FR2890416A1 - Mechanical power production method includes utilizing the pressure difference of a ballast container charged with natural pressure from a surface point by using a compressed air - Google Patents

Abstract

A ballast container (2) with floats (3) is charged with natural pressure from a marine canal work (1). When filled, it is transported to an immersion zone by a tugboat (4). An empty ballast container (6) and a product container (7) are recovered from the immersion capsule (5). The first ballast container is released from the float and tugboat and impels the immersion capsule with a new empty product container into the sea bottom. Compressed air is used for utilizing the pressure difference on the natural pressure between the surface points. An independent claim is included for the system of producing mechanical power from the earth surface points.

Description

It is well known that hydroelectric power is obtained from

  differences in pressure on a river using a dike to raise the water level.

  This invention provides methods and means for exploiting pressure differences between the space or the seabed and the surface of the earth.

  In the case of space, the pressure difference (1 at.) Can be exploited on the surface of the earth by means of a closed space container which is equipped with a valve. When said container enters the earth with the valve closed, the container is completely empty. By connecting the inlet of a turbine to the atmosphere and connecting the outlet of said turbine to the empty space container, by opening the valve of the container, a flow of air is produced, moving the turbine.

  In the case of the seabed, the difference in pressure can be exploited for example by means of a compressed air container obtained in an immersion capsule or by means of a product which is obtained by means of the In the case of compressed air, by connecting the inlet of a turbine to a compressed air container obtained according to this invention and connecting the outlet of said turbine to the atmosphere, a flow of of air is produced, moving the turbine.

  To obtain compressed air, an immersion capsule is submerged at the seabed by means of a removable ballast, allowing the seawater to flood the immersion capsule and compressing the air of the immersion capsule. inside a container of compressed air. When the immersion capsule arrives at the bottom of the sea, a valve separates the compressed air and sea water, then the removable ballast is removed and the immersion capsule returns to the sea surface. By the previous the average density of the immersion capsule must be below the average density of the seawater, and the average density of the immersion capsule and removable ballast assembly must be on the density of the sea water.

  Instead of compressed air, the immersion capsule can produce liquid air by arranging several consecutive expansion chambers in the immersion capsule, being equipped with said expansion chambers with isolation valves and cooling devices. . Each isolation valve is controlled by the pressure of the previous expansion chamber.

  In addition, since the solubility in water of oxygen and nitrogen are very different, it is possible to employ the invention to separate the two gases.

  Also, it is possible to use the immersion capsule as a high pressure reaction chamber, particularly for seawater or air as raw material. Thus, it is possible to obtain pressurized chloride, pressurized hydrogen, ammonia, ..

  In the case of space, the space vessel is the fuel because the lifting of the space vessel to fill it with vacuum is not economically viable. Thus said space container would be a way to import metals from space, for example, metals formed into plates, and plates formed into empty cylinders. Each plate must tolerate at least 1 at. pressure. So the volume of said cylinder may be that the cylinder weight is compensated by the aerostatic vacuum of the cylinder, being: -D diameter of the cylinder, -L length, - surface 7t * (D2 / 2 + D * L), -volume 7t * D2 * L / 4, -s mass / m2 of cylinder plate, -mass dy cylinder 7t * (D2 / 2 + D * L) * s, - average cylinder density 2 * s / L + 4 * s / (7t * D), - 2 * s / L + 4 * s / (7t * D) <= 1.29, being 1.29 Kg / m3 the density of the air on the surface of the earth, -itit volume of the container Cylindrical space saves braking energy.

  Instead of cylindrical space vessels, they can be used spherical space vessels, then the discharge to compensate densities is 3 * s / R <= 1.29.

  Another use for said empty space container is to brake the space container: by opening the space container at the entrance to the atmosphere, the suction forces produce a braking effect.

  In the case of the sea bed, the ballast and the bottom of the sea are the fuel. Since the ballast can be stone, rubble, earth ..., the fuel can be inexhaustible.

  Some energies are shown: - kinetic energy of 1 m3 of vacuum: 27 Wh, - kinetic energy of 1 Tm of stone which is submerged 1000 m: 2.7 kWh, - heat energy of 1 m3 of methane (0.7 kg): 10 kWh.

  The energy produced according to this invention is very far from the energy of the oil, but said energy can be directly used to obtain movement, liquid air, etc. In addition, the invention can be used in addition to the work marine public as a marine channel, ....

  Following a short description of the figures:

  Fig. 1. General arrangement to obtain pressure differences from the seabed.

  Fig. 2. Immersion capsule to obtain compressed air.

  Fig. 3. Command of the immersion capsule.

  Fig. 4. Immersion capsule to obtain liquid air.

  Fig. 5. Immersion capsule to obtain nitrogen and oxygen. Fig. 6, Immersion capsule to obtain ammonia.

  According to the more detailed description of the invention according to the figures.

  Fig. 1 General arrangement for obtaining pressure differences from the seabed.

  In a marine work of a channel (1), a first ballast vessel (2) is loaded, the ballast vessel having floats (3) for supporting the ballast.

