Method and apparatus for generating electrical energy from underwater falls
Electrical energy is generating by submerging a tank in a body of water so that its water inlet is located under a water surface and covered by water and water flows into an interior of the tank, evacuating water from the tank by an evacuating element through a water outlet of the tank to maintain in the interior of the tank a space for flowing water through the inlet into the interior of the tank, arranging a converting element which convert energy of the water flowing into the interior of the tank into an electrical energy, and arranging the evacuating element so that its discharge is located below the outlet of the tank and above the water surface.
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/802,260, filed on Jun. 3, 2010, it incorporates the subject matter of the above-identified application and claims its priority from the priority date of the above-identified application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating electrical energy with the use of water.
Method and apparatus of this type are known in the art. U.S. patent application publication US 2008/0211231 discloses a device consisting of a container which is partially submerged in the sea in which force of the water flowing through the pipes causes turbines to rotate thus generating electricity which may be transmitted to land.
U.S. patent application publication 2009/0173404 discloses a system for providing a structure or structures for altering water surface temperature having a holding vessel with a wall extending above a water level and a submerged lower portion, with a conduit extending to a water depth.
International patent application publication WO 00/31412 discloses a unit for production of electric power using the energy of the sea water which changes kinetic and potential energy of waves into energy of position, based on differences in height.
International patent application publication WO 2005/106240 discloses a method for energetic technical and biological use of underground water in which water flows from a depth of water at hydrostatic pressure through pipes arranged in a wall built on solid ground, towards hydraulic turbines driving generators and/or other technical installations or devices to be driven. Water from the turbines then flows toward aquaculture structures installed deeper where the water is used to grow aquatic plants and rear aquatic animals or is used for technical purposes.
British patent GB 2,456,333 discloses a tidal pump system in which a water powered pump is actuated by variable water levels (e.g. tidal energy.) The pump may pump water between different depths within the water, e.g. to adjust nutrient levels or temperature, or it may pump fluids or fluent solids to or fro the water e.g. to provide materials, or to store gasses below water.
French patent FR 2,813,925 discloses electricity generation by tidal flow pressure using rising tide to transfer fresh water to a floating reservoir which then supplies a fixed reservoir via a turbine during ebbing tide.
U.S. patent application publication to Robichaud 2009/0230687 discloses a system of generating electrical energy, in which an underwater fall rotates a turbine to generate electricity, and a corkscrew driven by the turbine evacuates water. The rotation of the corkscrew is caused by the rotation of the turbine, not independently from the turbine, and therefore the corkscrew cannot generate more power than the power of water falling on the turbine and cannot evacuate the water under the turbine efficiently to create under the turbine an air-filled space which is necessary for the rotation of the turbine. (Ilya, is it OK to say anything about “air-filled space” and to create more arguments with the Examiner ?)
It is believed that the existing methods and apparatus for generating electrical energy can be further improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for generating electrical energy which is a further improvement of existing methods an apparatuses.
In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a method of generating electrical energy from water, comprising the steps providing a tank having an inlet and an outlet; submerging the tank in a body of water so that the water inlet is under a water surface and covered by water and water flows into an interior of the tank; evacuating water from the tank through the outlet so as to maintain in the interior of the tank a space for flowing the water through the inlet into the interior of the tank; and arranging converting means which convert energy of the water flowing into the interior of the tank through the inlet into an electrical energy; operating the evacuating means independently of an operation of said converting means; and providing in the tank means for directing the water, flowing into the tank to act primarily on blades of the converting means. and arranging the evacuating means so that its outlet is located below the outlet of the tank and above the water surface.
Another feature of the present invention resides in an apparatus of generating electrical energy from water, comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet and submerged in a body of water so that the water inlet is under a water surface and covered by water and water flows into an interior of the tank; means for evacuating water from the tank through the outlet so as to maintain in the interior of the tank a space for flowing the water through the inlet into the interior of the tank; and converting means converting energy of the water flowing into the interior of the tank through the inlet into an electrical energy, operating the evacuating means independently of an operation of said converting means; and providing in the tank means for directing the water, flowing into the tank to act primarily on blades of the converting means. and arranging the evacuating means so that its outlet is located below the outlet of the tank and above the water surface.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus, which convert energy of slow moving water of ocean, river, lake into highly efficient kinetic energy of the underwater falls, capable to rotate, for example, turbine, and thereby to produce electrical energy. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in details are preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention to the illustrated embodiments.
The barrel (insert) is elevated above the top rim 23′ of the tank. When top rim of the tank 23′ with the inlet is pushed inside of water 13 below its top surface 5, the water 6, located above the tank, begins to flow rapidly inside of the empty tubular space, creating a waterfall. Right under the barrel 11 is placed the turbine 20 and the central output shaft 8, to which the turbine is attached, and which is supported by bearings 24. The free falling water of the waterfall 6 and 30 is reaching first, on its way downward, the blades 21 of turbine 20, forcing the turbine to spin. The turbine, being attached to the central output shaft 8, forces the shaft to rotate and through the coupling 9, rotates the shaft 10 of the electrical generator, thus producing electricity. After contacts with the blades of the turbine, water continue to fall downward to the floor 22 of tank; here it is ready for evacuation. There are mechanical ways to evacuate water, collected on the bottom of the tank as will be shown below.
In
For this apparatus, non-metallic materials are used mostly, like reinforced fiberglass, plastic etc. Before installation is completed, the whole system should be free of surrounding water: turbine will begin to rotate only, if waterfall will run into the empty tubular space of the tank and evacuation of water is ready. Further will be shown ON/OFF mechanism of the apparatus. The pipe 27 can be located as a straight angled line from the housing 22 to the point 16 in the air.
The apparatus has a floating platform 108 with supporting balloons (for instance) 102, keeping platform constantly over the water level 120. On the bottom of the ocean a few cylindrical standoffs 124 are installed, that are protruding a floating platform 108 through the holes 109, slightly larger in diameter, than diameter of standoffs 124, allowing platform 108 to move only vertically during low and high tides, and, therefore, keeping a distance between the platform 108 and the top surface of the water 120 constant. A tank is placed on a small platform 129, which is attached to the floating platform 108 by plurality of tubings 107, and therefore, is moving up and down together with a platform 108. In the present position water 121 from above the tank rapidly flows into an empty tubular space of apparatus, creating a waterfall, and, when it reaches blades of the turbine 136, causing turbine to rotate. Turbine, further, rotates the central shaft 125, to which it is attached and the central shaft, in turn, rotates thru coupling 100 the shaft of electrical generator 101, which produces electricity.
After turbine 136, water continues to fall downward to the floor of the tank and here it is ready for evacuation from the tank. Evacuation system is operated by forces of low and high tides of the ocean or the sea: from the tank, water, collected on its bottom, via flexible tubings 127 and 130′, flows through the tank outlet by gravity into plurality of pairs, upper 129 and lower 131, of water receptacles (containers), which are located lower than the tank. The receptacles are the collapsible tanks (or are the cylinders with the plungers) Each flexible tubing has a check valve, upper 130 and lower 126, to prevent water from running back into the tank. Upper receptacle 129 is attached from the bottom to the stationary platform 119, which is a part of standoff 124, and from the top, to the moving platform 117, which is attached to the floating platform 108 by the tube 114. The lower receptacle 131 is attached from the top to the stationary platform 119 and from the bottom to the moving platform 132, which is attached to the floating platform 108 by the tube 116.
During the low tide platform 108 goes down and presses receptacle 129 to stationary platform 117, creating inside of the receptacle 129 pressure, which closes the check valve 130 and pushes water, collected inside of the receptacle, outside by evacuating tubing 113, the top end of which is placed above the water surface. At this time platform 132, being attached to moving down platform 108, stretches receptacle 131 and opens the check valve 126, allowing water from the bottom of the tank to flow inside of receptacle 131 by gravity. All water evacuating tubings extend through top platform 108 via the holes 135. At the end of the low ocean tide the receptacles taking turn and now, moving up platform 108 pulls the platform 117 up, opening a check valve 130 and allowing water from the tank to flow down into the receptacle 129 by gravity. At the same time, the moving up platform 108 and the tubing 116 are compressing receptacle 131, closing the check valve 126 and pressing water out from receptacle 131 to the open air via evacuating tubing 118 or back to water.
Apparatus has an ON/OFF device 112, which, when needed, stops water from falling inside of tank. This device is a cylinder 112 with double walls 112 and 112′, which are connected from the top by solid ring 105, enclosing these walls from the top. Diameter of said double wall “locking” cylinder is, approximately, equal to the diameter of the stationary wall of the tank 128, which allow cylinder 112 to slide up and down on it. In the working position of apparatus this locking cylinder is in its lower position, when the top ring 105 of this cylinder is sitting right on the top rim 111 of the tank, and water from above the locking cylinder is running freely into the tank. When said cylinder is in the top position, the top ring of it 105 is above the water surface and prevents surrounding water to get into the tank, and stops the operation of the apparatus.
When apparatus is submerged into the ocean or river so that its inlet is under water, water from above the tank flows rapidly into the empty tubular space of apparatus, creating a waterfall, which is running downward to the blades 51 of turbine 46, forcing the turbine to spin. Being attached to the same central shaft, the turbine rotates and through the coupling 41, rotates shaft of the generator, producing electricity. A few mechanical methods of water evacuation from the tank are described below. To the same central shaft 42 with turbine 46 is attached a centrifuge 58. The lower portion of the tank 45, below the turbine, is conical 62 for better control of the water movement. All water, that just passed the turbine blades, is directed to the center of the rotating centrifuge 58, where it is caught between ribs 64 and hub 65 extending above ribs hub 65 (
Another possible solution of water evacuation from the tank of the apparatus shown is from side “A”. In some cases, depending on the pressure inside the water, it is feasible to seal the bottom of the tank with the elastic circular check valve 53, which opens under the pressure of centrifugal forces, and all the water, collected on the bottom of tank, flows out through the opening 54 back to the ocean (river). Check valve 53 will not allow water to go back inside of tank.
If it is needed to increase revolutions of propeller, centrifuge etc. the gear box can be added inside of tank. All mechanical additions to apparatus however are driven by central shaft and are take some energy from the turbine, but this is only a small portion of the full amount of energy, produced by the turbine. These and other apparatuses the with mechanical type of evacuation of water from the tank to open air can be a model for a “Personal power station” for domestic use.
The working steps are:
Step 1 is represented by A1: rotating sleeve moves above the pumps and, during its movement above the plunger of the pump A, discharges into it enough water to fill-up the lower chamber 164 at the bottom of the housing. Because the check valve at the bottom of the plunger is open at this time (the ball is in the “down” position by gravity) the water from the plunger flows freely into the chamber 164 of the housing 147. When calculated amount of the water is supplied, the sleeve moves to the next pump B (from
Step 2 is represented by A2: Sleeve is moving again above the plunger of the pump A and supplies an equal amount of water into it. Because at this time both valves, on the top and the bottom of the sealed chamber 164 are closed, sleeve is filling-up the plunger. Weight of the rising water in the plunger is pushing the plunger down, compressing the spring and, therefore the water in the lower sealed chamber 164 of the pump, creating a pressure inside of said chamber. When calculated amount of water is released into the plunger, sleeve move further to pump B (see
Step 3 is represented by A3: Pressure in the camber 164 securely closes an opening 161 in the bottom of the plunger and opens the normally closed check valve 158 at the bottom of chamber 164. Full of water plunger is moving more and more down, evacuating water from the chamber. When floating ball 160 is reaching a pin 156, it changes its own position: the pin is slightly moving the ball and, therefore, opens the hole 161. Now, when plunger and chamber are communicating, the pressure in both of them equalizes. Decompressed pump is releasing the compressed spring, which lifts the plunger to its original position, check ball 160 falls down, and the moving up plunger is releasing collected in it water into the chamber: water flows downward by gravity. Once again, chamber is full with water and plunger is empty, awaiting for the sleeve to come back above it and supply the same portion of the water.
The described process of water evacuation constantly repeats itself and, therefore, constantly evacuates water from the bottom of the tank, allowing turbine to rotate. In reality, the number of pumps and sleeves in one apparatus can be much larger, in order to speed up the process of water evacuation from the bottom of the tank.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of methods and constructions differing from the type described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and an apparatus for generating electrical energy, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, be applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
Claims
1. A method of generating electrical energy form water at a first location, comprising the steps of: providing a tank comprising an inlet, an interior portion and an outlet; a conduit comprising a first end and a second end portion positioned at a second location remote from said first end, said first end in fluidic communication with said tank outlet, said second end positioned at a lower elevation that said outlet and at elevation higher than the surface of a body of water at the second location; converting energy of water flowing into the interior of the tank into electrical energy;
- submerging the tank in a said body of water at said first location so that the water inlet is located below the water surface at said first location such that water flows through said inlet into the interior of the tank;
- evacuating water from the tank through the outlet and said conduit to maintain in the interior of the tank a space for flowing water through the inlet into the interior of the tank and then through the outlet of the tank to said second location.
2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said evacuating includes evacuating the water from the tank by gravity.
3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of providing in the interior of the tank concentrically to an outer wall of the tank a water directing insert which is radially spaced from an outer wall of the tank so that water flows through the inlet into a space between the insert and the outer wall of the tank in the interior of the tank creating within the tank with a horizontal turbine a tubular waterfall; and locating the converting means axially downwardly under the insert, so that the tubular waterfall exits the space between the insert and the outer wall of the tank and then acts on the blades of the converting means.
4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said converting includes rotating by the water flowing in the interior of the tank a rotary element connected to a shaft of a generator of electrical energy and having an axis of rotation selected from the group consisting of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.
5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising rotating by the water flowing in the interior of the tank in said converting means a rotary element connected to a shaft of a generator of electrical energy and having a horizontal axis of rotation, and forming the inlet of the tank so that the water flows onto the blades of one half of diameter of rotary element leaving the other half in the air inside of the tank and allowing free rotation of vertical rotary element; and evacuating said water thru the outlet of the tank to maintain inside of tank a space for continuously flowing water through the inlet of the tank.
6. An apparatus for generating electrical energy form water at a first location, comprising a tank having an inlet, an interior portion and an outlet; a conduit with a first end and a second end portion positioned at a second location remote from said first end, said first end being in fluidic communication with said tank outlet, said second end being positioned at a lower elevation that said outlet and at elevation higher than the surface of a body of water at the second location; means for converting energy of water flowing into the interior of the tank into electrical energy; wherein the tank is submerged in a said body of water at said first location so that the water inlet is located below the water surface at said first location such that water flows through said inlet into the interior of the tank; and evacuating means for evacuating water from the tank through the outlet and said conduit to maintain in the interior of the tank a space for flowing water through the inlet into the interior of the tank and then through the outlet of the tank to said second location.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said evacuating means evacuate the water from the tank by gravity.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for providing in the interior of the tank concentrically to an outer wall of the tank a water directing insert which is radially spaced from an outer wall of the tank so that water flows through the inlet into a space between the insert and the outer wall of the tank in the interior of the tank to create within the tank a tubular waterfall; wherein the converting means is located axially downwardly under the insert, so that the tubular waterfall exits the space between the insert and the outer wall of the tank and then acts on the blades of converting means.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said converting means includes a rotating element rotated by the water flowing in the interior of the tank and connected to a shaft of a generator of electrical energy, said rotating element having an axis of rotation selected from the group consisting of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said converting means includes rotating by the water flowing in the interior of the tank rotary element connected to a shaft of a generator of electrical energy and having a horizontal axis of rotation, and forming the inlet of the tank so that the water flows only onto the blades of one half of diameter of rotary element leaving the other half in the air inside of the tank and allowing free rotation of vertical rotary element; and evacuating said water thru the outlet of the tank to maintain inside of tank a space for continuously flowing water through the inlet of the tank.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 9, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2011
Inventor: William Rovinsky (Plainview, NY)
Application Number: 12/931,739
International Classification: F03B 13/08 (20060101);