System and method for storing energy

• US 8,737,558 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Fiske, O. James
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIAN, SHAFIQ A
• Application Number:
  US13/457,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20120204563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 60495-497, 603/98, 294/82.24, 294/82.26, 294/82.3, 294/82.19, 294/82.31, 290 42- 43, 290 53- 54, 376262-266, 376223-233
• US Class Current: 376/262
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/25 specially adapted for offshore installation
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/14 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/16 using weights
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/28 the apparatus being a pump or a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/00 Other motors, e.g. gravity or inertia motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9151 telescopically
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/95 offshore
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/4031 as in toothed gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/406 through hydraulic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0032 Valves, actuating devices for valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/201 for measuring roundness
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/727 Offshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 : Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 : Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

A system includes at least one body, a link for suspending the body for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, and an electrical energy generator coupled with the body through the link to drive the generator to generate electricity upon movement of the body with gravity from the first to the second elevation position. The at least one body has a mass of at least approximately 100 tonnes; the first and the second elevation positions define a distance therebetween of at least approximately 200 meters; and/or the system further includes an operator configured to operate the link to controllably move the at least one body against gravity from the second to the first elevation position to increase a gravitational potential energy of the at least one body, and to maintain the gravitational potential energy of the at least one body.

Claims

1. A system for storing and releasing energy, the system comprising:

a linkage structure including a cable having a longitudinal length dimension;

a plurality of weighted bodies arranged for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position,

holding structure attached to the cable to connect each weighted body to the cable of the linkage structure, to pull the cable in a first direction along its length dimension with movement of each weighted body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position; and

an electrical energy generator operatively coupled with the cable of the linkage structure to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the cable in the first direction along the length dimension of the cable with movement of each weighted body with gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position;

wherein the holding structure includes a grapple device that has a first state for operatively engaging one of the weighted bodies to move with that weighted body between the second elevation position and the first elevation position, wherein the grapple device has a second state for operatively disengaging that weighted body so as to be moveable independent of that weighted body, and wherein each weighted body of the plurality of weighted bodies is configured to be operatively engaged by the grapple device, independent of each other one of the weighted bodies in the plurality of weighted bodies.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generator operates as an electrical motor to move the cable along its length dimension in the energy storing mode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generator operates as an electrical motor to move the along its length dimension, to move each weighted body connected to the holding structure from the second elevation position to the first elevation position in the energy storing mode.

4. A system having an energy storing mode for storing energy and an energy releasing mode for releasing stored energy, the system comprising:

a linkage structure including a cable having a longitudinal length dimension;

a plurality of weighted bodies arranged for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, and for movement against gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position;

holding structure attached to the cable of the linkage structure, to connect each weighted body to the cable, to pull the cable along its length dimension with movement of each weighted body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position when in the energy releasing mode, and to move with each weighted body against gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position with movement of the cable when in the energy storing mode; and

an electrical energy generator operatively coupled with the cable of the linkage structure to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the cable in the first direction along the length dimension of the cable with movement of each weighted body with gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position in the energy releasing mode;

wherein the holding structure includes a grapple device that has a first state for operatively engaging one of the weighted bodies to move with that weighted body between the second elevation position and the first elevation position, wherein the grapple device has a second state for operatively disengaging that weighted body so as to be moveable independent of that weighted body, and wherein each weighted body of the plurality of weighted bodies is configured to be operatively engaged by the grapple device, independent of each other one of the weighted bodies in the plurality of weighted bodies.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical energy generator operates as an electrical motor to move the cable along its length dimension in the energy storing mode.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical energy generator operates as an electrical motor to move the along its length dimension, to move each weighted body connected to the holding structure from the second elevation position to the first elevation position in the energy storing mode.

7. A method for storing and releasing energy, the method comprising:

providing a linkage structure that includes a cable having a longitudinal length dimension;

arranging a plurality of weighted bodies for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position,

attaching a holding structure to the cable to connect each weighted body to the cable of the linkage structure, to pull the cable in a first direction along its length dimension with movement of each weighted body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position; and

operatively coupling an electrical energy generator with the cable of the linkage structure to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the cable in the first direction along the length dimension of the cable with movement of each weighted body with gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position;

wherein attaching the holding structure comprises attaching a grapple device that has a first state for operatively engaging one of the weighted bodies to move with that weighted body between the second elevation position and the first elevation position, and a second state for operatively disengaging that weighted body so as to be moveable independent of that weighted body, and wherein each weighted body of the plurality of weighted bodies is configured to be operatively engaged by the grapple device, independent of each other one of the weighted bodies in the plurality of weighted bodies.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising operating the electrical energy generator as an electrical motor to move the cable along its length dimension in the energy storing mode.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising operating the electrical energy generator as an electrical motor to move the along its length dimension, to move each weighted body connected to the holding structure from the second elevation position to the first elevation position in the energy storing mode.

10. A method of making a system having an energy storing mode for storing energy and an energy releasing mode for releasing stored energy, the method comprising:

providing a linkage structure that includes a cable having a longitudinal length dimension;

arranging a plurality of weighted bodies for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, and for movement against gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position;

attaching a holding structure to the cable of the linkage structure, to connect each weighted body to the cable, to pull the cable along its length dimension with movement of each weighted body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position when in the energy releasing mode, and to move with each weighted body against gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position with movement of the cable when in the energy storing mode; and

operatively coupling an electrical energy generator with the cable of the linkage structure to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the cable in the first direction along the length dimension of the cable with movement of each weighted body with gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position in the energy releasing mode;

wherein attaching the holding structure comprises attaching a grapple device that has a first state for operatively engaging one of the weighted bodies to move with that weighted body between the second elevation position and the first elevation position, and a second state for operatively disengaging that weighted body so as to be moveable independent of that weighted body, and wherein each weighted body of the plurality of weighted bodies is configured to be operatively engaged by the grapple device, independent of each other one of the weighted bodies in the plurality of weighted bodies.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising operating the electrical energy generator as an electrical motor to move the cable along its length dimension in the energy storing mode.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising operating the electrical energy generator as an electrical motor to move the along its length dimension, to move each weighted body connected to the holding structure from the second elevation position to the first elevation position in the energy storing mode.