GB2458104A

GB2458104A - Tide powered pump

Info

Publication number: GB2458104A
Application number: GB0803903A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Kristian Hatchwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-29
Filing date: 2008-02-29
Publication date: 2009-09-09
Also published as: GB0803903D0

Abstract

A tide powered pump has a floating platform 1 supported by a piston and cylinder arrangement 5, 4. Movement of the platform 1 pumps fluid which may be used for energy or resource production. The platform may be used as a base to support, for example, other types of energy generator. The pumping chamber may comprise a compressible vessel instead of the piston and cylinder arrangement (figure 8). The device may also be used in other areas of variable water level, such as on land subject to periodic flooding.

Description

System for Harvesting AQuatic Natural Energy and Other Resources: The Floating Platform Energy Converter (FPEC) is used to passively extract useful output including electricity, natural resource materials and various environmental services from both rising and falling surrounding water levels in tidal locations along coasts and estuaries, but also in other environments where there are frequent changes in water levels, such as suitable inland river and lake systems, or even reservoirs, subject to variable levels in the water column, notably in areas of frequent flooding.

Various embodiments of the FPEC system involve integration of FPEC with other forms of tidal energy cell (TEC), such as those which are used in Variable Water Column Pump (VWCP) TEC systems described in UK Patent Application Reference Number HP307, those comprising the Closed Circulation Tidal Energy Cell (CCTEC) system, in Patent 0B2403986, or Open Circulation Tidal Energy Cell (OCTEC) system, in Patent Application GB0712423.3. Since VWCP systems deliver suction or compression pumping in opposite phases to those of FPECs, that is, compression at high water and suction at low water, rather than compression at low water and suction at high water for FPECs, they are capable of essentially constant output of power or other resources, or both, aided as necessary by additional backup power.

Various embodiments of FPEC systems involve integration of FPEC, with or without VWCP systems, with Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems, heat pumps or other forms of heat engine technology, or a combination of two or more of these. By drawing on both vertical pressure changes and temperature gradients, with backup power if needed, these systems potentially offer even greater useful output of highly reliable energy or other products, or both, in a wide range of aquatic environments, potentially including facilities located on associated adjacent shoreline environments.

As well as providing anadditional means of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from domestic, commercial, industrial, transport and other energy use, onsite or offsite, or both, they also provide excellent protection from inundation for structures they host on the platform or platforms, a key requirement of adaptation and planning for climate change, potentially including inter a/ia houses, larger residential units or communities, energy generation, extractive, industrial, food production, recreational, fishing, fishery, yachting and shipping or other facilities, or a combination of two or more of these.

*::: In tidal environments, useful output is highly predictable, providing power or other output, such as pressurised air or other fluid, for in situ use, storage or export, which may be supplemented by other hosted natural energy output from the platform. In areas of frequent.but more irregular flooding, the output is more likely to be a benefit additional to * * flood protection, through storage or in situ use, particularly where the local electrical grid *:. is temporarily out of action as a result of inundation or associated. storms.

: ** FPECs provide suitable foundations for homes, buildings for various other uses, or indeed as supporting structures for hosting other forms of natural energy, such as wind *. turbines, solar thermal, PV panels, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) generation above, tidal stream generators, tidal energy cells (TECs, VWCPs) including OCTECs and CCTECs and associated Natural Energy Platforms, NEPs (as described in Patent GB2403986, Patent Application GBO7 12423.3, or UK Patent App. Ref. HP307, or a combination of these) below, up to and above the water line, as appropriate, and wave energy devices around the platform, together with solar and electrochemical hydrolysis cells.

TEC stacks and NEPs could also support FPEC systems, in that the upper reaches of the supporting column or columns nearer the water column surface could be hollow, to be filled with fluid that would support a floating further column and platform above, thus helping to maximise density and flexibility of power output from the structure as a whole, reducing cost of output and environmental impact per unit electrical or other output supplied.

FPECs consist of a floating platform attached to the sea/estuarine/river/lake bed by one or more retractable vertical supports supported by fluid within, capable of lengthening at higher water levels and shortening at lower water levels, so that useful output is extracted in both the upward movements and downward movements while structures hosted above are not inundated, unless the platform is held below water level, for example by locking in position or manipulation of fluid pressure, or both, as desired for particular purposes such as collection of waters for storage and later release for useful output, or research and education.

During rising waters, vertical changes in water level raise the buoyant platform, creating a partial vacuum within the hollow supports and drawing in air or other fluids or both, with or without other matter, via conduits from intakes above water level around or within the perimeter of the platform. The downward movement of fluid in the conduits is intercepted for useful output, for example by turbines, dynamos or other means, or for extracting pressurised air or other fluids or both, for useful output.

During falling water levels, the floating platform or platforms with or without structures above bear down on the vertical or near-vertical support or supports, which retract and shorten, causing compression of air or other fluids or both within, with or without other matter, and resultant fluid motion in the opposite direction, to be expelled at the surface, being intercepted if desired in one or more intervening conduits for useful output, for * *, example to drive turbines or dynamos, or both. The system can also discharge under S.... pressure during falling water levels directly into surrounding waters, for example for * ** * aeration purposes, or into removable collection vessels, or for electrical generation by intervening turbine, dynamo, heat engine or other means, or a combination of two or ** *, more of these, and during rising waters take in fluids with or without other matter from * * surrounding waters, stratum or strata below the water column base, or from container or :. pipeline, or a combination or two or more of these, for useful output such as energy generation, natural resource harvesting, or both.

The FPEC system can also to varying degrees take in or expel other fluids such as * surrounding waters, often mixed with gases such as air, for transport typically as spray or indeed alternating water and air or other gas or gases, for various purposes, with or without sediment, dissolved or suspended minerals, particles, living matter, or in some cases gases such as sea floor or marsh methane, as the water column and platform rise, unmixed liquids also being transportable upwards to a degree, albeit at lower efficiency.

Towards low water, these materials can be discharged under pressure at the surface, within surrounding waters or containers, or even in one or more strata below the water column, for useful output or in rare cases where not otherwise usable, for responsible disposal. Among many other uses, jets of fluid such as water with or without other matter and gases such as air can be used for cloud-seeding, or injecting fine particles into the upper atmosphere, on a large scale potentially altering global warming trends, or for improving nutrient status locally for fisheries, or if into surrounding waters potentially for aeration to improve fisheries or remove organic pollution, or both.

Manipulation of pressure and suction forces can also be achieved by using various combinations of valves, filters, apertures, timers, and where appropriate more sophisticated sensors, such as pressure, temperature, density or chemical sensors, or hydraulic systems controlled by computer systems, or other systems, or a combination of two or more of these, enabling supplies of fluid, or fluid mixed with other matter to be transported by pressure or suction, by conduit means, pipeline or container to various levels and locations above, within, or in one or more levels deeper in the water column, or in one or more strata below the water column, or a combination of two or more of these, as desired. This also enables transport of carbon dioxide in carbon sequestration and storage (CCS) to strata below the water column, and of fluids to increase pressure in such strata to enable enhanced oil and gas or other mineral recovery, including by solution where appropriate., or use of suction for recovery where more appropriate.

Clearly, the technology is best used in a sustainable way for generation and harvesting of renewable energy and resources, ultimately offering opportunities for a sustainable economy and phasing out of damaging activities, but even where non-renewable resources that cannot as yet be easily replaced in full are exploited in the interim, avoidance of fossil fuel combustion in extraction can make a substantial contribution towards reducing environmental impact.

Forms of FPEC circulating various fluids such as relatively warm or cool water, or ammonia in closed circulation as appropriate, enable integration of the system with heat * ** pumps or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems, or both, acting as *1*** compressor or supplier of either warm or cool fluid as the source for heat or for heat exchange/coolant/sink, or a combination, by FPEC conduit, providing a very large number of possible useful outputs, such as greater electricity output, cool or warm waters or other liquids or gases, or mixture, distilled water, salts and other materials, with : * * increased opportunities for heating, refrigeration, extraction and refining of minerals, hydrogen production, among other uses.

* *. Integration of stores for pumped fluids, including attachment to underlying column or :.: . columns for OCTEC/CCTEC or other VWCP stacks where the platform or platforms rest on one or more of these, notably Inter Tidal Reservoir Energy Generators, ITERGs, as described in Patent GB2403 986, enables storage of excess energy or useful pressures to supplement and enhance smooth output from the overall FPEC system in spite of variability in the availability of water column vertical energy.

FPEC electrical output, including where appropriate, ITERG output, enables motorised pumping of fluids or fluids mixed with other matter, by compression or suction at all times, for various purposes. Further back-up and security of supply can be provided by storage of excess power in batteries, or use of back-up diesel, gas-fired or renewable generation, or a combination of two or more of these, if needed.

Some embodiments involve one or more FPEC buoyant platforms at the water surface supported by and capping one or more fluid-filled compressible vessels (such as in one or more of Patent No. GB2403986, Patent Application No. GBO7 12423.3, UK Patent App.

