CA2224054C - Water pumping apparatus utilizing compressed air - Google Patents
Water pumping apparatus utilizing compressed air Download PDFInfo
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- CA2224054C CA2224054C CA002224054A CA2224054A CA2224054C CA 2224054 C CA2224054 C CA 2224054C CA 002224054 A CA002224054 A CA 002224054A CA 2224054 A CA2224054 A CA 2224054A CA 2224054 C CA2224054 C CA 2224054C
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Abstract
A method of and device for providing compressed air of this invention comprise: a vessel proper (1) having an air chamber that can hermetically seal air therein, and being in structure capable of reducing the internal volume of said air chamber correspondingly to the external hydraulic pressure; a compressed air recovery vessel (30) connected to said air chamber through a check valve (32), into which vessel the compressed air is fed under pressure when the internal volume of said air chamber (12) is reduced correspondingly to the external hydraulic pressure; and a weight (40) fixed to these vessels forenabling these vessels to sink into water. A water pumping device of this invention using compressed air thus obtained comprises: a hermetic vessel (84 or 110) provided with a hermetic water tank (88 or 114) and air expansion chamber (90 or 116), and disposed between an upper stream side reservoir (80) for the power generating unit and a lower stream side reservoir (82) for storing used water after power generation; a water inflow pipe (92) used for introducing water from said lower stream side reservoir (82) into said hermetic water tank (88 or 114) and connected to said hermetic water tank; a water pressure-feeding pipe (94) used for feeding water in the hermetic water tank (88 or 114) into said upper stream side reservoir (80) under pressure and connected to said tank; water flow control valves (98, 100) provided in said water inflow pipe (92) and water pressure-feeding pipe (94) respectively; and a compressed air containing vessel (30) fixed to the device through water flow control valves, by which vessel compressed air for pressure-feeding water in said hermetic water tank to said upstream side reservoir (80) through said pressure-feeding pipe (94) can be discharged with the internal volume of said air expansion chamber (90 or 116) increased.
Description
SPECIFICATION
WATER PUMPING APPARATUS UTILIZING COMPRESSED AIR
Technical Field This invention relates to a water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the expansion energy of compressed air.
Technical Background Energy available in the world relies heavily on coal, petroleum and nuclear power, the use of which often results in environmental destruction.
On the other hand, hydroelectric power, wind power or wave power not producing any material resulting in environmental destruction has little or no prospect of great development.
Disclosure of the Invention The present invention is based on a method for producing compressed air which utilizes three physical properties, i.e. the fact that a substance at a high position has a higher potential energy than a substance at a low position, that buoyancy acts on a substance in fresh water and that hydraulic pressure increases in proportion of the depth of water. In a specific embodiment of the method, a container having air sealed therein on the water surface is sunk deep under water by using a weight having a larger specific gravity than water, thereby compressing the air sealed in the container by means of hydraulic pressure, the weight is caused to be free from the container to allow the container having the compressed air sealed therein to float on the water by the action of buoyancy of a buoyant body, and then the compressed air is recovered from the container. Thus, the present invention uses specific gravity, hydraulic pressure and buoyancy, all obtained from natural resources.
The present invention provides a water pumping apparatus for use in hydraulic power generation utilizing the expansion energy of the compressed air produced by the aforementioned method and apparatus, in which the expansion energy of the aforementioned compressed air can be applied to a hydroelectric power generating apparatus. In this case, the water once subjected to power generation can be repeatedly recycled. Therefore, according to the present invention, the hydraulic power generation otherwise limited by the amount of rain water can be utilized to the maximum possible extent.
In addition, the hydroelectric power generation can be applied to private power generation in a multistorey building, for example.
More specifically, the present invention provides a water pumping apparatus utilizing compressed air for use in hydroelectric power generation, which comprises:
-2a-a container situated below the level of the water surface of a downstream reservoir for storing water subjected to hydroelectric power generation using water in an upstream reservoir;
a piston slidably accommodated within said container for dividing an inner space of said container into a water tank chamber and an air expansion chamber;
a water inlet tube connected to said water tank chamber via a first control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water supplied from the downstream water reservoir into said water tank chamber;
a water feed pipe connected to said water tank chamber via a second control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water fed under pressure from said water tank chamber into the upstream water reservoir; and a recovery vessel containing compressed air therein and connected via a flow regulating valve to said air expansion chamber for discharging the compressed air contained in said recovery vessel into said air expansion chamber to cause said piston to slide in a direction of increasing a volume of said air expansion chamber.
WATER PUMPING APPARATUS UTILIZING COMPRESSED AIR
Technical Field This invention relates to a water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the expansion energy of compressed air.
Technical Background Energy available in the world relies heavily on coal, petroleum and nuclear power, the use of which often results in environmental destruction.
On the other hand, hydroelectric power, wind power or wave power not producing any material resulting in environmental destruction has little or no prospect of great development.
Disclosure of the Invention The present invention is based on a method for producing compressed air which utilizes three physical properties, i.e. the fact that a substance at a high position has a higher potential energy than a substance at a low position, that buoyancy acts on a substance in fresh water and that hydraulic pressure increases in proportion of the depth of water. In a specific embodiment of the method, a container having air sealed therein on the water surface is sunk deep under water by using a weight having a larger specific gravity than water, thereby compressing the air sealed in the container by means of hydraulic pressure, the weight is caused to be free from the container to allow the container having the compressed air sealed therein to float on the water by the action of buoyancy of a buoyant body, and then the compressed air is recovered from the container. Thus, the present invention uses specific gravity, hydraulic pressure and buoyancy, all obtained from natural resources.
The present invention provides a water pumping apparatus for use in hydraulic power generation utilizing the expansion energy of the compressed air produced by the aforementioned method and apparatus, in which the expansion energy of the aforementioned compressed air can be applied to a hydroelectric power generating apparatus. In this case, the water once subjected to power generation can be repeatedly recycled. Therefore, according to the present invention, the hydraulic power generation otherwise limited by the amount of rain water can be utilized to the maximum possible extent.
In addition, the hydroelectric power generation can be applied to private power generation in a multistorey building, for example.
More specifically, the present invention provides a water pumping apparatus utilizing compressed air for use in hydroelectric power generation, which comprises:
-2a-a container situated below the level of the water surface of a downstream reservoir for storing water subjected to hydroelectric power generation using water in an upstream reservoir;
a piston slidably accommodated within said container for dividing an inner space of said container into a water tank chamber and an air expansion chamber;
a water inlet tube connected to said water tank chamber via a first control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water supplied from the downstream water reservoir into said water tank chamber;
a water feed pipe connected to said water tank chamber via a second control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water fed under pressure from said water tank chamber into the upstream water reservoir; and a recovery vessel containing compressed air therein and connected via a flow regulating valve to said air expansion chamber for discharging the compressed air contained in said recovery vessel into said air expansion chamber to cause said piston to slide in a direction of increasing a volume of said air expansion chamber.
Brief Explanation of the Drawings Figure I is a longitudinally sectioned side view showing an apparatus for producing compressed air, with a clamping device omitted from illustration.
Figure 2 is a longitudinally sectioned side view, similarly to Figure l, showing an apparatus for producing compressed air, with a compressed air recovery vessel omitted from illustration.
Figure 3 is a longitudinally sectioned side view showing another embodiment of the apparatus for producing compressed air, Figure 4 is a longitudinally sectioned side view showing a water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the compressed air, Figure 5 is a similar, longitudinally sectioned side view showing another embodiment of the water pumping apparatus.
Best Mode for Working the Invention Figure l, Figure 2 and Figure 3 are longitudinally sectioned side views illustrating an apparatus for producing compressed air. The compressed air producing apparatus 1 includes a container body 10 which has an air chamber 12 capable of sealing air therein and is capable of reducing its volume by hydraulic pressure, a compressed air recovery vessel 30 connected to the air chamber via a check valve 32 and adapted to receive the compressed air therein when the volume of the air chamber 12 is reduced by hydraulic pressure, and a weight 40 mounted on the container body 10 and adapted to sink the container body 10 and recovery vessel 30 deep under water.
The air chamber 12 has a construction such that its volume can be reduced by hydraulic pressure when it is sunk under water.
In the air chamber 12 of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a compression piston 14 is disposed in the sealed cylindrical container body 10 has so as to be slidable upward and downward along the inner wall of the container body 10 and divide the interior of the container body 10 into the sealed air chamber and a water chamber 16 formed with a plurality of water inlet ports 18 opening to the peripheral wall of the container body for introducing water into the container body 10 from the outside. When the container body 10 is caused to sink deep under water, the external water enters the water chamber 16 disposed on the upper side of the compression piston 14 through the water inlet ports 18 under pressure. The compression piston 14 is urged toward the air chamber 12 by the hydraulic pressure of the water entering the water chamber 16 to thereby compress the air in the air chamber 12. The air chamber 12 is connected to a compressed air recovery vessel 30 through a connecting tube 34. The connecting tube 34 is provided with a check valve 32. The compressed air recovery vessel 30 has a very small volume compared with that of the air chamber 12 before it is reduced in volume, so that the compressed air can be maintained intact, The check valve 32 acts such that when the pressure in the air chamber 12 is higher than that in the compressed air recovery vessel 30, the air in the air chamber 12 is permitted to flow into the air recovery vessel 30 and such that when the pressure relation is reversed, the compressed air in the air recovery vessel 30 does not flow back into the air chamber 12.
The recovery vessel 30 can be detached from the container body for replacement.
Figure 3 shows another example of the air chamber 12. In the air chamber 12, the outer wall of the cylindrical container body 10 can be deformed to be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction by the external hydraulic pressure. The inside space of the container body 10 serves as an air chamber 12. When the outer wall is contracted in the vertical direction by the external hydraulic pressure, the volume of the ' air chamber 12 can be reduced, The structure of the container body 10 will be described in more detail. The container body 10 is constructed in a sealed state such that an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22 are joined together through a cloth material 24 and such that annular reinforcement members 26 are sewn to the cloth member 24 so that it is expanded into a cylindrical configuration when air having a higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure is introduced into the air chamber, The cloth material 24 is formed of a material which is strong in tensile stress and is both water and air impermeable. The reinforcement members 26 are strong against a compressive force and are hardly deformed. The container body 10 is provided with an air inlet valve 28 adapted to take air into the air chamber 12. The upper plate 21 of the container body 10 is connected to a compressed air recovery vessel 30 via a connecting tube 34, The connecting tube 34 is provided with a check valve 32 which has the same function as the check valve 32 provided on the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, The compressed air recovery vessel 30 shown in Figure 3 serves concurrently as a buoyant body. This will be described later, Although the container body 10 shown in Figure 3 has a hollow cylindrical configuration, it is preferable that it has a hollow spherical configuration so that it can bear the hydraulic _7_ pressure of the deep sea.
A weight 40 is attached to any of the container bodies 10 in order to sink the container body 10 deep under water. The weight 40 is detachably mounted on the container body 10 by a weight mounting device 42 when the volumeof the air chamber 12 is reduced to the maximum possible extent by hydraulic pressure.
Any of the container bodies 10 is further provided with the buoyant body 70 so that it can float on the water by means of buoyancy when the sink weight 40 has been detached from the container body 10.
The weight mounting device 42 is constructed such that the weight 40 is detached from the container body 10 when the volume of the air chamber 12 is reduced to the maximum possible extent, i.e, when the the leading end portion of the compression piston I4 comes into contact with the bottom of the air chamber 12 in the apparatus shown Figure 1 and Figure 2 or when the upper and lower plates 21 and 22 come into contact with each other in the apparatus shown in Figure 3.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the weight mounting device 42 comprises a casing 44 for accommodating the weight 40 therein and having a bottom portion 46 capable of being opened by its own weight and a clamping device 50 for clamping a wire 48 extending over the bottom portion 46 so as not to open accidentally, The casing 44 depends downward from the container body 10.
The clamping device 50 will be explained. Reference numeral 52 designates wrench-like holding metal pieces 52 which have clamp portions and proximal portions pivoted on a pin 54, When the proximal portions are away from each other, the clamp portions are also away from each other. One of the proximal portions is fixed to a lower part of the container body 10, whereas the other of the proximal portions is left free.
Between the proximal portions a spring body 56 is interposed for biasing the free proximal portion in a direction away from the fixed proximal portion, A lock lever 58 is provided to lock the free proximal portion so as not to be moved away from the fixed proximal end by the biasing force of the spring body 56. Reference numeral 60 designates an unlocking pin having an upper end thereof projecting from the bottom into the inside of the air chamber 12 and the lower end thereof engaged with the lock lever 58. Therefore, when the upper end of the unlocking pin 60 is depressed, the lock lever 58 is unlocked and, as a result, the free proximal end of the holding metal piece 52 is biased by the biasing force of the spring body 56 in the direction away from the fixed proximal end to open the clamp portions, Consequently, when the volume of the air chamber 12 is reduced to the maximum possible extent and the leading end of the compression piston 14 reaches the bottom of the air chamber 12, the unlocking pin 60 is depressed to unlock the lock lever 58 and the clamp portions of the holding metal piece 52 is opened, When the clamped wire 48 is released from the clamp portions, the bottom portion 46 of the casing 44 is opened by its own weight, whereafter the weight 40 is discharged out of the casing 44. Gravel on the seashore can be used as the weight 40.
In the embodiment of Figure 3, the weight mounting device 42 is constituted of a clamping device 50 from which a weight 40 is directly suspended, This clamping device 50 have the same structure and the same weight-releasing function as that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The weight 40 shown in Figure 3 is formed of a bag filled with gravel, In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, both the container body 10 and the casing 44 are provided with buoyant chambers acting as the buoyant body 70. Since a compressed stress applied to the buoyant chambers 70 becomes larger in proportion as the apparatus sinks deeper under water, the structural members constituting the buoyant chambers are required to be rigid, In order to make the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure as small as - 10 ' possible at the water level which the apparatus reaches, it is desirable to fill the buoyant chambers with compressed air in advance.
In the apparatus of Figure 3, the compressed air recovery vessel 30 serves concurently as the buoyant body 70 which has a hollow spherical configuration and is connected to an upper portion of the container body 10 via rods 72.
It is structurally desirable to fill the buoyant chambers 70 with compressed air in advance as described above because they can bear the water pressure even under the deeper water.
Due to the dual function of the recovery vessel 30, the pressure of the air contained therein is increased by repeating the recovery operation in view of the volume of the recovery vessel 30 and, therefore, the apparatus of Figure 3 can bear the higher hydraulic pressure in deeper water and can be suitably used for obtaining a compressed air of high pressure.
The operation of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 will now be described. The compression piston is pulled to the highest position and then the air recovery vessel 30 is attached to the container body. After the bottom portion 46 of the casing 44 is closed, the weight 40 such as gravel is introduced into the casing 44, The casing 44 is then attached to the lower part of the container body 10. Thereafter the apparatus is hung above the surface of the sea by means of a hanging chain not shown and then separated from the hanging chain. As a result, the whole apparatus is sunk deep under the water by gravity, At that time, water flows into the water chamber 16 through the water inlet ports 18 due to hydraulic pressure to push the compression piston 14 down, thereby compressing the air in the air chamber 12. The hydraulic pressure increases as the apparatus sinks deeper, and the lower end of the compression piston 14 is eventually brought to the bottom portion of the air chamber 12, Thus, all air in the air chamber 12 is inserted into the recovery vessel 30 under pressure. Since the recovery vessel 30 is provided with the check valve 32, a decrease of air pressure in the air chamber 12 does not cause the compressed air in the recovery vessel 30 to flow back to the air chamber 12, When the lower end of the compression piston 14 reaches the bottom portion of the air chamber 12, the clamped state of the clamping device 50 is released and the bottom portion 46 of the casing 44 is opened to drop the weight 40. As a result, the buoyancy acts on the whole apparatus due to the function of the buoyant chambers 70 and the whole apparatus floats to the surface of the sea automatically, thus producing compressed air, Operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 will now be described.
The air inlet valve 28 of the container body 10 is opened and the weight 40 is attached to the lower plate 22, When the apparatus with the upper plate 21 directed upward is hung by a crane, air automatically flows into the air chamber 12 of the container body 10 through the air inlet valve 28 owing to the function of the weight 40 to expand the container body 10 into a cylindrical configuration, Then, the valve 28 is closed.
The weight 40 is attached to the clamping device 50 which is the weight mounting device 42. The whole apparatus is slowly lowered onto the surface of water and separated from the crane. The whole apparatus slowly sinks under water. When the hydraulic pressure increases as the apparatus sinks deep under water, air in the air chamber 12 is compressed and the air chamber 12 is reduced in volume. However, the air chamber is not reduced in size in the horizontal direction because of the presence of the annular reinforcement members 26, but is in the vertical direction, and consequently exhibits a vertically compressed appearance as a whole. As a result, air in the air chamber 12 is compressed to an extent that the internal pressure is substantially equal to the external hydraulic pressure, and part of the compressed air is stored in the air recovery vessel 30. As the apparatus sinks deeper, the volume of the air chamber 12 is further reduced by the hydraulic pressure and most of the air in the air chamber 12 is inserted under pressure into the air recovery vessel 30. At the same time, a projection 62 attached to the upper plate 21 pushes down the unlocking pin 60 mounted on the lower plate 22 to release the locked state of the lock lever 58, and the clamping portion of the holding metal piece 52 is opened by means of the biasing force of the spring body 56 to release the weight 40. When the weight has been detached from the apparatus, the whole apparatus to begins float upwardly owing to the buoyant function of the recovery vessel 30. At this time, since the recovery vessel 30 a keeps high pressure due to the provision of the check valve is 32, it lifted by the crane when it finally floats on the surface of the water. Thus, the recovery vessel is recovered, When the air inlet valve 28 is opened, air flows into the air chamber12 to restore the apparatus to its original shape. By repeating the above processes without removing the air recovery 30 vessel from the container body 10, the amount of compressed air corresponding to the volume of the recovery vessel 30 can be recovered, Figures 4 and 5 show a water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the compressed air produced by the aforementioned compressed air production apparatus, The water pumping apparatus of Figure 4 comprises a container 84 disposed between an upstream water reservoir 80 of a hydroelectric power generating apparatus and a downstream water reservoir 82 for reserving used water, The interior of the container 84 is divided into an upper water tank chamber 88 and a lower air expansion chamber 90 by a piston 86 which is slidable in the vertical direction within the container 84, The water tank chamber 88 is connected to a water inlet tube 92 for flowing water into the water tank chamber 88 from the downstream water reservoir 82 and also to a water feed tube 94 for feeding under pressure the water reserved in the chamber 88 to the upstream water reservoir 80, The air expansion chamber 90 is provided with an air recovery vessel 30 containing compressed air for pushing up the piston 86 in order to expand the volume of the air expansion chamber 90, The recovery vessel 30 contains the compressed air recovered by the aforementioned compressed air producing apparatus, Between the air recovery vessel 30 and the air expansion chamber 90, a first control valve 96 is disposed. By adjusting the first control valve 96, the amount of compressed air to be discharged into the air expansion chamber 90 from the recovery vessel 30 is regulated.
In the drawing, reference numeral 98 denotes a second control valve disposed at the water inlet tube 92, numeral 100 denotes a third control valve disposed at the water feed tube 94, and numeral 102 denotes a fourth control valve disposed at an air vent pipe. These valves are operated to control the flow of water or air, The water pumping apparatus of Figure 5 comprises a container 110 disposed between an upstream water reservoir 80 of a hydroelectric power generating apparatus and a downstream water reservoir 82 for reserving the used water, The interior of the container 110 is divided by a partition wall 112 into a water tank chamber 114 and an air expansion chamber 116 which communicates with each other at the lower part of the container 110, The water tank chamber 114 is connected to a water inlet tube 92 for flowing water into the water tank chamber 114 from the downstream water reservoir 82 and also to a water feed tube 94 for feeding under pressure the water reserved in the chamber 114 to the upstream water reservoir 80. The air expansion chamber 116 is provided with a recovery vessel 30 containing compressed air for expanding the volume of the air expansion chamber, The apparatus of Figure 5 is designed such that air bubbles of the compressed air to be discharged into the container 110 from the recovery vessel 30 rise upward by means of buoyancy and are pooled in the air expansion chamber 116 divided by the partition wall 112, The remaining construction thereof is the same as that of the apparatus of Figure 4, The operation of the water pumping apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5 will be described, First, used water, i,e, water already subjected to hydroelectric generation, is caused to flow into the water tank chamber 88 or 114 from the downstream water reservoir 82 through the water inlet tube 92 until the water tank chamber 88 or 114 is filled with the water, The air in the air expansion chamber 90 or 116 is all drafted by opening the fourth control valve 102.
The second and fourth control valves 98 and 102 are closed, while the third control valve 100 is opened, The first control valve 96 of the recovery vessel 30 is mounted to air expansion chamber 90 or 116 in a slightly open state, The apparatus of Figure 4 represents a case where the piston is used, Since the pressure of compressed air discharged from the recovery vessel 30 is much greater than the hydraulic pressure in the water tank chamber 88, it pushes the piston 86 upward, The apparatus of Figure 5 represents a case where the piston is not used, Air bubbles of the compressed air discharged from the recovery vessel 30 rise in the water filled in the water tank chamber 114 while expanding its volume and are pooled in the air expansion chamber 116. In either case, the volume of the air expansion chamber 90 or 116 is gradually increased, Water rises through the water feed tube 94 by the amount equivalent to the increased volume of the air expansion chamber, When the tube 94 has been filled with water, the water flows into the upstream water reservoir 80, When the discharge of the compressed air from the recovery vessel 30 has been substantially stopped, the third control valve 100 is closed and the fourth control valve 102 is opened to draft air, and the second control valve 98 is opened to introduce the water which has already been subjected to hydroelectric power generation into the water tank chamber 88 or 114. When all air in the air expansion chamber 90 or 116 has been drafted, the second and fourth control valves 98 and 102 are closed, a new recovery vessel 30 is attached, the third control valve 100 is opened and then the aforementioned procedure is repeated. By repeating the aforementioned procedure, water which has already been subjected to hydro-electric power generation can be sent back to the upstream water reservoir 80, so that it can be repeatedly used for hydro-electric power generation.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4 it is noted that an air diffusing space 120 is provided so as to communicate with the air expansion chamber, the air expansion chamber being separated from the water tank chamber by the piston 86. A
nozzle exit of the recovery vessel 30 and the valve 96 thus has flow therethrough diffused by the air diffusing 120 as the flow enters the air expansion chamber 90.
