Hydro electric energy generation and storage structure

• US 8,823,195 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Robert John Legacy
• Original Assignee: Mark Robert John Legacy
• Inventors: Legacy, Mark Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/855,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/52, 290/54, 603/25, 603/98
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/06 Stations or aggregates of water-storage type, e.g. comprising a turbine and a pumpturbines characterised by having means for functioning alternatively as pumps F03B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/08 Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor , e.g. diffusors bulb groups F03B13/105
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

A hydro electric energy generation structure is disclosed. The structure comprises: a gravity wall forming a closed outer perimeter extending above an upper water level of an existing hydraulic reservoir, and extending below the reservoir floor; at least one water inlet hydraulically connecting a first penstock to a first turbine generator below the water inlet. The structure further comprises: at least one lower water storage reservoir within the perimeter of the gravity wall receiving water from the first turbine generator; at least one pump receiving water from the lower water storage reservoir and pumping it through a pump delivery conduit to at least one upper water storage reservoir above the gravity wall; at least one second penstock delivering water from the upper water storage reservoir to a second turbine generator below; and a tailrace for returning the water into the existing reservoir.

Claims

1. A hydro electric energy generation structure adapted for installation in a hydraulic reservoir, the structure comprising:

a gravity wall forming an outer perimeter of said structure, wherein said gravity wall comprises a first section inclined towards the center of said structure and adapted to bear on a floor of said hydraulic reservoir and extend above an upper water level of said hydraulic reservoir, and a second section adapted for installation extending below the floor of said hydraulic reservoir;

at least one water inlet situated in said first section of said gravity wall hydraulically connected to a first penstock for delivering water from said reservoir to a first turbine generator situated below said water inlet and thereafter to a first tailrace;

at least one lower water storage reservoir situated below said first tailrace and within said perimeter of said gravity wall, for receiving water from said first turbine generator;

at least one pump hydraulically connected to said lower water storage reservoir for receiving water from said lower water storage reservoir;

at least one pump delivery conduit hydraulically connected to said pump;

at least one upper water storage reservoir situated and supported above said gravity wall and hydraulically connected to said pump delivery conduit for receiving water from said pump;

at least one second penstock hydraulically connected to said upper water storage reservoir for delivering water from said upper water storage reservoir to a second turbine generator situated below said upper water storage reservoir and above said water inlet.

2. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, additionally comprising a second tailrace for receiving water from said second turbine generator and delivering said water into said hydraulic reservoir.

3. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said hydraulic reservoir comprises an existing natural hydraulic reservoir.

4. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 3, wherein said existing natural hydraulic reservoir comprises at least one of a marine, lake, river, or estuarine natural hydraulic reservoir.

5. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, additionally comprising a support structure, wherein said support structure is structurally secured to said gravity wall and adapted to support said at least one upper water storage reservoir.

6. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one water inlet comprises an upper and a lower water inlet, said upper water inlet situated below an upper water level of said hydraulic reservoir, and said lower water inlet situated below a lower water level of said hydraulic reservoir.

7. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said first and second turbine generators each comprise at least one of a Francis turbine and a Pelton turbine.

8. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second turbine generators are electrically connected to supply electrical energy to an electrical supply grid.

9. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said pump is electrically connected to at least one of said first and second turbine generators and an electrical supply grid, to receive electrical energy to operate said pump.

10. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one water inlet comprises at least one inlet valve.

11. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said gravity wall comprises at least one of a solid concrete gravity wall and a hollow concrete gravity wall.

12. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 5, wherein said at least one pump delivery conduit and said at least one second penstock are structurally secured to said support structure.

13. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1, wherein said first and second turbine generators are structurally secured to said gravity wall.

14. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 11, wherein said concrete gravity wall comprises a reinforced concrete gravity wall.

15. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 1 wherein said first section of said gravity wall is inclined towards the center of said structure at an angle between 27 degrees and 88 degrees from the horizontal.

16. The hydro electric energy generation structure according to claim 5, additionally comprising at least one habitable residential structure attached to said support structure.

17. A method of generating electrical power using the hydro electric energy generation structure of claim 1, the method comprising:

generating electrical power by admitting water into said at least one water inlet to drive said at least one first turbine generator during a first period of higher power demand from an electrical supply grid electrically connected to said at least one first turbine generator;

operating said at least one water pump to pump water from said at least one lower water storage reservoir to said at least one upper water storage reservoir during a second period of lower power demand from an electrical supply grid electrically connected to supply power to said at least one water pump; and

generating electrical power by admitting water from said at least one upper water storage reservoir to power said at least one second turbine generator during a third period of higher power demand from an electrical supply grid electrically connected to said at least one second turbine generator.

18. The method of generating electrical power according to claim 11, wherein said electrical supply grid is connected to at least one conventional base load power generation source.

19. The method of generating electrical power according to claim 11, wherein said electrical supply grid is connected to at least one variable capacity renewable power generation source.