Ref. HP307), either fixed to one or more non-adjustable columns arising from or from within the base of the water column, a Compressible Vessel Floating Platform Energy Converter (CVFPEC), or to the retractable column or columns arrangement, itself compressing and decompressing for useful output as described above (FPEC), offering benefits for storage, output regulation, fine adjustment of platform level, power output, other benefits, or a combination of two or more of these.

Open circulation CVFPEC embodiments enable filling of a compressible vessel or vessels by conduit means during rising external water levels as the platform above rises at the water surface, riding on the compressible vessel or vessels, fluids such as waters rushing in via one or more conduits offering potential for resource harvesting and electrical generation by turbine, dynamo means, or for heat engine energy source or coolant, or both, within one or more conduits, or a combination of two or more of these, with further opportunities for useful output from outflows with falling external water levels. Flows in or out of such embodiments can also be regulated by valve means, with additional enhancement of control available if desired from various sensors, including pressure sensors, computer control systems, filters, or other means, or a combination of two or more of these as appropriate.

Apart from electrical output, these open circulation CVFPEC embodiments offer storage potential for power as well as fluids such as water by retaining fluids even during periods of lower external water levels for release and generation as desired, and can be operated * as JTERGs, smoothing electrical output cycles. In addition, they can be used for intake and discharge of water, air, other fluids, compressed gases, coolant, warm fluid, with or* without other matter, including sediment, loose or dissolved, suspended mineral deposits, particulates and grains of various sizes, living matter, fluids from pipeline sources, from container, atmosphere, or from one or more strata beneath the water column, for transport * * for various purposes onsite or offsite, including those described for other embodiments of FPEC, above, below or within the water column.

* ** In closed circulation CVFPEC embodiments, often based on CCTEC design, the floating * platform or platforms rest on one or more compressible vessels exchanging fluid by conduit means with one ormore central or peripheral pressure vessels.. These compressible vessels, pressure vessels or connecting conduits, or a combination of two or more of these, can also be adapted to exchange fluid or fluid mixed with other matter with the atmosphere, pipeline or pipelines, container or containers, external waters, or stratum or strata beneath the host water column from time to time or permanently (as in UK Patent App. Ref. HP307). Filled with fluid such as ammonia in closed circulation, this type of unit could also be integrated with one or more heat pump or OTEC systems, or a combination of these, for useful output of power and materials such as distilled water, with open circulation of water, normally from depth, also available as a coolant, and of warmer waters as a heat source.

Hybrid embodiments (CVFPEC/FPEC) offer the potential for FPEC generation of power, pressures, vacuums, fluids, heating, cooling, materials, various other services, or a combination of two or more of these, by manipulation of retractable columns with cycles of falling and rising external waters as described above for FPEC systems, combined with CVFPEC systems supporting floating platforms above, with addition of non-floating platform embodiments of compressible vessel systems such as one or more VWCP units as described in Patent GB2403986, Patent Application GBO7 12423.3, or UK Patent App.

Ref. HP307, or a combination of two or more of these to create CVFPEC/FPEC/CV hybrid installations, creating further increases in output and security of supply.

FPEC systems are generally in the opposite phase to those based on compressible vessels.

For example, during falling host water levels, the former expels fluid or fluid and other matter, or both, while falling host water levels cause the latter to suck in fluid or fluid and other matter or both. A combination of these systems therefore provides much greater flexibility and security of useful outputs than each alone, particularly when supplemented by flow management systems, mechanical control systems, filtration systems, supplementary and auxiliary generation and storage capacity such as that offered by ITERGs, and other backup pump systems, offering the potential for uninterrupted useful output.

In addition, rise of one or more FPEC platforms during rising waters can be delayed, for example by actively manipulating pressures or by locking in a desired extension position, to allow inflow of or submerginglpartial submerging by surrounding waters, while settlement of the FPEC platform or platforms during falling external waters can also be delayed, enabling raised level storage of fluids such as water, slow release for useful * output, or both. In other hybrid embodiments, individual platforms can be supported either by variable level FPEC means, or fixed to non-retractable columns such as from tidal energy stacks or NEPs incorporating fixed compressible vessels such as VWCP, CCTEC, OCTEC technology with or without other renewable energy sources, or fixing of compressible vessels to the lower, fixed portion of one or more FPEC/CVFPEC legs, * * the fixed option ensuring best advantage can be gained from flows of potential energy, *:. fluid, with or without other materials, as appropriate, where these are derived from compressible vessel operation within intertidal or other variable water level range. The latter fixed option enables CVFPEC operation without reducing FPEC performance in :.: * rising and falling external water levels. A mixture of the two, or of the two with * CVFPECIFPEC generation and storage described above, exploits aquatic resources and energy sources in different but complementary ways, increasing overall efficiency and flexibility.

Closed and open circulation FPEC/CVFPEC systems can also transport fluid with or without other matter by conduit means through relatively hot rocks beneath or adjacent to the host water column, or both, such as in waters off Iceland where very high temperatures can be reached in fluid, with compression or suction pumping, or both, by FPEC/C VFPEC/C V/heat pump, with or without heat pump or OTEC means, or a combination of two or more of these, enabling much greater energy or resource output including from geothermal sources, relative to input. Clearly, in these environments, even further advantage can be gained by hosting other renewable sources such as wind, wave and tidal stream energy, among other activities.

Flow management, mechanical control and filtration systems as in UK Patent Application Reference HP307, of varying degrees of complexity, as appropriate, are deployed in many embodiments, usually at or near entry or exit points, in or between one or more FPECICVFPEC units or VWCPs or conduits, as well as in relation to other hosted renewable sources, or a combination of two or more of these, involving one or more means such as control of intake or expelling, timing, flow rate, direction of fluid movement, levels of other matter present, temperature, pressure, chemical concentration, as appropriate, notably by one or more valves, doors, filters, variable diameter apertures, hydraulic systems, filters, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, chemical sensors, timers, sediment gauges, electronic control systems, computer contrOl programs, or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, as appropriate to ensure efficient quality, or quantity, or timing of flow, or prevention of backflow where appropriate, other desired parameters, or a combination of two or more of these.

Jn many embodiments, control of fluid quality and to some extent quantity on entering or leaving FPEC/CVFPEC/VWCP units is further enhanced by filter systems, such as those described in UK Patent Application Reference Number HP307. This also enables generation of additional resources such as collection of sediment of different grain sizes for various purposes.

Typical useful outputs and uses for FPEC/CVFPEC/VWCP/hybrid systems including OTECfheat pump embodiments described include, as a minimum, one or more of the * ,* following: compressed fluids, vacuums, electrical output, flood protection, residential, industrial, water-based activities, heating, refrigeration, pumping or storage of ** surrounding or underlying waters, for general use, for coolant, swimming pools, including heated pools and heatlcold stores, heated or cooled greenhouses, desalinatedlpurified water, aeration, or nutrient-/sediment-balancing of waters, including : * * for fishery or aquaria purposes or external pollution reduction, or sewage treatment, or combination of two or more of these, CCS/EOR, other mineral recovery from underlying strata, creation of spray, minerals, sediment of various grain sizes, hydrogen production, * ** mineral refining and processing, aquaculture and potentially even agriculture or forestry, :.:. recreational uses such as water sports, nature conservation land uses, storage, other uses, **. *

supply of many of these benefits to adjacent dry land communities, or a combination of two or more of these.

FPECs can be connected to shoreline moorings and infrastructure, including access roads, or can be located offshore as islands, interconnected if desired. It is envisaged that land use' could be mixed on one island, including for example residential, commercial, industrial and power generation, or specialised between different island platforms, interconnected as appropriate. Individual dwelling FPECs on a domestic scale, and larger scale platforms incorporating various forms of natural energy are likely to be of more immediate application in the near future.

FPEC, CVFPEC, and hybrid FPEC/CVFPEC/VWCP systems can also be located to a greater or lesser extent onshore or in the adjacent intertidal zone, other areas prone to frequent or serious flooding,.or a combination of these, acting as floating foundations for residential or other buildings or structures for various uses as described, with benefits also for water storage, notably in areas of extreme rainfall variation or otherwise prone to drought, or both.

Tidal stacks for TECs/VWCP technology and indeed the variable length columns of FPEC platforms can be adapted directly into offshore wind turbines, the lower sections of the column below the water level supporting one or more VWCP units, with associated wave energy, tidal stream and other technologies as desired, groups offering potential for platform support between.

Each of the above systems and sub-systems, or a combination of twoor more of them, or both, can also be used to pump fluids with or without other matter, over short or long distances, in one stage, or in multiple stages, being used also as intermediate pumping stations for relay to final destination, for example for pumping of hot or mineralised waters, hydrogen, methane or carbon dioxide, at minimal energy cost.

Concentration in platforms or clusters of platforms of diverse energy and raw material extraction sources, together with other activities such as industrial, leisure and residential, is likely to provide major economies of scale, increasing the options for renewables and helping to overcome costs of hub connection to land. Thus, FPEC technologies have not just an energy and local resources function, but a potentially much wider role in the economy an environment, promoting sustainability in all its forms.

Larger FPEC, CVFPEC, NEP, CCTEC, OCTEC, other VWCP or hybrid platforms or platform clusters, or a combination of two or more of these, standing surrounded. by permanent but variable level waters, or on intersections of two or more different water * * masses, or at the margins of water bodies, or a combination of two or more of these, *:. could support whole communities above, at, or even, with suitable water-tight containment, below external water levels, with a wide range of land uses, enabling full or : * partial economic self-sufficiency if desired. Such schemes could also offer at least partial * alternatives to complete evacuation of island states such as Tuvalu, or at-risk major floodplains, threatened by large-scale temporary or permanent inundation, combining greenhouse gas mitigation with adaptation.

In all the diagrams that follow, it is understood that flow management systems of varying degrees of complexity or filter systems (such as those described in Patent Application Ref. HP307), or both may be deployed to alter flow and fluid characteristics as desired for efficient output, as detailed above and in the detailed description below, or for collection of materials such as silt, and fine sand. Not all may be shown to prevent over-complicating diagrams.

In both rising and falling periods for surface water levels, and during slack periods in between, in all embodiments described below, careful use of flow management systems can manipulate pressures, for example by deliberately maintaining the floating platform level higher/lower, or compressible vessel pressure higher/lower than would naturally be the case to derive extended useful output as a result.

It is also understood that many of the structures discussed can be manipulated as desired, such as for fine control of level, orientation, and flow rate, direction by a variety of mechanical control systems, including hydraulic control such as that affording alteration of filter orientation and size at depth, and locking mechanisms to hold platforms or their supporting upper columns higher or lower position than would be allowed by reliance on surrounding water levels alone, such as described in Patent Application Ref. HP307.

Figure 1 shows a simple FPEC embodiment with floating platform (1) at lower water phases falling with the water surface level (2) as shown by the larger arrows, fixed onto or into, or both onto and into the bed of the water column (3) by the solid base of the !ower section of the column (4). The upper section of the column (5) fits into the cavity (6) in the lower section, in which fluid or fluids, with or without other matter, are pressurised by the weight of the falling platform and associated upper column, with valves (7) where needed to ensure controlled outflow of fluids through conduits, here with intervening turbines/dynamos or other means of power generation (8) exploiting flow outwards, or towards the surface and atmosphere above, the flow forcing its way upwards, as indicated by a small arrow, through a valve (7) and hollow section of the upper column (9), or sideways (10) into surrounding waters, pipelines, conduits to other locations, storage vessels, or a combination of two or more of these. Electrical power output may be used locally or exported by cable (11) to local hubs and grids, as desired.

In many embodiments, a flange or seal (12) ensures no escape of fluid between the upper and lower column sections that would otherwise impair efficiency.

:* Figure 2 shows the same embodiment as in Figure 1, with floating platform (1) rising with rising waler levels, indicated by large upward arrows, the column arising from the * base of the water column (3). In this case, depressurisation within the lower column cavity (6) results as the upper column (5) is withdrawn upwards, sucking in fluid with or :.; * without other matter thrnugh adjoining conduits abstracting from one or more conduits from elsewhere, surrounding waters, or one or more pipelines, or one or more storage vessels, or from the atmosphere above (10, 9), ora combination of two or more of these, in each case controlled as appropriate by flow management systems such as valves (7), here being forced open inwards, with opportunities for electrical generation (8) and vacuum creation as well as collection of other resources such as silt, during the suction phase, as desired.

Figure 3 is as in Figure 1, but with valves (7) to exit points (10) closed, so that compressed fluids with or without other matter are forced upwards through an internal upper column conduit (9), exiting above the platform (1) and water column surface (2).

Figure 4 is as in Figure 2, with the platform (1) rising with rising water surface level, the vacuum created in the lower column cavity (6) drawing in fluids with or without other matter, in this case downwards by internal conduit means (9) from the surface as indicated by small downward arrows, with potential for electricity generation en route (8). The exit points (10) below water level (2) are in this case closed by valve means, preventing entry except from the surface, forcing open the intervening valve (7) and entering though the internal upper column conduit (9).

Figure 5 depicts an alternative embodiment in which the cavity in the lower column (6) is connected to the surface by one or more conduits running externally (13) rather than internally, replacing lateral entry points, the upper column (14) being solid throughout. In this case, rising external water surface levels (2) pull the upper column (14) out of the cavity (shown by thick arrows), thus drawing in fluidsindicated by smaller arrows with or without other matter through (13), with resultant opportunities for electrical generation (8) from the atmosphere, one or more containers, pipelines or conduits above, or a combination of two or more of these, for storage, use or onward.transport, or a combination of two or more of these.

Figure 6 is a more complex embodiment, combining features of all previous embodiments described, offering much greater flexibility of output and use. The figure shows a three-tiered system, in this case operating with rising surface water levels, such that in each case decompression of the respective cavity (6) in each lower column causes* a vacuum. In the lowest tier, fluid, generally from surrounding waters, or one or more containers or pipelines, or a combination of two or more of these, with or without other matter is sucked into the cavity (6) via short inlet conduits (10), via a filter (15, left), * ,* controlling water quality and providing opportunities for useful output of particles of specific grain sizes as in UK Patent Application Reference Number HP307, or without a filter (right). Fluids with or without other matter may also be sucked in from above the *" water column surface by external conduits (13) connected by junctions to the lateral intakes described (10), relative flow from each controlled by fluid management means * is including valves (7), these conduits providing opportunities for electrical generation (8), *:. with in some cases uptake of fluid with or without other matter from surrounding waters via filter (15) at one or more points along the length of the conduits, for water quality or : ** extraction of useful material output. The lower end of the higher column (5) fitting into * the cavity from above, has an internal conduit connection (9) to the cavity (6) in the * * middle level, which may be opened or closed as desired by fluid management means including valves (7), such that contents from the lower cavity may be moved up to this level, or down, for example for storage, later release or use, or indeed for subsequent movement to the higher level above, or below, as desired, by careful flow management means, offering further opportunity for electricity generation (8). The middle level cavity is shown taking in fluid with or without other matter via either short conduits from surrounding waters, containers or from longer pipelines (16), via filters (15), affording control of water quality and potentially useful resource output, with potential for electricity generation (8), with additional intake through filters (15) directly through the cavity walls. The final, highest tier comprises of a lower (4) and inserted upper column section (14), the former sliding in and out of the middle cavity described above, according to surface water levels, in this case decompressing it. As with the lower cavity, fluids with or without other matter are taken in by either short conduit from surrounding waters, one or more containers, or longer pipeline orpipelines (16), or a combination of two or more of these, both offering electricity generation opportunities (8). As with the lower cavity, there are additional, external conduit routes (13) from the surface when desired, linked by joints to the shorter outlet or outlets, with relative flow from each controlled by flow management means such as valves (7), and further opportunities for electrical generation (8) in the external conduits (13).

The large number of complementary or alternative conduits, flow management means, and different levels revealed in Figure 6 provides for a wide range of flow direction, movement between levels and to or from the surface or base, resource and energy output during rising surface water levels, as well as during falling surface water levels, manipulation of pressures and flows between these regimes providing even greater flexibility in transport and output, offering potentially constant useful output and transport capability. Intakes with filters (15) provide, in addition to other conduit intakes, opportunities to mix liquid with gaseous phase fluid, such as water and air, with or without other matter, for example for ease of transport upwards and later separation or for dispersion as spray or jet in the atmosphere for rain enhancement, reducing global warming by increased cloud cover, or for enhancement of nutrient status of surrounding waters (such as described in UK PatentApplication Ref. 1-1P307). * *5

:.:: Figure 7, showing the fluid compression phase during falling surface water levels (2), ** combines features of embodiments described above, incorporating both an internal conduit route to the surface (9) and external (13), with exit points (10) adapted by linking * to conduits penetrating down into one or more strata below the base of the water column * (3), one to the right connecting only with the underlying stratum or strata (17), the other * to the left offering opportunities for connection with either the underlying stratum or strata (18) or surface via an upward external conduit (13), direct discharge into L: surrounding waters, one or more containers or pipelines, via short pipe (10), or a *:. combination of two or more of these, as desired, with flow management including valves * (7) as enhancements in many embodiments. This arrangement enables pumping, including multi-stage pumping, of fluid with or without other matter via the lower* column cavity (6) into or out of the underlying stratum or strata, as may be needed in CCS, mineral recovery such as of water in aquifers, geothermally heated water, oil and gas, enhanced oil recovery, sulphur, gypsum, or salt deposits, or other substances, or a

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combination of two or more of these, facilitated further by flow management such as by valves (7). In some embodiments, uptake or discharge, or both, are possible through an internal conduit similar to (9), penetrating from the lower column cavity (6) through the lower column base (4) into the underlying stratum or strata, providing a more. direct route for pumping. Opportunities for power generation (8) exist in all route options.

Figure 8 reveals a simple embodiment of a Compressible Vessel Floating Platform Energy Converter (CVFPEC). In this case, the floating platform (1) rests on one or more compressible vessels (CVs, 21), of open circulation form, such as in OCTEC designs (patent application GBO7 12423.3) themselves resting on a fixed column (19) arising from the base of the water column to the normal lower limit of surface water levels (20), or at least near it. As the surface of the water column rises (2), indicated by heavy arrows, the CVs are relieved of weight from the overlying platform structure, recovering their full volume, and thus fluids with or without other matter are drawn in by suction, recharging them. In this case, intake is through a short conduit to the side (10), directly from surrounding waters, container or pipeline, or a combination of two or more of these, with or without filtration (15) for quality control and potential renewable material recovery, with potential for electricity generation within therelevant conduits (8). External vertical conduits (13) connecting with the surface also arise from these short conduits, offering potential for recharge from surface sources, as well as or instead of from below water* level (10). Flow management techniques such as valves (7) control flow rate, quality, and relative use of each intake.

Flood protection, height adjustment, storage of intake, intake/release of intake for energy purposes, environmental managementare among the many uses of this kind ofCVFPEC embodiment, for example supporting individual homes (22), or largerbuildings with larger single or multiple such columns and CVs.

Figure 9 shows one FPEC embodiment in which a structure such as a house or other building (22) can be integrated onto a floating platform (1) of variable height, supported by an upper column (14) inserting into a cavity (6), fluid with or without other matter being expelled for various purposes generally from the side by short conduit (10) with power generation potential (8), and flow management (7) as necessary, such that normal rise or fall may be regulated or indeed arrested if so desired. In this case, external vertical conduits rather than an internal conduit within (14) rise from junctions with (10) to above the platform surface, providing an alternative or complementary path for discharge for * useful output, including power generation (8) if desired, en route, storage or collection; or * a combination of two or more of these, relative use of each route beinggoverned by flow : management (7) as desired. *** *

*: Figure 10 takes the open circulation CVFPEC embodiment described in Figure 8 and adds greater flexibility of functions. The floating platform (I) and structure or structures (22) are still supported by one or more CVs (21) resting on a supporting vertical or near-vertical column (14), but the latter now inserts into the upper space (6) of a lower colunm (4) arising from or from below the base of the water column(3), or both. Additional short conduits (10) into the surrounding waters, containers, or pipelines, with alternative or complementary vertical conduits (13) to above the platform surface provide further option for intake, with flow management such as from valves (7) and filters (15) and power generation en route (8) as desired. Variability in platform height from both CVs, with their own short intakes (10), with or without connections to other media, with or without filters (15), with fluid management (7), power generation opportunities (8), and longer alternative or complementary intakes from above the surface (13), and from variable height FPEC columns so provided ensures greater flexibility. Among other possibilities, this includes including fine adjustment of platform level, for example to afford greater height above waves during storms, below water level for research, for transport including multi-stage transport upwards and downwards, in some cases including the option of fluid exchange, with or without other matter, between FPEC column cavities, CVs, and other media such as containers or pipelines, or strata below the water column, and storage of fluids above water level with or without other matter including during high surface water levels, for example for consumption, or release as needed for power generation.

Figure 11 shows a CVFPEC embodiment incorporating one or more closed circulation tidal energy cells such as CCTECs described in Patent GB2403986. In this case, two CCTECs (21) exchange fluid by conduit means, with a shared central compression chamber (29), with intervening opportunities for electricity generation (8) and flow management (7). As surface water level rises, shown by large upward arrows, pressurised fluid within the compression chamber forces open valves to leave and enter each CV (21), recharging them with fluid in the process. In other respects, notably in relation to the two-section column (4 below, 14 above), cavity created (6), and adjoining conduits (10, 13) with flow management (7), power generation (8) and filters (15), and purpose, this embodiment is much as in Figure 10.

In this case, there is no link between the closed circulation CVs (21) and the surface, or with surrounding waters, containers or pipelines, or a combination of two or more of these, other than the integrated compression or pressure chamber (29), but in many embodiments, such as described in UK Patent Application Ref. HP307, temporarily open *:*::* conduits for this purpose are present. **S.

Figure 12 shows an embodiment of an FPEC in which the walls of the cavity within the lower column widen like a bulb, so that a much larger volume cavity (6) is achieved, : * ,* increasing storage capability, the lower section (4) of the lower column attached to, :. .resting on or embedded in one or more strata beneath the base of the water column (3), power generated being exported by cable (11). As surface water level (2) falls, shown by * ** arrows, the platform (1) and attached upper column (14) compresses fluids with or :.: * without other matter, such that they force open valves (7), and drive energy generation *:. (8) in conduits (10) leading outwards for useful purposes. A flange or seal (12) ensures * leakage between the lower and upper column walls is prevented.

Figure 13 shows an embodiment based on a combination of a stack arrangement for TECsNWCP units, based on CVs, as described above and in Patent No.GB2403986, Patent Application No. GBO7 12423.3, and UK Patent App. Ref. HP307, with FPEC I-, I-, systems. The lower section consists of a vertical or near-vertical supporting column (4) embedded in, resting on or attached to the bed of the water column (3), or a combination of two or more of these. Above this, the column broadens out into a compression chamber (29), in turn surrounded by a compressible vessel (21) or group of compressible vessels arrayed on a supporting platform. such as a CCTEC system, fluids with or without other matter exchanging between the two by conduit means, depending on ambient water pressures, adjusted as appropriate by flow management techniques such as valves, with potential for power generation in one or more of the connecting conduits, as described in the above patents and patent applications.

The lower CV system can be closed or open circulation, for various purposes, connecting via a further supporting column above to a further CV system, the supporting column in this case including an internal conduit (9) enabling exchange of fluids with or without other matter between the two CV systems, as desired, controlled as necessary by flow management technology such as valves, with potential for electrical generation in the internal conduit. The upper CV system and compression chamber (29) is a hybrid between the more conventional CV system described below and in the patents and patent applications referred to earlier and the expanded capacity lower FPEC column chamber (6) described in Figure 12, in many embodiments narrowing above to form a hollow column, this narrow neck section being bounded near its junction with the chamber (29/6) below by the lower section (4) of an FPEC column, in some embodiments (4) operating as a movable lower column in the maimer of(14) in the columnar cavity above, acting as a possible extra influence on fluid pressures within the chamber. In some embodiments, (4) is punctured by an internal conduit (such as for (9) below), with suitable flow management and power generation technology within it (as for (8) in other embodiments described, for additional flexible use. Above (4), there is an FPEC column arrangement with chamber (6) subject to pressurisation and depressurisation as the floating platform (I) above and associated upper column.(14) fall and rise with the surrounding water levels, exchange of fluids with or without other matter being effected in this case by conduits (10) discharging to or uptaking from surrounding waters, container, conduit or pipeline, or via conduit or conduits (13) to above surrounding water levels (2), or a *., .. combination of two or more of these, with potential for electrical generation in intervening conduits, controlled as necessary by flow management systems such as valves and filters.

* The hybrid CVFPEC arrangement described in Figure 13 enables a high degree of flexibility in use of the system, as different pressure cycles are possible through the two a:. technologies in the same location, while interconnections between the two systems and flow management systems provide even greater flexibility and reliability. This enables : constant power output, fine adjustment of floating platform (1) level, multi-stage or single-stage transport or storage or both of fluid with or without other matter for energy : output, potential energy storage or fluid with or without other matter for resource harvesting or mixing, between levels or areas within the water column, underlying stratum or strata (3), atmosphere above, or one or more containers, pipelines, or a combination of two or more of these, in any direction, regardless of prevailing pressure regimes as a result of advanced flow management.

Platform 14 shows an embodiment with four FPEC columns including movable upper columns (14) supporting a single, potentially much larger floating platform (1) than might otherwise be possible, enabling greater structural strength through cross-linking, by the platform and more notably (33), but also enabling addition of other structures above, around or beneath the platform, such as accommodation, other renewable technologies, storage space. As with many other FPEC embodiments described, the space between upper (14) and lower columns is able to exchange fluids with or without other matter by conduit means (10) with surrounding waters, container, underlying stratum or strata by conduit means, with one or more pipelines, or to the surface by longer conduit or conduits (12/13), emerging through or near the floating platform (1), assisted as appropriate by flow management means in conduits such as valves (7), power generation (8) being possible in both shorter (10) and longer (12/13) conduits, power export being possible by cable (11) or other means.

Such structures can form the building blocks for much larger and more complicated structures for energy output and storage, natural resource management and harvesting, living quarters or other uses, or a combination of two or more of these, as appropriate.

Figure 15 shows a schematic diagram of a normally closed circulation system integrating FPEC systems with OTEC or heat pump systems, or both. In this embodiment, a FPEC unit with chamber of variable volume (6) created by the upper column as it partially inserts into the lower column provides pressurised fluid with or without Other matter as the level of the floating platform (1) above and the associated upper column drops from higher to lower surface water levels (20 and 2 respectively), indicated by an arrow, a seal or flange being present in many embodiments to prevent escape of fluid with or without other matter between the inner wall of the lower column and the upper column.

Pressurised fluid with or without other matter is thus forced out by conduit means, controlled as appropriate by flow management means such as valves (7), offering power* generation opportunities (8) and circulating around to a vapouriser (23), the circulation * then entering a condenser (24) by conduit means, driving en route a heat engine/turbine/dynamo/other form of electrical power generation (8), or a combination of * ... two or more of these. In the condenser, the fluid with or without other matter is cooled, in many embodiments assisted by location in cooler surrounding waters such as those frequently found at depth, and may be liquefied, as appropriate. At this point, collecting * * fluid with or without other matter is sucked by conduit means into an expanding :. compressible vessel (21) as surrounding water pressures fall, where it is temporarily * stored, passing through one or more open valves (7) en route, which prevent exchange * ,, with the auxiliary circuit (25), enable entry into the CV, and close the retUrn circuit to the :.: * FPEC unit to prevent backflow from it into the CV or condenser. Further valve (7) and *:. other appropriate fluid management controls prevent expulsion of fluid with or'withOut other matter by conduit means, shown here to the left of (6), toWards the CV (21) or condenser (24). The system is essentially closed, but fluid with or without other matter can also be expelled or taken in during temporarily open mode; as necessary, by conduit means (such as 12/13) to or from the chamber (6) of the FPEC unit.

The embodiment shown in Figure 15 enables efficient circulation of fluids with or without other mailer throughout most of the low water phase, providing opportunities for extended generation and storage of electrical power and potential energy, resource harvesting and management. Electrical generation efficiency is greatly enhanced where use of (mainly) vertical temperature differences as well as vertical pressure differences is possible.

The same embodiment is shown in Figure 16, operating during rising surrounding surface water levels. In this case, the opposing phases of the two component systems are reversed, in that rising water levels raise the FPEC unit platform (1), causing the upper column to partially withdraw from the chamber (6), leading to depressurisation. This causes the FPEC unit valve or valves (7) shown here to the left, to open inwards, or other flow management systems to enable entry, or both, where appropriate, enabling fluids with or without other matter to flow into the chamber (6), being drawn from the condenser (24) by conduit means, bypassing the auxiliary circulation conduit (25) and CV intake shown to the right, both closed by flow management means such as valves (7), forcing the flow back to the FPEC unit, in many embodiments through cooler, usually deeper surrounding waters to provide further cooling, power generation being achievable en route in many embodiments in this phase (8), where appropriate.

Meanwhile, the CV (21), also often at depth to further enhance fluid cooling, undergoes compression due to increasing pressures in surrounding waters, closing the aforementioned inlet valve/other flow management means to the right, and opening the outlet valve or other control means (7) to the left. The result is flow of compressed fluid with or without other matter to the vapouriser (23) for useful output as described in Figure 15, forcing the valve or other flow management system (7) en route into closed mode in relation to the outlet for the auxiliary circulation conduit (25), preventing loss of flow in this direction, while backflow by conduit means into the depressurised FPEC unit chamber (6) or intake/outlet conduit (12/13), or both, is prevented by similar means such as by closed valves (7). Flow then takes place from the vapouriser (23) to the condenser * (24), generating power en route (8) as described in Figure 15. Fluid collecting in the condenser (24) is then drawn away by suction produced by the rising FPEC unit platform s.. (1) and upper column, bypassing the closed inlets to the CV and auxiliary circulation conduit (25), forcing its way past another valve or other flow management means (7) shown on the right, back to the FPEC unit, intake being managed by another valve or : * * other flow management means, in many embodiments generating power en route (8). I..

* In the embodiment shown in Figures 15 and 16, useful output may be reduced * ** considerably during a period of little change in surrounding water pressures, such as at the turning of the tide in marine or estuanne environments, though careful flow :. management and manipulation can in many embodiments greatly reduce this problem.

Therefore, an auxiliary circulation system (25), in most embodiments driven by a conventional pump system (26) powered by stored FPEC or VWCP output, or ITERG output, or a combination of two or more of these, or other renewable sources, or by conventional backup diesel, gas-fired turbine, or battery, or other source, or combination of two or more of these, is often present for assisted flow or to completely take over driving of the circulation when necessary, to enable continued and smooth operation of the heat engine/turbine/dynamo or other means of power output. For the auxiliary circuit to take over, the auxiliary inlet valve or other flow management systems (7) shown to the right are opened to receive the circulation, while the return conduit portion of the circulation back to the CV or FPEC unit is shut off by similar means, to prevent loss of pressure or backflow, and to force the circulation through the auxiliary conduit. Backflow or loss of pressure are prevented in similar ways (7) to the left, where outlet valves or other flow management systems (7) of the FPEC unit or conduit for expulsion or uptake (12/13), or both, prevent backflow from the vapouriser (23) and into the FPEC unit chamber (6) or conduit for expulsion or uptake (12/13), or both.

In Figures 15 and 16, the use of both FPEC and CV systems, combined with heat engine output, backed up by an alternative, auxiliary circulation with renewable or conventional-powered pumping or both, and flow management systems, in many embodiments also including filtration mechanisms, should provide constant output of power or resources, or both, for minimal energy expenditure.

Figure 17 shows a simpler embodiment during a period of falling surface water levels as shown by a large arrow, using only an FPEC unit and heat engine system, with auxiliary circuit and pump system (25 and 26 respectively) as back-up. The lowering of the floating platform (1) and the upper column associated with it pressurise the fluid with or without other matter (6), forcing open flow management systems such as an outlet valve (7) shown to the left of the FPEC unit, and driving circulation past a closed flow management system (7) at the outlet of the auxiliary circuit shown to the left, and into a vapouriser (23) and thence by conduit means into a condenser (24), offering power generation opportunities (8) as described in Figures 15 and 16 en route. Fluid with or without other matter collects in the.condenser (24), awaiting the next period of rising surface water levels for it to be sucked back into the FPEC unit to complete the circuit.

Meanwhile, the inlet flow management system (7) shown to the right of the FPEC unit is closed, preventing backflow of pressurised fluid into the condenser or indeed into the * auxiliary circuit, or both. As with figures 15 and 16, the closed circulation can be opened temporarily, as desired, by inletloutlet conduit means, to or from the surface (12/13), or other media, or both, as appropriate, controlled by flow management means (7).. **..

* *,. In some embodiments, the auxiliary circuit and pump system can be opened and used to * * complete the recycling of fluid with or without other matter into the vapouriser (2.3) :. without needing to wait until the next surface water level phase, in this case flow towards * the FPEC unit inlet being cut off (7) to force flow around the shorter circuit. As in * ** Figures 15 and 16, additional cooling of circulant can be achieved by location of the.

* condenser or where appropriate, adjoining conduits, in cooler waters, or both, normally at depth, greatly enhancing efficiency of heat engine/OTEC power output.

* Figure 18 shows the same embodiment operating in a period of rising surface water, shown by the upward large arrow, drawing the floating platform (1) and associated upper column upwards, depressurising the chamber (6) within the FPEC unit. As a result, the flow management systems such as an inlet valve (7) shown to the right of the FPEC unit are open, enabling the collecting fluids with or without other matter in the condenser (24) to be sucked back into the FPEC unit chamber (6), bypassing the flow management system such as a closed inlet valve (7) into the auxiliary circuit (25), preventing loss of suction for transport to the FPEC unit, and offering power generation opportunities en route (8), where appropriate. Meanwhile, the flow management system such as an outlet valve (7) shown to the left of the F1EC unit and at the outlet end of the auxiliary circuit (7) shown to the left, remain closed, to prevent backflow from the vapouriser (23) into either the FPEC unit chamber (6) or the auxiliary circuit (25), or both.

As in Figures 15 -17, circulant cooling can be enhanced by passing through a condenser or adjoining conduits, or both, in cooler, generally deeper levels in host waters, greatly enhancing efficiency of heat engine/OTEC power output.

Figure 19 shows the same embodiment as in Figures 17 and 18, but during a period of little change in host water levels, such as at the turning of the tide in marine or estuarine systems. In this case, the auxiliary circuit (25) and pump system (26) as described in Figures 15-17, comes into play to maintain circulation through the vapouriser (23) and condenser (24), with associated power output (8) in the intervening conduit, albeit at potentially slightly lower efficiency in some cases. Flow management systems such as valves (7) shown both to the left and right near the outlet and inlet respectively of the auxiliary circuit (25) remain closed, to force flow through the shorter circuit created, and to prevent loss of fluid into inactive conduit sections. In many embodiments, the auxiliary system can also be used to enhance flow during rising or falling host water levels, or both, if necessary, assisted by flow management systems described, as necessary, while flow management systems such as described above can also help to extend output by delaying full compression or depressurisation into slack periods. Enhanced cooling of circulant in the condenser (24) or adjoining conduits, or both, can also be achieved in many embodiments by location of these components in cooler host waters, such as at depth, greatly enhancing efficiency of OTEC/heat engine power output.

