Gravity Field Energy Storage and Recovery System

• US 20160084236A1
• Filed: 09/18/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Francis Kellinger, Michael Thane Mackay
• Original Assignee: James Francis Kellinger, Michael Thane Mackay
• Inventors: Kellinger, James Francis, MacKay, Michael Thane
• Granted Patent: US 10,138,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/186 the connection being of the rack-and-pinion type
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/02 using hydrostatic thrust
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/00 Other motors, e.g. gravity or inertia motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/087 Gravity or weight motors using solid falling bodies F03G3/02; using sand or the like F03G3/04
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/094 specially adapted for potential energy power storage stations; combinations of gravity or weight motors with electric motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/096 adapted for pumping or conveying fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/708 Photoelectric means, i.e. photovoltaic or solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/422 in the form of potential energy, e.g. pressurized or pumped fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/503 using gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

Invention defines a method and apparatus for storing energy where a power source is used to reposition a mass in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy where the stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, where the force of gravity may be allowed to accelerates the mass, where the resulting kinetic energy is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. A variation defines a method where a power source is used to submerge a buoyant object in a fluid, where the submerged object represents a potential energy, where the force of gravity via the fluid, displaces the submerged buoyant object, where the kinetic energy resulting from the displacement is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be similarly converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. Invention defines a process where available energy can be used to do work to raise a massive object against a planetary gravitational field, to a position of high potential energy which can be maintained indefinitely. On demand the mass can be accelerated by the gravitational field and converted to kinetic energy, which is harnessed and converted to shaft horsepower, allowing the desired energy recovery from the energy storage system.

Claims

1. An energy storage and recovery system that operates in a gravitational field that consists of:

(a) An energy source

(b) An energy conversion apparatus that converts energy as in (a) to mechanical energy

(c) A massive object

(d) A mechanical arrangement that repositions massive object (c) into a state of higher potential energy

(e) A mechanical arrangement that maintains mass (c) in a state of higher potential energy as in (d) for an indefinite period of time

(f) A mechanical arrangement that controls and converts kinetic energy as in (f) to a plurality of energy forms including, but not limited to, electrical, rotational, pneumatic, and hydraulic

2. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 1 where the energy source (a) is an electrical energy source and the energy conversion apparatus (b) is an electric motor/generator.

3. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 1 where the energy source (a) is pneumatic and the energy conversion apparatus (b) is a pneumatic motor.

4. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 1 where the energy source (a) is hydraulic and the energy conversion apparatus (b) is a hydraulic motor.

5. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 1 where mechanical arrangement (d) incorporates an electric generator.

6. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 1 where mechanical arrangement (d) incorporates a pneumatic pump/motor.

7. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 1 where mechanical arrangement (d) incorporates a hydraulic pump/motor

8. An energy storage and recovery system that operates in a gravitational field that consists of:

(a) An energy source

(b) An energy conversion apparatus that converts energy as in (a) to mechanical energy

(c) A buoyant object

(d) A mechanical arrangement that repositions buoyant object (c) into a state of higher potential energy

(e) A mechanical arrangement that maintains buoyant object (c) in a state of higher potential energy as in (d) for an indefinite period of time

(f) A mechanical arrangement that releases mechanical arrangement as in (e) on demand causing buoyant object (c) to gain kinetic energy

(g) A mechanical arrangement that controls and converts kinetic energy as in (f) to a plurality of energy forms including, but not limited to, electrical, rotational, pneumatic

9. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 8 where the energy source (a) is an electrical energy source and the energy conversion apparatus (b) is an electric motor/generator.

10. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 8 where the energy source (a) is pneumatic and the energy conversion apparatus (b) is a pneumatic motor.

11. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 8 where the energy source (a) is hydraulic and the energy conversion apparatus (b) is a hydraulic motor.

12. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 8 where mechanical arrangement (d) incorporates an electric generator.

13. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 8 where mechanical arrangement (d) incorporates a pneumatic pump/motor.

14. An energy storage and generation system as in claim 8 where mechanical arrangement (d) incorporates a hydraulic pump/motor