POWER GENERATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A power generation system, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber therein, the housing being submersible into a body of water;
a water intake valve in the housing for admitting water from the body of water into the chamber;
a turbine in the housing, the turbine driven by water flowing through the intake valve into the chamber for generating electric power;
a conduit coupled to the housing for placing the chamber in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing;
a water outlet valve in the housing for discharging water from the chamber into the body of water;
a gas inlet valve in the housing for receiving a compressed gas into the chamber from a source of compressed gas, the compressed gas evacuating water in the chamber into the body of water through the outlet valve as the compressed gas is introduced into the chamber; and
a gas outlet valve for evacuating compressed gas in the chamber into the body of water through the gas outlet valve as water is introduced into the chamber from the water intake valve.
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Abstract
Methods and Systems are provided for generating electric power. One method includes the steps of: (a) submerging a housing into a body of water, the housing defining a chamber therein; (b) maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing; (c) admitting water from the body of water into the chamber, and driving a turbine with the water flowing into the chamber to generate electric power; (d) discharging water from the chamber into the body of water; and (e) sequentially repeating steps (c) and (d).
20 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power generation system, comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber therein, the housing being submersible into a body of water; a water intake valve in the housing for admitting water from the body of water into the chamber; a turbine in the housing, the turbine driven by water flowing through the intake valve into the chamber for generating electric power; a conduit coupled to the housing for placing the chamber in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing; a water outlet valve in the housing for discharging water from the chamber into the body of water; a gas inlet valve in the housing for receiving a compressed gas into the chamber from a source of compressed gas, the compressed gas evacuating water in the chamber into the body of water through the outlet valve as the compressed gas is introduced into the chamber; and a gas outlet valve for evacuating compressed gas in the chamber into the body of water through the gas outlet valve as water is introduced into the chamber from the water intake valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A combination power generation system and deep water cooling system, comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber therein, the housing being submersible into a body of water; a water intake valve in the housing for admitting water from the body of water into the chamber; a turbine in the housing, the turbine driven by water flowing through the intake valve into the chamber for generating electric power; a conduit coupled to the housing for placing the chamber in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing; and a water intake unit for evacuating water from the chamber, and transferring the water to a given location.
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10. A power generation system, comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber therein, the housing being submersible into a body of water; a water intake valve in the housing for admitting water from the body of water into the chamber; a turbine in the housing, the turbine driven by water flowing through the intake valve into the chamber for generating electric power; a conduit coupled to the housing for placing the chamber in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing; and an electrolysis unit for evacuating water from the chamber by converting the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, and discharging the hydrogen and oxygen gases from the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for generating power, comprising:
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(a) submerging a housing into a body of water, the housing defining a chamber therein; (b) maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing; (c) admitting water from the body of water into the chamber, and driving a turbine with the water flowing into the chamber to generate electric power; (d) discharging water from the chamber into the body of water; and (e) sequentially repeating steps (c) and (d). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A power generation system, comprising:
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a power generation unit submersible into a body of water, the power generation unit including a housing defining at least one chamber therein, the power generation unit further including one or more turbines for generating electric power; a platform adapted to float on the surface of the body of water, the platform including a heater for heating water from the body of water; an evaporator or vacuum pump assisted regulating unit; a plurality of conduits coupling the platform and the power generation unit, the plurality of conduits including a water conduit, a steam conduit, and an air supply conduit; wherein heated water from the platform flows through the water conduit to the power generation unit to drive the one or more turbines for generating electric power, the water thereafter flowing to a hot water chamber in the housing; wherein the evaporator or vacuum pump assisted regulating unit facilitates evaporation of the water in the hot water chamber into steam that is drawn out of the power generation unit through the steam conduit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for generating power, comprising:
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(a) submerging a housing into a body of water, the housing defining a chamber therein; (b) maintaining the chamber at a pressure lower than the pressure exerted by the body of water on the housing; (c) heating water from the body of water into heated water; (d) dropping the heated water into the chamber, and driving one or more turbines with the water flowing into the chamber to generate electric power; (e) evaporating the heated water into steam and transferring the steam out of the housing; and (f) sequentially repeating steps (c), (d), and (e). - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification