Energy generating system and method
First Claim
1. A method of generating energy by employing a first body of water having a surface and defining a given depth, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a plurality of inflation devices to one another to form a loop of inflation devices;
movably restraining the loop of inflation devices so that,a segment of the loop of inflation devices is disposed at a first reference location at the given depth in the first body of water,another segment of the loop of inflation devices is disposed at a second reference location disposed above the first reference location,another segment of the loop of inflation devices extends along a first path that extends generally upward from the first reference location to the second reference location, andanother segment of the loop of inflation devices extends along a second path that extends generally downward from the second reference location to the first reference location;
inflating inflation devices of the plurality of inflation devices within the first path with a gas; and
deflating inflation devices of the plurality of inflation devices that are within the second path,whereby the inflation devices of the plurality of inflation devices within the first path move upward and the plurality of inflation devices within the second path move downward.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of inflation devices are linked to one another to form a loop that is movably restrained so that a segment of the loop is disposed at a lower reference location at the given depth in a first body of water, another segment of the loop is disposed at an upper reference location situated above the lower reference location, another segment of the loop extends along a first path that extends generally upward from the lower reference location to the upper reference location, and another segment of the loop extends along a second path that extends generally parallel to the first path and upward from the lower reference location to the upper reference location. At least a majority of the inflation devices occupying the first path are inflated with gas and at least a majority of the inflation devices occupying the second path are deflated so that inflation devices in the first path move upward and inflation devices in the second path move downward. While each inflation device is proximate to the upper reference location, it is deflated by a compression facility that employs a differential temperature to controllably "stroke" Nitinol. The traveling or movement of the inflation devices is utilized to elevate water that flows, under the force of gravity, through a hydroelectric generating facility that generates electricity.
32 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of generating energy by employing a first body of water having a surface and defining a given depth, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a plurality of inflation devices to one another to form a loop of inflation devices; movably restraining the loop of inflation devices so that, a segment of the loop of inflation devices is disposed at a first reference location at the given depth in the first body of water, another segment of the loop of inflation devices is disposed at a second reference location disposed above the first reference location, another segment of the loop of inflation devices extends along a first path that extends generally upward from the first reference location to the second reference location, and another segment of the loop of inflation devices extends along a second path that extends generally downward from the second reference location to the first reference location; inflating inflation devices of the plurality of inflation devices within the first path with a gas; and deflating inflation devices of the plurality of inflation devices that are within the second path, whereby the inflation devices of the plurality of inflation devices within the first path move upward and the plurality of inflation devices within the second path move downward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification