SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING ENERGY

• US 20120134790A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Fiske, O. James
• Granted Patent: US 8,966,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/182.1
• 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

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. 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.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, further comprising 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.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising a fluid pump or turbine coupled in fluid communication with the fluid return path structure and mechanically connected with the electrical energy generator, for receiving fluid pressure from the fluid return path structure and driving the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the at least one body by gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising a fluid pump or turbine coupled in fluid communication with the fluid return path structure and mechanically connected with the electrical energy generator, wherein the electrical energy generator has an electrical motor mode for driving the fluid pump or turbine to force fluid into the return path structure and increase fluid pressure in the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure by an amount sufficient to move the at least one body from the second elevation position toward the first elevation position.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the return path structure comprises a fluid pipe coupled at one end to the first portion of the hollow shaft structure and at a second end to a fluid pump or turbine.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising a fluid pump or turbine coupled in fluid communication with the fluid return path structure and mechanically connected with the electrical energy generator, wherein the return path structure comprises a fluid pipe coupled at one end to the first portion of the hollow shaft structure and at a second end to the fluid pump or turbine, for conveying fluid pressure between the first portion of the hollow shaft structure and the fluid pump or turbine.

28. The system of claim 22 further comprising at least one seal arranged to inhibit fluid flow across the at least one body, between the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure and a second portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure that is located vertically above the at least one body.

29. The system of claim 22. wherein the at least one body comprises a body having a fluid flow passage extending through the body and a fluid valve located within the passage to selectively allow or inhibit fluid flow through the passage.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the fluid valve is controlled to be closed to inhibit fluid flow through the passage when the body moves with gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the fluid valve is controlled to be open to allow fluid flow through the passage when the body is held in the second elevation position.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the fluid valve is controlled to be open to allow fluid flow through the passage when the body is held in the second elevation position.

33. A system for storing energy, the system comprising:

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.

34. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein the electrical energy generator being disposed at a third elevation position that is higher in elevation than the second elevation position.

35. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein, the electrical energy generator being disposed at a third elevation position that is higher in elevation than the first elevation position.

36. A method for storing energy, the method comprising:

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.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising coupling a pump in fluid flow communication with the return path structure, to controllably move the at least one body against gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position to increase the gravitational potential energy of the at least one body.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising coupling a fluid pump or turbine in fluid communication with the fluid return path structure and with the electrical energy generator, for receiving fluid pressure from the fluid return path structure and driving the electrical energy generator to generate electricity upon movement of the at least one body by gravity from the first elevation position to the second elevation position.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising coupling a fluid pump or turbine in fluid communication with the fluid return path structure and with the electrical energy generator;

and providing the electrical energy generator with an electrical motor mode for driving the fluid pump or turbine to force fluid into the return path structure and increase fluid pressure in the first portion of the interior volume of the hollow shaft structure by an amount sufficient to move the at least one body from the second elevation position toward the first elevation position.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one body comprises a body having a fluid flow passage extending through the body and a fluid valve located within the passage to selectively allow or inhibit fluid flow through the passage.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising configuring the fluid valve to be closed to inhibit fluid flow through the passage when the body moves with gravity from the second elevation position to the first elevation position, and to be open to allow fluid flow through the passage when the body is held in the second elevation position.