Figure 20 shows how multiple FPEC units connected, in this case in series, in this embodiment two, can be used to increase flexibility, regularity and length of useful *.. output, particularly when combined with flow management enhancements described. In this case, during rising host water levels, fluid with or without other matter is sucked into the chamber (6) of the FPEC unit to the left, through the FPEC unit to the right, which may be otherwise inactive or maintained deliberately in a slightly different phase.

Multiple FPEC units in series during the suction phase can increase suction efficiency as *: well as pumping potential, while use of enhanced flow management and mechanical control systems described can maintain differential pressures for various purposes, such :.: as increased regularity of or delays in output, fine adjustment of platform level, multi- * stage transport, storage.

Figure 21 shows an embodiment of an hERO, similar to that described above and in UK Patent Application Reference Number HP307, Patent 0B2403986, Patent Application GB0712423.3, auseful storage,regulatory component or power generation system, or a combination of two or more of these, in FPEC/CVFPEC/hybrids of each or both with or without OTEC/heat engine systems. Fluid with or without other matter (28) collects in a container (27) in the intertidal zone/zone of water level variability, entering from below upwards during rising surface water levels, or leaving from above during falling surface water levels, to drive one or more turbines/dynamos/other forms of power generation (8), or a combination of two or more of these. Fluid with or without other matter can also be added from above, added or removed from entry/exit points in one or more sides, as desired.

Figure 22 shows a schematic diagram of a complex embodiment integrating FPEC, CV and heat engine/OTEC systems, based largely on elements described above in Figures 15 to 19. This kind of system enables far greater security, regularity or flexibility, and efficiency of output of power, resources, means of environmental manipulation, with potential for constant operation.

An inner closed circuit is shown to the left in solid lines, in this case during rising surface water levels, as shown in Figure 16 above, with circulating fluid with or without other matter driven by compression pumping from the integrated CV unit (21) for transportation to the vapouriser (23), power generation unit (8) and condenser (24), while suction pumping from the integrated FPEC unit provides transport of collected fluid with or without other matter during the return cycle to the FPEC, enhanced as appropriate by flow management systems or mechanical control systems, or both, as necessary.

However, an outer circuit shown in mainly broken lines, has been added as an enhancement, shown towards the right. Circulation in this system is primarily for coolant purposes. in either closed or open circulation, while in many open circulation embodiments, production of resources such as fine solid deposits, warm fluids, and salts through evaporation is also possible, as described for the vapouriser subsystem, as are yields of distilled fluids such as purified water in the case of the condenser subsystem, as described in Patent Application Ref. HP307.

* * In the outer, secondary circuit during the rising surface water phase, increasing host water pressure on the CV enables compression pumping of fluids with or without other matter, forcing open the flow management system such as an outlet valve (7) to the leftof the CV, bypassing the outlet of an auxiliary circuit, and inlet of an hERO system, in each ** * case closed by flow management methods such as outlet valves (labelled 7 in each case), : * * to prevent loss of pressure and circulant when these inputs are not in use, and then *:. passing through a heat exchanger (29) around the condenser (24) of the primary circuit, flow direction being opposite in the latter case, helping to maximise efficiency of heat : *e exchange. Coolant fluid with or without other matter then passes either through an outlet (10) into surrounding waters, atmosphere, pipeline or container, or a combination of two or more of these as desired, as waste coolant, or as a source of low grade heated water for various purposes in the case of an open circulation, as piped circulation of low grade heat in the case of a closed circulation, or if sufficiently heated, into a secondary vapouriser (23), then in many embodiments a secondary condenser (24), and intervening conduit with power generation potential (8) in either closed or open systems. In the case of an open system, valuable resources such as salts, or other fine deposits from the vapouriser (23), or distilled fluid from the condenser (24), other products, or a combination or two or more of these, may be harvested. The collecting coolant with or without other matter may then be returned by conduit means to an integrated secondary FPEC unit with internal chamber (6) undergoing decompression as the floating platform (1) and associated upper column lift, opening the fluid management system such as an inlet valve (7) shown to the right of the FPEC unit, the collected fluid contents then awaiting expulsion back through the heat exchanger (29), towards the vapouriser (23), power generation (8) and condenser (24) subsystem during the next period of falling host surface water levels. An intake/outlet conduit (12113) also runs off the inlet conduit to the FPEC unit, but the associated fluid management system such as a valve (7) is normally closed for efficient circulation within the secondary circuit.

The remainder of the secondary circuit shown to the right, beyond the intake to the FPEC unit, includes an intake for the CV (21), and auxiliary circuit (25) with pumping system (26), both normally closed during rising host water levels to prevent backflow from the CV and loss of circulant and momentum through the inactive auxiliary conduit. In many embodiments, the auxiliary circuit intake may be open even during the rising or indeed falling surface water level phases as appropriate, where additional pumping is needed.

All four available resource units for pumping/fluid or fluid supply with or without other matter, the FPEC unit (through 12/13), the CV, the ITERG and auxiliary pumping system (intakes/outlets shown to the right) can exchange fluids with or without other matter with external media such as atmosphere, surrounding waters, one or more containers, pipelines or conduits, in temporarily or permanently open circulation mode, for various purposes such as pressure release, topping up, cleaning out and replacement of coolant, import/export of low grade heat, coolant, resources for storage, processing, consumption, transport, or a combination of two or more of these as desired, as appropriate. This applies also tocirculant within the inner normally closed ciréuit.

Figure 23 shows an equivalent embodiment using FPEC units without CVs, in a period of falling surface water levels. The inner, normally closed circulation to the left is as in Figure 17, with compression pumping from the chamber (6) into the vapouriser (23) and into the condenser (24), by conduit means with power generation (8), fluid with or without other matter collecting in the condenser (24), with the return cycle to the FPEC unit being driven by suction in the subsequent rising surface water level period, though in * * some embodiments the return cycle can be effected by opening of the auxiliary circuit and use of its pump, the longer return conduit to the FPEC unit then being closed.

However, a secondary circulation has been added to the right, also without a cv: The circulation of coolant fluid with or withoutother matter is as in Figure 22, the main * : * difference being lack of a CV, so that the circulation depends on compression from the * FPEC unit during falling surface water levels and suction during rising surface water levels, with auxiliary pumping (25, 26) during periods of little change in levels such as at the turning of the tide in marine or estuarine environments, or in some cases during either phase to boost circulation. The other element is the hERO (27), which operates as in Figure 22. All.three of these pumping or fluidlfluid with other matter supply resource units, the FPEC, the auxiliary pumping system and the IIERG, are also able to exchange fluids, with or without other matter, with external media as indicated to the right in temporarily or permanently open circulation mode, as described in Figure 22.

The system shown in Figure 23, albeit with reduced flexibility compared to Figure 22, is capable of constant output, particularly with enhanced flow management and mechanical control systems.

In Figure 22 and Figure 23, and in all the hybrid systems with OTEC/heat engine systems described, both the inner and outer circulations can be either closed or open circulation, in the latter case offering opportunities for output of salts, fine deposits, distilled water, fluid with low grade heat possibilities, as described in Patent Application Ref. HP307.

Figure 24 shows an embodiment of an FPEC system as in Figure 14, in this case showing how the platform, or in some cases modified tops of FPEC columns, or both, can support one or more wind turbine units (31), taking advantage of both the structural support and export cable connections (11) provided in such a way that costs and environmental impacts of power output is reduced by higher power density per unit area, power from both FPEC and wind energy sources also increasing security of power supply.

Figure 25 shows a more complex embodiment of FPEC/C V/C VFPEC technologies, with additional hosted renewable sources sharing the niches offered by the various platform and platform supports, further increasing diversity of renewable energy supply sOurces, and hence regularity and security of supply. There are various single column FPEC units, cross-linked for greater strength (30), many with interconnecting conduits for fluid flow* with or without other matter, in series, as in Figure, 20, some with intake/outlet holes or conduits (9) visible within the platform (1), some with one or more tidal stream units (34), in many embodiments the latter capable of automatically turning into the direction of current, and often fixed to the platform structure both for strength and use of currents created by narrow channels between columns. Various forms of CVs (21), open or * closed, or both, including as described in UK Patent Application Reference Number * HP307, Patent 0B2403986, Patent Application GB0712423.3, are arrayed around and fixed to the lower columns of FPEC units, and one or more Natural Energy Platforms 1 (NEPs) with fixed platform (1), vertical to near-vertical supporting columns from the ** * base of the water column, or in some cases attached to the base of the water column by cables, as described in one of more of these patents and patent applications, incorporating :. various additional forms of renewable energy, such as wind (31), various form of CVs (21), wave energy devices (35), ITERG (27), and in many embodiments tidal stream.

