System and method for storing energy
First Claim
1. A system for storing energy, the system comprising:
- at least one body;
a hollow shaft structure having an interior volume containing a fluid, the at least one body being disposed within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure, to force fluid out of a first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure by the movement of the at least one body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position, the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure being located vertically below the at least one body;
a fluid return path structure coupled in fluid flow communication with the hollow shaft structure, for receiving fluid forced out of the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure when the at least one body moves from the first elevation position to the second elevation position within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure;
an electrical energy generator operatively coupled with the fluid return path structure to receive a drive force from fluid received by the fluid return path structure from the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure, to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the at least one body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position.
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Accused Products
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.
19 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for storing energy, the system comprising:
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at least one body; a hollow shaft structure having an interior volume containing a fluid, the at least one body being disposed within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure, to force fluid out of a first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure by the movement of the at least one body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position, the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure being located vertically below the at least one body; a fluid return path structure coupled in fluid flow communication with the hollow shaft structure, for receiving fluid forced out of the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure when the at least one body moves from the first elevation position to the second elevation position within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure; an electrical energy generator operatively coupled with the fluid return path structure to receive a drive force from fluid received by the fluid return path structure from the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure, to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the at least one body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22)
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12. A system for storing energy, the system comprising:
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at least one body; a hollow shaft structure having an interior volume for containing a fluid, the at least one body being disposed within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position within the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure; a fluid return path structure coupled in fluid flow communication with the hollow shaft structure, for receiving fluid from a first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure, the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure being located vertically below the at least one body; and an electrical energy generator operatively coupled with the fluid return path structure to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the at least one body with gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position; and a fluid flow connection between the fluid return path structure and a second portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure, the second portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure being located vertically above the at least one body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for storing energy, the method comprising:
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arranging at least one body within an interior volume of a fluid container for movement with gravity within the interior volume of the fluid container from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, to force fluid out of a first portion of the interior volume of the fluid container by the movement of the at least one body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position, the first portion of the interior volume of the fluid container being located vertically below the at least one body; coupling a fluid return path structure in fluid flow communication with the fluid container, for receiving fluid forced out of the first portion of the interior volume of the fluid container when the at least one body moves from the first elevation position to the second elevation position within the interior volume of the fluid container; coupling an electrical energy generator with the fluid return path structure to receive a drive force from fluid received by the fluid return path structure from the first portion of the interior volume of the fluid container, to drive the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the at least one body from the first elevation position to the second elevation position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification