GB190714745A - Improved Method of Storing Power and Apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

14,745. Fessenden, R. A. June 26. Actuating pumps.-Relates to means for utilizing the forces of nature, such as the wind and the heat of the sun, to raise water so that it may afterwards be used as a source of power. Fig. 1 shows one arrangement. At a great depth in the earth is arranged a series of chambers 3 containing water. At the surface of the earth, another series of reservoirs 2, 2<1> is arranged. A windmill 8 actuates a pump 7, which raises the water from the lower to the upper reservoirs by means of a pipe 10. The water is led from the upper reservoirs by means of a pipe 9 and works a turbine 6 connected to a dynamo 5. The turbine and dynamo are placed in a chamber 4 above the lower chambers 3 into which the turbine discharges. A chemical, such as lime, is added to the water to prevent freezing and rusting. The windmill may be placed on a cliff and may pump water from the sea into the upper reservoirs. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the arrangement for utilizing a natural storage reservoir separated by an intervening hill from the sea or other natural body of water, when the pump cannot be worked by mechanical means. The pumps 24, 26 and turbines 28, 29 are connected to motor generators 25, 27, respectively, which are electrically connected to the windmill-driven dynamo 32 by a transmission line 31. The turbines and pumps are connected, as shown, to a siphon tube 30. To raise water from the lower to the upper reservoir, the dynamo 32 drives the generator 27 as a motor which works the pump 26, thus forcing the water up the long leg of the siphon. The excess power required to raise the water above the level of the upper reservoir is recovered by causing the water flowing down the short leg of the siphon, to work the turbine 28, thus driving the generator 25 as a dynamo and partly restoring the electric power to the system. To utilize the stored-up power, the machine 25 running as a motor operates the pump 24 forcing the water back through the siphon, thus working the turbine 29 and driving the machine 27 as a dynamo, and furnishing a current which is partly used in operating the machine 25. The dynamos 25, 27 are preferably series-wound. In a further modification the windmill drives a dynamo which is used in conjunction with a power station, and at the same time drives a motor which actuates a pump for lifting water from the lower to the higher reservoirs. This motor may be driven as a dynamo by means of a turbine worked by the returning water. An arrangement for utilizing the sun's heat is shown in Fig. 2. A chamber 11<1>, provided with a transparent cover 12, pivoted shutters 13, and cooling-tubes 14, is connected to a hot-air engine 15 which drives a pump 16. When the shutters are opened, the sun's heat causes expansion of the contained air which forces down the piston of the engine. The shutters being then closed, by the agency of the engine if desired, cooling-liquid is passed through the tubes 14, causing contraction of the air and consequent rising of the pistons of the engine and pump.