  When the first ballast container is filled, said first container is tied to a tug (4) for transporting it to a dip zone, in said dip zone the first ballast container is released from the tug, being bound to a immersion capsule (5), and a second empty ballast container (6) is recovered from the immersion capsule.

  Also a product container (7) is recovered from the immersion capsule, being changed by another empty product container. The product container can be compressed air, liquid air, ...

  Then the floats (3) are released from the first ballast vessel which is connected to the second ballast vessel, then the immersion capsule goes to the seabed pushed by the first ballast vessel. The tug carries the second ballast vessel to the marine work of the canal, restarting the cycle.

  Fig. 2. Immersion capsule to obtain compressed air. The immersion capsule (5) is equipped with a compressed air container (8), an isolation valve (9), a plurality of flood or drain valves (10), a pressure leveling valve (10a), a hook (11) for connecting the immersion capsule with the ballast container (2), a water level sensor (12) for measuring the water level in the immersion capsule, and a pressure indicator (13) for measuring the pressure out of the immersion capsule.

  In addition, to prevent the air from dissolving in seawater at high sea-bed pressures, the immersion capsule can be equipped with a separating piston (17). Said separator piston triggers the water level sensor (12).

  The separator piston may have one or more axis guides.

  The ballast vessel (2) has a folding bottom (14) which is controlled by either the water level sensor or a space sensor which is programmed to be activated at a predetermined distance (16). When the depth of the sea is known, the space probe may be the pressure indicator (13). In addition, the space probe may be a sonar (15).

  The average density of the immersion capsule should be less than the density of the seawater to float full of seawater and with the compressed air container.

  The lower zone of the immersion capsule is heavier than the upper zone for draining seawater. In order to drain the immersion capsule, the pressure leveling valve (10a) must be opened.

  The empty ballast vessel must float on the water of the sea.

  In addition the immersion capsule set and ballast container are equipped with devices for signaling or radiolocalizing, of course or below the surface of the sea, particularly placed on the immersion capsule.

  The valves, the folding bottom, probes ... they include control devices, control signals and circuits for transmitting and receiving said control signals.

  Fig. 3. Command of the immersion capsule. The isolation valve (9) is opened when the compressed air container (8) is fitted to the immersion capsule (5) and the isolation valve is closed when the seawater reaches the level probe of water (12) or the space probe is triggered.

  The folding bottom (14) is opened when the seawater reaches the water level probe and the space probe is triggered.

  The flood valves (10) are open when the pressure indicator (13) measures a set pressure (for example 1.1 at.).

  Several of the electrical wires (18) carry the control signals of the space probe, the water level sensor and the pressure indicator to the isolation valve, the folding bottom and the flood valves.

  The control devices can be electronic circuits (AND, OR or NOT gates) or electromechanical (relay).

  Fig. 4. Immersion capsule to obtain liquid air. The immersion capsule (5) has for example four chambers which are delimited by the pistons (19) to (22), each piston being equipped with an expansion valve (19a to 22a) and a limiting anchor fixed (19d to 22d); the pistons (20) to (22) are each connected to an expander control probe (20b) to (22b), a limit pressure indicator (20e to 22e) and a movable anchor (20c to 22c), said movable anchors are for preventing piston movement inappropriately.

  The expansion valves initially are closed.

  Expansion valves and movable anchors are controlled by the 30 Expansion Control Probes and the Limit Pressure Indicator. Thus, being i = 20 or 21 or 22, when the piston i-1 reaches the probe ib, the valve ia is open until the limit pressure indicator reaches a predetermined pressure, then the valve ia is closed, the mobile anchor ic is removed and the valve (i-1) is open to pass the seawater.

  Each fixed limit anchor stops the movement of its connected piston, supporting the next piston until the latter piston is to be moved.

  The walls of the immersion capsule must be heat conducting to take advantage of the low temperature of the seabed to cool the compressed air.

  At the time of submerging the immersion capsule, the expansion valves must be closed and the mobile anchors must be activated.

  According to the immersion capsule is submerged, the expaste control probes are triggered, then said expansion control probes open its associated expansion valves, ..., so the air is cooled and re-compressed.

  Instead of the compressed air container a liquid air container (23) is provided.

  Fig. 5. Immersion capsule to obtain nitrogen and oxygen. It is very similar to fig.2, having the following differences: -the immersion capsule does not have the separator piston because the oxygen must be dissolved in the sea water, -the level probe of the water is a water level buoy (12a), -an internal pressure indicator (13a) for measuring the pressure of the water in the immersion capsule, -the walls of the immersion capsule must be strong, because of the pressure of the sea floor is transported on the surface of the sea.

  The operation is as follows: - the flood or drain valves (10) are open giving the difference between the internal and external pressures obtained from the pressure indicator (13) and the internal pressure indicator ( 13a), since the seawater inlet velocity is greater than the diffusion of oxygen in seawater, to avoid the wasting of oxygen, - on the seabed , the seawater of the immersion capsule contains more oxygen than nitrogen and the compressed air container (8) contains more nitrogen than oxygen (concerning the usual proportion of air) - when the ballast is released, the flood valves (10) are closed, so the internal pressure of the immersion capsule is the pressure of the seabed by keeping the oxygen dissolved in the water, - nitrogen is removed with the compressed air container, then the oxygen is obtained by the isolation valve (9) at atmospheric pressure. its solubility decreases with pressure.

  Fig. 6. Immersion capsule to obtain ammonia. The immersion capsule has three chambers: a seawater chamber (24), a chlorine chamber (25) and an air and hydrogen chamber (26). In addition, the immersion cap comprises the electrodes (25a) and (26a), separating pistons (17a) and (17b) and separating traps (24a) and (24b).

  The seawater is electrolyzed to obtain hydrogen to react with nitrogen and oxygen, then the traps (24a) and (24b) are closed.

  When the immersion capsule reaches the seabed, a detonator (29) that is controlled using the space probe is activated, detonating the mixture of air and hydrogen. Heat, hydrogen, pressure and nitrogen produce ammonia.

  The chlorine is recovered from the chlorine container (30) at high pressure, and the ammonia is recovered at atmospheric pressure through the isolation valve (9). In addition, the seawater from the immersion capsule must contain ammonia and caustic soda.

Claims (10)

  A method for exploiting a natural pressure difference in relation to points on the surface of the Earth comprising conveying a container from a point to said natural pressure difference at a point on the surface of the Earth, the interior of the container being at the natural pressure difference, -the point at the natural pressure difference being located on the seabed, particularly the container being reusable, and the process of transporting the vessel from the sea surface to the bottom of the sea. sea by means of a ballast, the ballast being removable, then recover the container by releasing said ballast.   A method of exploiting the natural pressure difference of claim 1 comprising employing said natural difference in pressure: or to obtain compressed air, or to separate air, at least partially, oxygen and nitrogen, by means of the greater solubility of oxygen in water than the solubility of nitrogen at high pressures, or to obtain liquid air, or to obtain products from reactions high pressure chemical products of seawater or air, such as chloride, oxygen, nitrogen or hydrogen.   3. A method of exploiting the natural pressure difference of claim 1 or 2 including obtaining the marine public works ballast on the shore of the sea.   10 15 20 4. System for exploiting a natural difference of pressure in relation to points on the surface of the Earth comprising a container, the interior of the container being at the pressure of said natural pressure difference, the container being placed on the bottom from the sea, particularly a reusable container, by means of a particularly removable ballast.   5. A natural pressure difference system according to claim 4, comprising all or more of the following devices an immersion capsule connected to the container by an isolation valve, the removable ballast being a ballast container having a folding bottom, the ballast container being bound to the immersion capsule by means of a hook, the whole of the immersion capsule and the ballast container floating on the sea water when the ballast container is empty -the immersion capsule provided with one or more flood or drain valves, a pressure leveling valve, a water level probe, a pressure gauge and pressure relief devices signaling and radiolocation, -the ballast vessel being provided with a space probe such as a sonar, -electrical wires for the control signals of the water level probe, space probe and the pressure indicator to the ballast container and immersio capsule n, -the folding bottom and the isolation valve controlled by means of the water level probe and the space probe, -the flood or drain valves controlled by means of the indicator pressure, one or more pistons to separate the sea water from the rest of the immersion capsule.   6. System for exploiting the natural difference in pressure according to claim 4, characterized in that- or the immersion capsule is initially filled with air and on the seabed the immersion cap is filled with water of sea enriched with oxygen while the vessel is filled with nitrogen-enriched air, having an internal pressure indicator and a water level probe especially a buoy.   or the immersion capsule is initially filled with air and on the bottom of the sea the immersion capsule is filled with seawater while the container is filled with compressed air.   7. System for exploiting the natural difference in pressure according to claim 4, particularly for obtaining liquid air, characterized in that -the immersion capsule is initially filled with air, -the immersion capsule is provided with a plurality of consecutive chambers having, between two consecutive chambers, a piston, each piston having an expansion valve and a fixed limit anchor, the fixed limit anchor also supports the following piston, the second and following pistons being associated with a probe Expansion Control System, Mobile Anchor and Limiting Pressure Indicator, Expansion Valves and Mobile Anchor Controlled by Expansion Control Probes and Limit Pressure Gauges, the immersion capsule being heat conductors.   8. System for exploiting the natural pressure difference according to claim 4, particularly for obtaining products from high pressure chemical reactions of seawater or air products, such as chloride, oxygen, nitrogen or hydrogen, characterized in that -the immersion capsule having several reaction chambers connected by means of the hatches, -the immersion capsule is initially filled with a gas, -in particular the nitrogen gas and oxygen of air and chlorine and hydrogen from seawater, -the immersion capsule having electrodes for electrolyzing seawater.   9. System for exploiting the natural pressure difference according to claim 4, characterized in that the removable ballast is obtained from marine public works on the shore of the sea. 10. Use of a natural pressure difference obtained according to this invention comprising the production of kinetic energy by means of a turbine.