and 36a which are respectively
operatively connected to the separate conduits are opened.
[0017] A pair of air inlet tubes 50a are each operatively connected
at their upper end above the surface of the water to air pressure
pumps 52a, 52b that are mounted on platform 4a. The air pressure
pumps 52a, 52b are of same type as described with reference to the
embodiment of FIG. 1. The air inlet tubes 50a extend downward and
are each coupled in fluid communication with a respective chamber
16a, 16b of reservoir 10a through respective air inlet ports 58a.
The inlet ports 58a each having an electrically operated, one way
valve 58a'. A pair of reservoir air outlet tubes 60a are
respectively connected to air outlet ports 62a of one of chambers
16a, 16b. The outlet tubes 50a extend upward in connected
relationship to platform 6a and terminate with an air outlet 64a to
exhaust air from the chambers 16a, 16b of reservoir 10a to which
they are connected during the successive generating cycles. Valves
66a are respectively mounted in reservoir outlet ports 64a which
open in concert to the opening of valves 24a and 36a. A pair of
electrically powered doors 70s opening and closing a water outlet
72a to each chamber 16a, 16b are mounted on reservoir 10a. The
doors 70 are used to empty a chamber 16a, 16b after they has been
generally filled with water following the two successive
electricity generating cycles. The two sliding doors 70a
alternatively can comprise conventional valves if desired. A
conventional computer device 80 is electrically connected to
electrically operated valves 24a, 36a, 58a' and 66a and to sliding
door 70 to open and close the respective devices in conjunction
with the successive duplicate power generating cycles of system
2a.
[0018] In operation of the system of FIGS. 2a, during the alternate
non-generating cycles with either of the chambers 16a, 16b of the
reservoir 10a being generally full of water after the respective
generating cycles, one of the air pumps 50a, 50b is actuated by
computer 80 and pumps air at predetermined pressure through air
inlet tube 50a and into the water filled chamber 16a or chamber
16b. At the same time the particular sliding door 70a communicating
with the water filled chamber opens outlet 72a while valves 24a,
36a and 66a remain closed. The air flow created by either pump 52a
or air pump 52b forces the water out of the respective chamber 16a
or chamber 16b through either of the water outlets 72a. Once that
particular chamber 16a or chamber 16b is substantially filled with
air, the sliding door 70a moves to close outlet 72a and seal the
associated chamber 16a or chamber 16b while at the same time the
operating air pump 52a or pump 52b ceases operation with a valve
58a' closing. The valves 24a, 36a, and 66a associated with the then
emptied chamber 16a or chamber 16b are thereupon opened at
generally the same time. Water rapidly falls into water intake 8a'
and downward through one of conduits or penstocks 20a associated
with the emptied chamber 16a, 16b. After water flow is then
established through the one of the conduits or penstocks 20a
connected to the emptied chamber 16a or chamber 16b, the blades
32a' within the turbine housing 30 are rotated to drive electric
generator 32. Subsequently, the water falls into either chamber
16a, 16b forcing air out through the air outlet tube 60a connected
to chamber 16a or chamber 16b that is being filled with water. Once
the chamber 16a or chamber 16b is generally filled with water as
determined by water level detector 17a or 17b, the associated
valves 24a, 36a and 66a are closed and the previous cycle of
forcing water from a filled chamber of reservoir 10 is repeated. It
should be clear that the system 2 provides duplicate successive
cycles of power generation and removal of water from a respective
chamber 16a or chamber 16b.
* * * * *