- 17a -Thus, the present invention enables highly compressed air to be provided in the recovery vessel, compressed to the extent that a high speed flow of air will exit from the nozzle exit into the expansion chamber 90. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4, thus, the air is first diffused in the air diffusing space 120, in which space the jetted air increases its specific volume and decreases its pressure, the air consequently being discharged to the air expansion chamber 90.
Applicability of the Invention to the Industry As described in the foregoing, the energy required by the method and apparatus for producing compressed air according to the present invention is the gravity of a weight, hydraulic ,..,.".~.,~~"~..o "-,~ y",.~,..~,-,l,o a'1~ nl-,t-a;nar9 frnm natmral resrn~rces_ In addition, according to the water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the compressed air obtained by the compressed air producing method and apparatus of the present invention, the water used in hydro-electric power generation can be repeatedly returned to an upstream water reservoir not subject to power generation by making use of the expansion energy of the compressed air.
Therefore, the hydraulic power generation otherwise limited by the amount of rain water can be utilized to the maximum possible extent, In addition, the hydroelectric power generation can be applied to private power generation in a multistory building, for example.
Furthermore, the air expansion energy of the compressed air obtained by the aforementioned compressed air prodeucing method and apparatus can be used in the form of power for driving and propelling vehiclles or as cooling means utilizing the phenome-non that when gas is expanded it absorbs the environmental heat, When the compressed air is mixed with fuel in an internal combusion engine, the amount of the fuel can be reduced. The compressed air is also applicable to a sprayer, Thus, since the air exspansion energy of the comoressed air can be converted into various kinds of energy, the present inventioncan reduce the amount of fossil fuels used at present to a great extent,
Figure 2 is a longitudinally sectioned side view, similarly to Figure l, showing an apparatus for producing compressed air, with a compressed air recovery vessel omitted from illustration.
Figure 3 is a longitudinally sectioned side view showing another embodiment of the apparatus for producing compressed air, Figure 4 is a longitudinally sectioned side view showing a water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the compressed air, Figure 5 is a similar, longitudinally sectioned side view showing another embodiment of the water pumping apparatus.
Best Mode for Working the Invention Figure l, Figure 2 and Figure 3 are longitudinally sectioned side views illustrating an apparatus for producing compressed air. The compressed air producing apparatus 1 includes a container body 10 which has an air chamber 12 capable of sealing air therein and is capable of reducing its volume by hydraulic pressure, a compressed air recovery vessel 30 connected to the air chamber via a check valve 32 and adapted to receive the compressed air therein when the volume of the air chamber 12 is reduced by hydraulic pressure, and a weight 40 mounted on the container body 10 and adapted to sink the container body 10 and recovery vessel 30 deep under water.
The air chamber 12 has a construction such that its volume can be reduced by hydraulic pressure when it is sunk under water.
In the air chamber 12 of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a compression piston 14 is disposed in the sealed cylindrical container body 10 has so as to be slidable upward and downward along the inner wall of the container body 10 and divide the interior of the container body 10 into the sealed air chamber and a water chamber 16 formed with a plurality of water inlet ports 18 opening to the peripheral wall of the container body for introducing water into the container body 10 from the outside. When the container body 10 is caused to sink deep under water, the external water enters the water chamber 16 disposed on the upper side of the compression piston 14 through the water inlet ports 18 under pressure. The compression piston 14 is urged toward the air chamber 12 by the hydraulic pressure of the water entering the water chamber 16 to thereby compress the air in the air chamber 12. The air chamber 12 is connected to a compressed air recovery vessel 30 through a connecting tube 34. The connecting tube 34 is provided with a check valve 32. The compressed air recovery vessel 30 has a very small volume compared with that of the air chamber 12 before it is reduced in volume, so that the compressed air can be maintained intact, The check valve 32 acts such that when the pressure in the air chamber 12 is higher than that in the compressed air recovery vessel 30, the air in the air chamber 12 is permitted to flow into the air recovery vessel 30 and such that when the pressure relation is reversed, the compressed air in the air recovery vessel 30 does not flow back into the air chamber 12.
The recovery vessel 30 can be detached from the container body for replacement.
Figure 3 shows another example of the air chamber 12. In the air chamber 12, the outer wall of the cylindrical container body 10 can be deformed to be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction by the external hydraulic pressure. The inside space of the container body 10 serves as an air chamber 12. When the outer wall is contracted in the vertical direction by the external hydraulic pressure, the volume of the ' air chamber 12 can be reduced, The structure of the container body 10 will be described in more detail. The container body 10 is constructed in a sealed state such that an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22 are joined together through a cloth material 24 and such that annular reinforcement members 26 are sewn to the cloth member 24 so that it is expanded into a cylindrical configuration when air having a higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure is introduced into the air chamber, The cloth material 24 is formed of a material which is strong in tensile stress and is both water and air impermeable. The reinforcement members 26 are strong against a compressive force and are hardly deformed. The container body 10 is provided with an air inlet valve 28 adapted to take air into the air chamber 12. The upper plate 21 of the container body 10 is connected to a compressed air recovery vessel 30 via a connecting tube 34, The connecting tube 34 is provided with a check valve 32 which has the same function as the check valve 32 provided on the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, The compressed air recovery vessel 30 shown in Figure 3 serves concurrently as a buoyant body. This will be described later, Although the container body 10 shown in Figure 3 has a hollow cylindrical configuration, it is preferable that it has a hollow spherical configuration so that it can bear the hydraulic _7_ pressure of the deep sea.
A weight 40 is attached to any of the container bodies 10 in order to sink the container body 10 deep under water. The weight 40 is detachably mounted on the container body 10 by a weight mounting device 42 when the volumeof the air chamber 12 is reduced to the maximum possible extent by hydraulic pressure.
Any of the container bodies 10 is further provided with the buoyant body 70 so that it can float on the water by means of buoyancy when the sink weight 40 has been detached from the container body 10.
The weight mounting device 42 is constructed such that the weight 40 is detached from the container body 10 when the volume of the air chamber 12 is reduced to the maximum possible extent, i.e, when the the leading end portion of the compression piston I4 comes into contact with the bottom of the air chamber 12 in the apparatus shown Figure 1 and Figure 2 or when the upper and lower plates 21 and 22 come into contact with each other in the apparatus shown in Figure 3.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the weight mounting device 42 comprises a casing 44 for accommodating the weight 40 therein and having a bottom portion 46 capable of being opened by its own weight and a clamping device 50 for clamping a wire 48 extending over the bottom portion 46 so as not to open accidentally, The casing 44 depends downward from the container body 10.
The clamping device 50 will be explained. Reference numeral 52 designates wrench-like holding metal pieces 52 which have clamp portions and proximal portions pivoted on a pin 54, When the proximal portions are away from each other, the clamp portions are also away from each other. One of the proximal portions is fixed to a lower part of the container body 10, whereas the other of the proximal portions is left free.
Between the proximal portions a spring body 56 is interposed for biasing the free proximal portion in a direction away from the fixed proximal portion, A lock lever 58 is provided to lock the free proximal portion so as not to be moved away from the fixed proximal end by the biasing force of the spring body 56. Reference numeral 60 designates an unlocking pin having an upper end thereof projecting from the bottom into the inside of the air chamber 12 and the lower end thereof engaged with the lock lever 58. Therefore, when the upper end of the unlocking pin 60 is depressed, the lock lever 58 is unlocked and, as a result, the free proximal end of the holding metal piece 52 is biased by the biasing force of the spring body 56 in the direction away from the fixed proximal end to open the clamp portions, Consequently, when the volume of the air chamber 12 is reduced to the maximum possible extent and the leading end of the compression piston 14 reaches the bottom of the air chamber 12, the unlocking pin 60 is depressed to unlock the lock lever 58 and the clamp portions of the holding metal piece 52 is opened, When the clamped wire 48 is released from the clamp portions, the bottom portion 46 of the casing 44 is opened by its own weight, whereafter the weight 40 is discharged out of the casing 44. Gravel on the seashore can be used as the weight 40.
In the embodiment of Figure 3, the weight mounting device 42 is constituted of a clamping device 50 from which a weight 40 is directly suspended, This clamping device 50 have the same structure and the same weight-releasing function as that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The weight 40 shown in Figure 3 is formed of a bag filled with gravel, In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, both the container body 10 and the casing 44 are provided with buoyant chambers acting as the buoyant body 70. Since a compressed stress applied to the buoyant chambers 70 becomes larger in proportion as the apparatus sinks deeper under water, the structural members constituting the buoyant chambers are required to be rigid, In order to make the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure as small as - 10 ' possible at the water level which the apparatus reaches, it is desirable to fill the buoyant chambers with compressed air in advance.
In the apparatus of Figure 3, the compressed air recovery vessel 30 serves concurently as the buoyant body 70 which has a hollow spherical configuration and is connected to an upper portion of the container body 10 via rods 72.
It is structurally desirable to fill the buoyant chambers 70 with compressed air in advance as described above because they can bear the water pressure even under the deeper water.
Due to the dual function of the recovery vessel 30, the pressure of the air contained therein is increased by repeating the recovery operation in view of the volume of the recovery vessel 30 and, therefore, the apparatus of Figure 3 can bear the higher hydraulic pressure in deeper water and can be suitably used for obtaining a compressed air of high pressure.
The operation of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 will now be described. The compression piston is pulled to the highest position and then the air recovery vessel 30 is attached to the container body. After the bottom portion 46 of the casing 44 is closed, the weight 40 such as gravel is introduced into the casing 44, The casing 44 is then attached to the lower part of the container body 10. Thereafter the apparatus is hung above the surface of the sea by means of a hanging chain not shown and then separated from the hanging chain. As a result, the whole apparatus is sunk deep under the water by gravity, At that time, water flows into the water chamber 16 through the water inlet ports 18 due to hydraulic pressure to push the compression piston 14 down, thereby compressing the air in the air chamber 12. The hydraulic pressure increases as the apparatus sinks deeper, and the lower end of the compression piston 14 is eventually brought to the bottom portion of the air chamber 12, Thus, all air in the air chamber 12 is inserted into the recovery vessel 30 under pressure. Since the recovery vessel 30 is provided with the check valve 32, a decrease of air pressure in the air chamber 12 does not cause the compressed air in the recovery vessel 30 to flow back to the air chamber 12, When the lower end of the compression piston 14 reaches the bottom portion of the air chamber 12, the clamped state of the clamping device 50 is released and the bottom portion 46 of the casing 44 is opened to drop the weight 40. As a result, the buoyancy acts on the whole apparatus due to the function of the buoyant chambers 70 and the whole apparatus floats to the surface of the sea automatically, thus producing compressed air, Operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 will now be described.
The air inlet valve 28 of the container body 10 is opened and the weight 40 is attached to the lower plate 22, When the apparatus with the upper plate 21 directed upward is hung by a crane, air automatically flows into the air chamber 12 of the container body 10 through the air inlet valve 28 owing to the function of the weight 40 to expand the container body 10 into a cylindrical configuration, Then, the valve 28 is closed.
The weight 40 is attached to the clamping device 50 which is the weight mounting device 42. The whole apparatus is slowly lowered onto the surface of water and separated from the crane. The whole apparatus slowly sinks under water. When the hydraulic pressure increases as the apparatus sinks deep under water, air in the air chamber 12 is compressed and the air chamber 12 is reduced in volume. However, the air chamber is not reduced in size in the horizontal direction because of the presence of the annular reinforcement members 26, but is in the vertical direction, and consequently exhibits a vertically compressed appearance as a whole. As a result, air in the air chamber 12 is compressed to an extent that the internal pressure is substantially equal to the external hydraulic pressure, and part of the compressed air is stored in the air recovery vessel 30. As the apparatus sinks deeper, the volume of the air chamber 12 is further reduced by the hydraulic pressure and most of the air in the air chamber 12 is inserted under pressure into the air recovery vessel 30. At the same time, a projection 62 attached to the upper plate 21 pushes down the unlocking pin 60 mounted on the lower plate 22 to release the locked state of the lock lever 58, and the clamping portion of the holding metal piece 52 is opened by means of the biasing force of the spring body 56 to release the weight 40. When the weight has been detached from the apparatus, the whole apparatus to begins float upwardly owing to the buoyant function of the recovery vessel 30. At this time, since the recovery vessel 30 a keeps high pressure due to the provision of the check valve is 32, it lifted by the crane when it finally floats on the surface of the water. Thus, the recovery vessel is recovered, When the air inlet valve 28 is opened, air flows into the air chamber12 to restore the apparatus to its original shape. By repeating the above processes without removing the air recovery 30 vessel from the container body 10, the amount of compressed air corresponding to the volume of the recovery vessel 30 can be recovered, Figures 4 and 5 show a water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the compressed air produced by the aforementioned compressed air production apparatus, The water pumping apparatus of Figure 4 comprises a container 84 disposed between an upstream water reservoir 80 of a hydroelectric power generating apparatus and a downstream water reservoir 82 for reserving used water, The interior of the container 84 is divided into an upper water tank chamber 88 and a lower air expansion chamber 90 by a piston 86 which is slidable in the vertical direction within the container 84, The water tank chamber 88 is connected to a water inlet tube 92 for flowing water into the water tank chamber 88 from the downstream water reservoir 82 and also to a water feed tube 94 for feeding under pressure the water reserved in the chamber 88 to the upstream water reservoir 80, The air expansion chamber 90 is provided with an air recovery vessel 30 containing compressed air for pushing up the piston 86 in order to expand the volume of the air expansion chamber 90, The recovery vessel 30 contains the compressed air recovered by the aforementioned compressed air producing apparatus, Between the air recovery vessel 30 and the air expansion chamber 90, a first control valve 96 is disposed. By adjusting the first control valve 96, the amount of compressed air to be discharged into the air expansion chamber 90 from the recovery vessel 30 is regulated.
In the drawing, reference numeral 98 denotes a second control valve disposed at the water inlet tube 92, numeral 100 denotes a third control valve disposed at the water feed tube 94, and numeral 102 denotes a fourth control valve disposed at an air vent pipe. These valves are operated to control the flow of water or air, The water pumping apparatus of Figure 5 comprises a container 110 disposed between an upstream water reservoir 80 of a hydroelectric power generating apparatus and a downstream water reservoir 82 for reserving the used water, The interior of the container 110 is divided by a partition wall 112 into a water tank chamber 114 and an air expansion chamber 116 which communicates with each other at the lower part of the container 110, The water tank chamber 114 is connected to a water inlet tube 92 for flowing water into the water tank chamber 114 from the downstream water reservoir 82 and also to a water feed tube 94 for feeding under pressure the water reserved in the chamber 114 to the upstream water reservoir 80. The air expansion chamber 116 is provided with a recovery vessel 30 containing compressed air for expanding the volume of the air expansion chamber, The apparatus of Figure 5 is designed such that air bubbles of the compressed air to be discharged into the container 110 from the recovery vessel 30 rise upward by means of buoyancy and are pooled in the air expansion chamber 116 divided by the partition wall 112, The remaining construction thereof is the same as that of the apparatus of Figure 4, The operation of the water pumping apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5 will be described, First, used water, i,e, water already subjected to hydroelectric generation, is caused to flow into the water tank chamber 88 or 114 from the downstream water reservoir 82 through the water inlet tube 92 until the water tank chamber 88 or 114 is filled with the water, The air in the air expansion chamber 90 or 116 is all drafted by opening the fourth control valve 102.
The second and fourth control valves 98 and 102 are closed, while the third control valve 100 is opened, The first control valve 96 of the recovery vessel 30 is mounted to air expansion chamber 90 or 116 in a slightly open state, The apparatus of Figure 4 represents a case where the piston is used, Since the pressure of compressed air discharged from the recovery vessel 30 is much greater than the hydraulic pressure in the water tank chamber 88, it pushes the piston 86 upward, The apparatus of Figure 5 represents a case where the piston is not used, Air bubbles of the compressed air discharged from the recovery vessel 30 rise in the water filled in the water tank chamber 114 while expanding its volume and are pooled in the air expansion chamber 116. In either case, the volume of the air expansion chamber 90 or 116 is gradually increased, Water rises through the water feed tube 94 by the amount equivalent to the increased volume of the air expansion chamber, When the tube 94 has been filled with water, the water flows into the upstream water reservoir 80, When the discharge of the compressed air from the recovery vessel 30 has been substantially stopped, the third control valve 100 is closed and the fourth control valve 102 is opened to draft air, and the second control valve 98 is opened to introduce the water which has already been subjected to hydroelectric power generation into the water tank chamber 88 or 114. When all air in the air expansion chamber 90 or 116 has been drafted, the second and fourth control valves 98 and 102 are closed, a new recovery vessel 30 is attached, the third control valve 100 is opened and then the aforementioned procedure is repeated. By repeating the aforementioned procedure, water which has already been subjected to hydro-electric power generation can be sent back to the upstream water reservoir 80, so that it can be repeatedly used for hydro-electric power generation.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4 it is noted that an air diffusing space 120 is provided so as to communicate with the air expansion chamber, the air expansion chamber being separated from the water tank chamber by the piston 86. A
nozzle exit of the recovery vessel 30 and the valve 96 thus has flow therethrough diffused by the air diffusing 120 as the flow enters the air expansion chamber 90.
- 17a -Thus, the present invention enables highly compressed air to be provided in the recovery vessel, compressed to the extent that a high speed flow of air will exit from the nozzle exit into the expansion chamber 90. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4, thus, the air is first diffused in the air diffusing space 120, in which space the jetted air increases its specific volume and decreases its pressure, the air consequently being discharged to the air expansion chamber 90.
Applicability of the Invention to the Industry As described in the foregoing, the energy required by the method and apparatus for producing compressed air according to the present invention is the gravity of a weight, hydraulic ,..,.".~.,~~"~..o "-,~ y",.~,..~,-,l,o a'1~ nl-,t-a;nar9 frnm natmral resrn~rces_ In addition, according to the water pumping apparatus for use in hydroelectric power generation utilizing the compressed air obtained by the compressed air producing method and apparatus of the present invention, the water used in hydro-electric power generation can be repeatedly returned to an upstream water reservoir not subject to power generation by making use of the expansion energy of the compressed air.
Therefore, the hydraulic power generation otherwise limited by the amount of rain water can be utilized to the maximum possible extent, In addition, the hydroelectric power generation can be applied to private power generation in a multistory building, for example.
Furthermore, the air expansion energy of the compressed air obtained by the aforementioned compressed air prodeucing method and apparatus can be used in the form of power for driving and propelling vehiclles or as cooling means utilizing the phenome-non that when gas is expanded it absorbs the environmental heat, When the compressed air is mixed with fuel in an internal combusion engine, the amount of the fuel can be reduced. The compressed air is also applicable to a sprayer, Thus, since the air exspansion energy of the comoressed air can be converted into various kinds of energy, the present inventioncan reduce the amount of fossil fuels used at present to a great extent,
Claims
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A water pumping apparatus utilizing compressed air for use in hydroelectric power generation, which comprises:
a container situated below the level of the water surface of a downstream reservoir for storing water subjected to hydroelectric power generation using water in an upstream reservoir;
a piston slidably accommodated within said container for dividing an inner space of said container into a water tank chamber and an air expansion chamber;
the container further including an air diffusing space communicating with said air expansion chamber;
a water inlet tube connected to said water tank chamber via a first control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water supplied from the downstream water reservoir into said water tank chamber;
a water feed pipe connected to said water tank chamber via a second control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water fed under pressure from said water tank chamber into the upstream water reservoir; and a recovery vessel containing compressed air therein and connected to said air diffusing space of said container via a flow regulating valve for discharging the compressed air contained in said recovery vessel into said air diffusing space in which the jetted air increases its specific volume and decreases its pressure and is consequently discharged into said air expansion chamber to cause said piston to slide in a direction of increasing a volume of said air expansion chamber.
a container situated below the level of the water surface of a downstream reservoir for storing water subjected to hydroelectric power generation using water in an upstream reservoir;
a piston slidably accommodated within said container for dividing an inner space of said container into a water tank chamber and an air expansion chamber;
the container further including an air diffusing space communicating with said air expansion chamber;
a water inlet tube connected to said water tank chamber via a first control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water supplied from the downstream water reservoir into said water tank chamber;
a water feed pipe connected to said water tank chamber via a second control valve for regulating the flow rate of the water fed under pressure from said water tank chamber into the upstream water reservoir; and a recovery vessel containing compressed air therein and connected to said air diffusing space of said container via a flow regulating valve for discharging the compressed air contained in said recovery vessel into said air diffusing space in which the jetted air increases its specific volume and decreases its pressure and is consequently discharged into said air expansion chamber to cause said piston to slide in a direction of increasing a volume of said air expansion chamber.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2-174532 | 1990-07-03 | ||
| JP2174532A JPH0463970A (en) | 1990-07-03 | 1990-07-03 | Energy obtaining method from compressed air obtained by submerging heavy and available material into deep water |
| CA002086089A CA2086089C (en) | 1990-07-03 | 1991-07-02 | A method and device for producing compressed air and a wataer pumping device using the compressed air |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002086089A Division CA2086089C (en) | 1990-07-03 | 1991-07-02 | A method and device for producing compressed air and a wataer pumping device using the compressed air |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2224054A1 CA2224054A1 (en) | 1992-01-04 |
| CA2224054C true CA2224054C (en) | 2002-02-26 |
Family
ID=25675771
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002224054A Expired - Fee Related CA2224054C (en) | 1990-07-03 | 1991-07-02 | Water pumping apparatus utilizing compressed air |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2224054C (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-07-02 CA CA002224054A patent/CA2224054C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2224054A1 (en) | 1992-01-04 |
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