Hydroelectric in-pipe turbine uses

• US 9,523,344 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviathan Energy Hydroelectric LLC.
• Original Assignee: Leviathan Energy Hydroelectric Ltd.
• Inventors: Farb, Daniel, Van Zwaren, Joe, Farkash, Avner, Kolman, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/322,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,400 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/43, 290/52, 290/54, 603/98, 606/98, 415/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 1/02 Buckets; Bucket-carrying rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 1/04 Nozzles in general B05B; Nozzle-carrying members
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• 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 15/06 Regulating, i.e. acting automatically
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/10 Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/32 in water turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• 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

Abstract

An in-pipe turbine has uses in energy storage and circulation. Specific applications are in storage systems working by elevation, smart grid systems, pressure release, and heating/cooling systems. Storage and release of electrical energy are important parts of an electrical grid. A system for storage using particulates is presented. On a higher level, a water system can interact with an electrical grid in order to use and provide electricity and convey water in a more efficient manner. The connection of a smart water and smart electrical grid, which may include the use of an in-pipe hydroelectric turbine, is presented.

Claims

1. A system for the incremental release and storage of energy, comprising:

two containers, each container containing particulate solids, each of the containers comprising an opening, the openings facing each other, with one above the other, so that their contents can be discharged into each other,

a neck intermediate to and in communication with each of said containers,

at least one turbine extending from the neck so as to produce electrical energy when the particulate solids descend, said turbine operatively coupled to a gear and a generator,

at least one gate connected to at least one opening and intermediate to the openings of said containers, operative to hold back the particulate solids,

a motor supplied by an external utility or external grid in communication with the containers and the neck, the motor operative to rotate the containers and exchange the position of the two containers, between upper and lower positions,

a support structure for mounting the motor, and,

an electronic control in communication with the motor and the containers, and operative to control the release of particulate solids by opening the at least one gate to produce electricity via the turbine.