Patents Assigned to PS Systems Inc.
  • Patent number: 8074670
    Abstract: An underground porosity reservoir includes substantially impermeable barriers and an aquiclude surrounding a volume of alluvial materials for storing water within the pore spaces of the alluvial materials. Upstream and downstream ends of the reservoir define both a static storage portion (extending below an elevation of the downstream end of the reservoir) and an elevated wedge-shaped portion that extends above the static portion. Once the static portion of the reservoir is filled, additional amounts of water are dynamically stored within the wedge portion by removing water from the downstream end of the reservoir and adding water to the upstream end of the reservoir. Water may be recirculated within the wedge portion, or external water may be added to the upstream end of the reservoir at a first flow rate while water is removed from the downstream end of the reservoir at a similar flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: PS Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers
  • Publication number: 20110229267
    Abstract: An underground porosity water storage reservoir minimizes the impacts on surface uses of the reservoir site. Furthermore, a method of operating an underground porosity storage reservoir minimizes damage to the reservoir due to injecting sediment-laden water or water that is chemically incompatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir. The underground porosity water storage reservoir reduces temperature impacts on surface waters due to the discharge of stored water. A method of using the porosity storage reservoir to minimize adverse temperature impacts when discharging water to a surface body is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers
  • Publication number: 20110206460
    Abstract: Natural soils and underlying bedrock typical of channel banks near a river and floodplain system are utilized to improve the economics and efficiency of constructing an underground porosity storage reservoir. A man-made barrier, typically a slurry wall, is keyed into these banks and forms a first portion of a closed boundary for the reservoir. The channel banks between the two ends of the slurry wall form a substantially impermeable natural barrier defining a second portion of the closed boundary for the reservoir, thereby reducing the construction costs on sites appropriate for such a design. Locating the bank-sided porosity storage reservoir over naturally occurring scour regions in the bedrock can greatly increase the storage capacity. By building an embankment and extending the slurry walls higher, an open water storage area can be created on top of the reservoir that is bounded by the elevated slurry wall and the channel bank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Donald O. Summers, Stanley R. Peters
  • Patent number: 7972080
    Abstract: Natural soils and underlying bedrock typical of channel banks near a river and floodplain system are utilized to improve the economics and efficiency of constructing an underground porosity storage reservoir. A man-made barrier, typically a slurry wall, is keyed into these banks and forms a first portion of a closed boundary for the reservoir. The channel banks between the two ends of the slurry wall form a substantially impermeable natural barrier defining a second portion of the closed boundary for the reservoir, thereby reducing the construction costs on sites appropriate for such a design. Locating the bank-sided porosity storage reservoir over naturally occurring scour regions in the bedrock can greatly increase the storage capacity. By building an embankment and extending the slurry walls higher, an open water storage area can be created on top of the reservoir that is bounded by the elevated slurry wall and the channel bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: PS Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald O. Summers, Stanley R. Peters
  • Publication number: 20090173142
    Abstract: A method and reservoirs are described that provide for controlling gas pressure within a porosity storage reservoir. In embodiments, gas is injected into the porosity storage reservoir while water is being extracted from the reservoir to provide greater efficiency in extracting the water from the reservoir. The gas may be injected at a predetermined target pressure or at a variable pressure. In other embodiments, a vacuum is applied to the reservoir while water is being injected into the reservoir to provide greater efficiency when introducing water into the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers
  • Publication number: 20080226395
    Abstract: Natural soils and underlying bedrock typical of channel banks near a river and floodplain system are utilized to improve the economics and efficiency of constructing an underground porosity storage reservoir. A man-made barrier, typically a slurry wall, is keyed into these banks and forms a first portion of a closed boundary for the reservoir. The channel banks between the two ends of the slurry wall form a substantially impermeable natural barrier defining a second portion of the closed boundary for the reservoir, thereby reducing the construction costs on sites appropriate for such a design. Locating the bank-sided porosity storage reservoir over naturally occurring scour regions in the bedrock can greatly increase the storage capacity. By building an embankment and extending the slurry walls higher, an open water storage area can be created on top of the reservoir that is bounded by the elevated slurry wall and the channel bank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Donald O. Summers, Stanley R. Peters
  • Publication number: 20080073087
    Abstract: An underground porosity reservoir includes substantially impermeable barriers and an aquiclude surrounding a volume of alluvial deposits for storing water within the pore spaces of the alluvial deposits. A conduit positioned below a surface layer of the reservoir includes an interior volume that communicates with the pore spaces of the alluvial deposits. An air vent connects the interior volume of the conduit with atmospheric air above the reservoir and allows air to pass to and from the pore spaces of the reservoir. Ventilation of the porosity reservoir provides pressure-relief during reservoir filling operations (when the incoming water would otherwise cause an increase in air pressure within the reservoir), and further provides a vacuum-break as water is extracted from the reservoir (i.e., air from the conduit enters the pore spaces as the water is extracted).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers
  • Publication number: 20080072968
    Abstract: An underground porosity reservoir includes substantially impermeable barriers and an aquiclude surrounding a volume of alluvial materials for storing water within the pore spaces of the alluvial materials. Upstream and downstream ends of the reservoir define both a static storage portion (extending below an elevation of the downstream end of the reservoir) and an elevated wedge-shaped portion that extends above the static portion. Once the static portion of the reservoir is filled, additional amounts of water are dynamically stored within the wedge portion by removing water from the downstream end of the reservoir and adding water to the upstream end of the reservoir. Water may be recirculated within the wedge portion, or external water may be added to the upstream end of the reservoir at a first flow rate while water is removed from the downstream end of the reservoir at a similar flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers
  • Publication number: 20070154262
    Abstract: An underground porosity water storage reservoir minimizes the impacts on surface uses of the reservoir site. Furthermore, a method of operating an underground porosity storage reservoir minimizes damage to the reservoir due to injecting sediment-laden water or water that is chemically incompatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir. The underground porosity water storage reservoir reduces temperature impacts on surface waters due to the discharge of stored water. A method of using the porosity storage reservoir to minimize adverse temperature impacts when discharging water to a surface body is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Peters, Donald Summers
  • Patent number: 7192218
    Abstract: An underground porosity water storage reservoir minimizes the impacts on surface uses of the reservoir site. Furthermore, a method of operating an underground porosity storage reservoir minimizes damage to the reservoir due to injecting sediment-laden water or water that is chemically incompatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir. The underground porosity water storage reservoir reduces temperature impacts on surface waters due to the discharge of stored water. A method of using the porosity storage reservoir to minimize adverse temperature impacts when discharging water to a surface body is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers