SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR GENERATING HYDROELECTRIC POWER
First Claim
1. A system for generating electric energy comprising:
- a reservoir submerged in a body of water at first depth below the water body surface, said reservoir having at least one internal chamber at least partially devoid of water and configured to have a first internal pressure;
an electric generator (generator) at a second depth above the first depth, said generator being connected to and capable of being driven by a water-driven turbine having a water input port proximate to the second depth and having a waste water outlet coupled to the at least one internal chamber;
said reservoir being configured such that the first internal pressure is less than hydrostatic pressure at the second depth;
whereby water entering the at least one internal chamber flows through the water input port, through the turbine, driving the electric generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and process for generating hydroelectric power within a body of water uses head pressure existing between two depths of the water. A vertically arranged conduit 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 between the water intake and lower reservoir when the reservoir is substantially full of air but at a hydrostatic pressure less than the hydrostatic pressure at the top of the water conduit. A turbine mounted adjacent the reservoir and at a lower depth than the water intake drives an electric generator. As water is introduced into the reservoir, air is scavenged by a compressor and used to drive water from a second reservoir. After the first 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 scavenged from the first reservoir into the second reservoir to force water out of a second reservoir water outlet port. The generating cycle is then repeated.
23 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for generating electric energy comprising:
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a reservoir submerged in a body of water at first depth below the water body surface, said reservoir having at least one internal chamber at least partially devoid of water and configured to have a first internal pressure; an electric generator (generator) at a second depth above the first depth, said generator being connected to and capable of being driven by a water-driven turbine having a water input port proximate to the second depth and having a waste water outlet coupled to the at least one internal chamber; said reservoir being configured such that the first internal pressure is less than hydrostatic pressure at the second depth; whereby water entering the at least one internal chamber flows through the water input port, through the turbine, driving the electric generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21)
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12. A method of generating electricity comprising the steps of:
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driving water from an internal chamber of a reservoir submerged in a body of water having a bottom and a surface, the reservoir being submerged at a first depth below the water body surface, the internal chamber at least partially devoid of water; evacuating the internal chamber to achieve a first hydrostatic pressure inside the internal chamber; obtaining from the body of water, water at a second hydrostatic pressure that is greater than the first pressure; routing water obtained at said second pressure to said internal chamber through a water-driven turbine coupled to an electricity generator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16, 18)
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Specification