Another element shown is a hybrid embodiment of an FPEC with expanded lower : . column chamber (6), lower base (32) attached to, resting on, or partially embedded in the base of the water column, or a combination of two or more of these, connecting with surrounding CVs (33), or platforms supporting CVs, or both, normally of closed circulation but also potentially of open circulation form, similar to Figures 12 and 13, in this case with an internal conduit (9) from the chamber (6) emerging though the floating platform (I), for additional output or flow management flexibility, or both: Figure 26 shows a complex FPEC-based embodiment, built up from larger platforms with multiple columns for example as described in Figure 14, capable of different levels, power and resource output. However, in addition these platforms, and indeed single FPEC columns, can be grouped together such that a wide range of possible permutations of use are possible, such as maintaining one lower relative to others (36), trapping or channelling waters with or without other matter temporarily or permanently, such that uses such as marinas and docking facilities, partially or fully enclosed lagoons for fish production or for sediment collection and agriculture or other land uses including leisure are possible Waters held at higher than natural levels by use of mechanical control mechanisms or flow management, added to by rainwater harvesting systems where their output is not needed for other uses, or a combination of two or more of these, can also represent potential energy or resources for later release, with entry and exit points offering additional potential for power generation. The platforms (1) and supporting columns are also capable of supporting a wide range of renewable energies in addition to FPEC output, such as CVs (21), wind energy (31), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) arrays (37 and 38), among other possibilities. In some embodiments, platform (1) edges are cut into by channels either open from beneath (41) or closed (42), or both may be present, running either through to the other side of the platform or stopping short to form chambers subject to large pressure changes, providing opportunities for use of these wave currents in power generation, or braking of undesirable wave energy, or both.

Such large multiple structures possess highly flexible, diverse and secure sources of energy and resource output, and can support residential buildings (22), or commercial buildings (39), plant buildings (40), for example for OTEC vapourisers, distilled water collection and storage, hydrogen production facilities, based primarily or wholly on renewable electrical.output, and other econOmic production activities, offering potential for large communities, permanent or temporary, generalised or different ones that' are specialised, linked as necessary, with cable and pipeline connections for export/import of: power and resources output. -* *s ** * * ** ***e * I

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Claims

Ciaims I. Floating Platform Energy Converter system, FPEC, composed of solid or hollow platform or platforms maintained at, above or below the surface of the host water column, or of flood waters on periodically flooded ground, supported by one or more vertical or near-vertical columns or cables, or a combination of two or more of these, arising from the base of the host water column, or from foundations partly embedded in one or more strata below the base of the host water column, the column or columns being composed of two or more sections, that above fitting into part or all of the void within that below, creating one or more retractable supporting columns capable of lengthening and shortening during rising and falling host water levels respectively, the resulting void or voids arising between the or each male, basal end of the or each upper column section and the or each female end within the or each lower column section beneath being alternately filled or drained, fully or in part, by conduit means by suction or compression resulting respectively from rising or falling host water levels as the or each floating platform above lifts or drops, consequent cycles of suction and compression resulting in flows of fluid with or without other matter inwards and outwards respectively via one or more conduits running externally, or within the column or columns, or both, resulting in useful output from either or both directions of flow, directional movement of fluid with or without other matter being achieved in one or more stages, some embodiments using one or more compressible vessels alone, these vessels capable of deformation and recovery of their shape and volume with high and low pressure respectively from the host water column or floating platform or platforms above, or both, as in Patent GB2403986, patent application GBO7I 2423.3, or Patent Application Reference Number HP307, or a combination of two or more of these, in full or in part, for support of one or more floating platforms, or in combination with FPEC columnar chamber systems, or a combination of two or more of these for useful output of energy or natural resources, or for influencing environmental conditions, or a combination of two or more of these, many embodiments being integrated with one or more heat pump or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion sub-systems, or both, these latter two sub-systems being thus supplied with direct means of fluid * transport for heat source or coolant, electrical power generation, raw material for extraction, for other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these, through s. FPEC columnar chamber or FPEC columnar chamber-associated systems or compressible vessels, CVs, or a combination of two or more of these, or both, providing pressurisation or depressurisation, or both, or electrical pumping, or a * * combination of two or more of these, yielding coolant, heat source, fluid with or without other loose, suspended or dissolved material, or a combination of two or more of these, providing further useful output of energy or natural resources, or : both, thus boosting efficiency of OTEC or heat pump useful output, or both.

*:.
2. As in Claim 1, but with retractable column or columns in which one or more upper column sections are wider in diameter than the lower section or sections supporting them and which fit fully or partly within them, representing an inverted embodiment of the columnar arrangement in Claim 1.
3. As in one or more of Claims 1-2, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but possessing voids within part or most of the length of both male and female columns extending back from these ends and toward the sealed ends of each column, in cases where a relatively larger overall void is desired for useful output.
4. As in Claim I, but with the Claim 1 retractable column arrangement supplemented by the presence of that of Claim 2 or Claim 3, under the same platform or group of platforms, or in different lengths of the same retractable column, or a combination of two or more of these.
5. As in one or more of Claims 1-4, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more conduits conducting fluid with or without other matter from within one or more column voids pressurised by one or more falling platforms above as host water levels fall, the fluid with or without other matter being transported to one or more outlets arising around or within the perimeter of the platform or platforms above the host water surface, for useful output.
6. As in one or more of Claims 1-5, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more conduits conducting fluid with or without other matter from one or more intakes arising from around, within or above the perimeter of the platform or platforms, or a combination of two or more of these, above the level of the host water surface, delivering it by suction to one or more column voids depressurised by one or more rising platforms above as host water levels rise, for useful output.
7. As in one or more of Claims 1-6, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more conduits conducting fluid with or without other matter to one or more outlets arising within or beneath the host water column, or both, such fluid with or without other matter arising from within one or more column voids pressurised by one or more falling platforms above as host water levels fall, for useful output and purposes.

*:*:*
8. As in one or more of Claims 1-7, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with *..: one or more conduits transporting fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, such as loose or suspended solid or solids, mineral or minerals, sea floor or marsh methane, petrochemicals, other chemical, chemicals, gas or gases, living matter, warm fluid, cool fluid, other material, or a combination of two or more of these, * from within one or more column voids filled or part filled from the host water column, atmosphere, geological stratum or strata beneath or adjacent to the host water column, one or more pipelines or containers, or a combination of two or more of these, to one or more outlets arising around or within the perimeter of the *:. platform or platforms above the host water surface, pressurised by one or more falling platforms above as host water levels fall, for useful output.
9. As in one or more of Claims 1-8, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but with one or more conduits transporting fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, such as loose or suspended solid or solids, mineral or minerals, sea floor or marsh methane, petrochemicals, other chemical, chemicals, gas or gases, living matter, warm fluid, cool fluid, other material, or a combination of two or more of these, from within one or more column voids filled or part filled from the host water column, atmosphere, stratum or strata beneath or adjacent to the host water column, one or more pipelines or containers, or a combination of two or more of these, the fluid with or without other matter being pressurised by one or more falling platforms above as host water levels fall such that it exits via one or more outlets below host water surface level around or beneath the platform or platforms, or to one or more strata beneath or adjacent to the host water column, or a combination of two or more of these, for useful output and purposes.
10. As in one or more of Claims 1-9, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but with output of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, or a combination of these, due to rising columnar void pressure during falling host water levels, via one or more conduits into one or more storage containers, pipelines leading elsewhere onsite or offsite, or a combination of two or more of these, in compressed or non-compressed form, for useful output.
11. As in one or more of Claims 1-10, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with fluid, or fluid mixed with other matter, or both, being sucked by conduit means, from within the host water column, underlying or adjacent geological stratum or strata, supply by pipeline or pipelines, one or more containers, or a combination of two or more of these, into one or more columnar voids during rising host water column levels, for immediate useful output, or storage for later output, or a combination, as desired.
12. As in one or more of Claims 1-11, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but with intake of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, or a combination of these, due to falling columnar void pressure during rising host water levels, via one or more conduits, from one or more storage containers, pipelines from elsewhere onsite or offsite, or a combination of Iwo or more of these, for useful output.
13. As in one ormore of Claims 1-12, and subsequent Claims, in full orin part, with intake by conduit means due to falling columnar void pressure during rising host water levels, resulting in creation of one or more vacuums or partial vacuums in one or more attached, removable, sealable containers capable of use as is, or for * later useful output, or both. S..
14. As in one or more of Claims 1-13, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with :.: ** one or more intakes or outlets, or a combination of both of these, using one or * : * more adjustable diameter, or adjustable angle nozzles, or non-adjustable angle or * diameter nozzles, or a combination of two or more of these, to control flow characteristics into or out of one or more columnar voids or CVs respectively, o a -25 combination of these, during rising or falling water levels respectively, such as in Patent Application Ref. HP307 or other means.
15. As in one or more of Claims 1-14, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with use of adjustable or non-adjustable nozzle or nozzles, or both, to control rate, timing, amount, dispersion, reach, or quality of output, or a combination of two or more of these, in ejection of fluid above host water level, into the atmosphere in spray or jet form, into host waters, stratum or strata below the host water column, one or more containers or pipelines, such as in Patent Application Ref. HP307 or other means, or a combination of two or more of these.
16. As in one or more of Claims 1-15, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, in which multiple layers of retractable columns experience void pressure changes within voids at each layer at each level, each differing in pressure, many or all columns connected to the adjacent column or columns, or more distant column or columns in the assemblage, or both, by one or more internal or external conduits, or both, permitting transport of fluid or fluid and other matter, or both, between levels, or between columns, or both, during rising or falling host water levels, or both, by suction or compression respectively, or both, for storage, immediate useful output, platform level adjustment, other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these.
17. As in one or more of Claims 1-16, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with filtration of fluid, sucked in at one or more intakes above the host water column, within the host water column or within one or more strata beneath or adjacent to the host water column, or from one or more pipelines or containers, or a combination of two or more of these, as it enters one or more single or multiple layered retractable columns, or both, separating out other material it may contain, for useful output of clearer fluid, other material or materials, or both, or for exclusion of unwanted matter, or as a means of preventing entry of fish and other aquatic organisms, or other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these.
18. As in one or more of Claims 1-17, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but with filtration of fluid on leaving under pressure via one or more outlets from one *** *.* or more single or multiple layered retractable columns into, above or beneath the host water column, or into one or more pipelines or containers, to separate out * *** other material, for useful output of clearer fluid, other material, or both, or for exclusion of one or more materials, separation of waste streams, or as a means of :.. preventing release of fish intended for transport elsewhere, or other purposes, or a * * combination of two or more of these. *.*
19. As in one or more of Claims 1-18, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, based on filtration methods in Patent Application Ref. HP307. *

**S. . . . . *
20. As in one or more of Claims 1-19, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with filtration at one or more intakes or outlets, or both, of one or more conduits or vessels, or both, en route to or from above the surface of host waters, within host waters, underlying stratum or strata, one or more containers or pipelines, or a combination of two or more of these, in some embodiments as described in Patent App. Ref. HP307.
21. As in one or more of Claims 1-20, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with regulation of flow rate, duration and timing in either direction by flow management means such as valves within one or more conduits or vessels, or both, with additional use of one or more sensors or computer monitoring or control systems, or a combination of two or more of these, where appropriate.
22. As in one or more of Claims 1-2 1. and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with useful output of electricity by one or more generators located in one or more conduits to intercept flows.
23. As in one or more of Claims 1-22, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with useful output of electricity by turbine generation or dynamo, or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, intercepting flow in either direction or each alternately in one or more conduits.
24. As in one or more of Claims 1-23, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with closed circulation of fluids or fluids mixed with other matter, moving from columnar voids under pressure at lower host water levels via one or more conduits into one or more storage containers or pressure chambers, or both, flow being reversed by suction during periods of rising host water column levels, flow in each direction being used for useful output.
25. As in Claim 24, and one or more of Claims 1-24, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with useful output of electricity by turbine, dynamo or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, by interception of flow in each direction in one or more connecting conduits, where appropriate with regulation of flow by flow management means such as valve, sensor or computer means, or a combination of two or more of these.
26. A Compressible Vessel Floating Platform Energy Converter, CVFPEC, system :.:: composed of a buoyant, solid or hollow platform or platforms, maintained at, above or below the surface of the host water column or periodically flooded ground, supported beneath by one or more open circulation compressible vessels as described in one or more of Patent App. Ref. HP307, Patent Application * GBO7 12423.3, and referred to in Claim 1, or in simple bag form, the compressible vessel or vessels themselves supported by one or more fixed columns arising to above host low water level, or sitting on or partly embedded in land or shallow waters susceptible to large variability in levels overtime, the compressible vessel * or vessels filling with and emptying by conduit means by one or more intakes or * * outlets respectively, with fluid or fluid mixed with other matter from host waters, atmosphere above, stratum or strata below or adjacent to the water column, one or more containers or pipelines, or a combination of these, as host water levels rise, and deflate as host water levels fall, causing the platform or platforms to rise and fall respectively, causing filling or partial filling during rising surface water levels and expulsion or partial expulsion of the contents during falling surface water levels, providing protection from inundation and storm damage to structures supported on the platform or platforms above, or useful output of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, such as loose or suspended solid or solids, mineral or minerals, sea floor or marsh methane, other chemical, chemicals, gas or gases, living matter, warm fluid, cool fluid, other material, or a combination of two or more of these, or of vacuum or vacuums in one or more sealed containers through suction, or of electricity by turbine, dynamo or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, through interception of flow in either direction in one or more conduits connecting one or more compressible vessels with the external environment or with themselves, or both, with direct output or input as appropriate of said fluid or fluid and other matter through the wall or walls of one or more compressible vessels also possible if desired, or a combination of two or more of these.
27. As in Claim 26, with regulation of flow rate by flow management means such as valve, sensor, or computer control systems or other means, or a combination of two or more these, to regulate output as desired, for storage, or to maintain desired platform level, or other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these.
28. As in Claim 26, with use of one or more filtration systems such as those described in Patent App. Ref. HP307, at entry or exit point or points in one or more conduits connecting with one or more compressible vessels, or in compressible vessels themselves, or a combination of two or more of these.
29. As in one or more of Claims 26-28, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, based on Open Circulation Tidal Energy Cells, OCTECs, or adapted OCTECs for transport of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, such as described in Patent Application GB0712423.3, and Patent App. Ref. HP307 respectively, or a combination of all or part of these.
30. As in one or more of Claims 26-29, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but based on Closed Circulation Tidal Energy Cells, CCTECs, as in Patent GB2403986, permitting rise and fall of the platform or platforms with inflation or deflation respectively of one or more supporting compressible vessels, fluid being :. °. sucked or expelled into one or more pressure chambers located within or around * * the perimeter of the floating platform above, by conduit means, for useful output.
31. As in one or more of Claims 26-30, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but based on adapted CCTECs for open circulation transport of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter, for useful output, as described in Patent Application GBO7 12423.3, Patent Application Ref. HP307, and for compressible vessels in Claims 1-30 and subsequent Claims, in full or in part.
32. As in one or more of Claims 26-31, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but supported by one or more retractable columns, or retractable columns with internal voids for useful output as in one or more of Claims 1-31, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, or a combination of these, such that one or more platforms above can be maintained at higher or lower level than host water level if desired, as described in Claims 26-27, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, or by temporarily locking one or more retractable column or columns at levels higher or lower than host water levels, to prolong period of suction or expulsion of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter as appropriate, or at a higher level than surface waters for safety reasons such as adapting to storms, high wave or current conditions, or for storage of fluid with or without other matter for later power generation or other use such as during lower host water levels, for regulating power output, other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these.
33. As in one or more of Claims 1-32, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more retractable columns locking at one or more levels higher or lower than host water levels, in many embodiments assisted by valve, hydraulic or other mechanical or flow management means, or both, or a combination of two or more of these, to prolong period of suction or expulsion of fluid or fluid mixed with other matter as appropriate, or at higher levels than waters for safety reasons such as adapting to storms, high wave or current conditions, or for storage of fluid with or without other matter for use during lower host water levels, for regulating power output, other purposes, or a combination of these.
34. CVFPEC system based on a combination of two or more of the characteristics specified in Claims 26-33, or as in Claims 26-33, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, also including one or more fixed columns dedicated to support of compressible vessels as in Patent GB2403986, Patent Application GB0712423.3, or Patent App. Ref. HP307, or a combination of two or more of these, for greater flexibility of useful output.
35. As in one or more of Claims 1-34, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, incorporating FPEC features, or CVFPEC features, or one or more dedicated stacks of single or multiple compressible vessels, or one or more compressible * vessels attached to lower, fixed lengths of one or more FPEC retractable columns, or supported by one or more FPEC retractable columns reaching up above or just below host normal low water level, open or closed circulation compressible :.. vessels, or a combination of two or more of these, permitting different platform * * levels within or around the perimeter of one or more FPEC-CVFPEC installations if desired, or both, and enabling greater flexibility and security of output.
36. As in one or more ofClaims1-35, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with connection of circulation of two or more CVFPECs controlled by valve or other mechanical or flow management systems, or both, to enable balancing of fluid pressure across one or more platforms, or isolation of individual compressible vessels, or both, particularly where one or more such unit has failed or is offline, undergoing maintenance, or both, exchange regulated by valve means or other flow management or mechanical management means, or both, assisted by means such as sensors and computer control as appropriate.
37. As in one or more of Claims 1-36, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more Inter Tidal Energy Reservoir Generators, ITERGs, as in Patent GB2403986, Patent Application GBO7 12423.3, or Patent. App. Ref. HP307, or a combination of all of these wholly or in part, attached to the top or side, or both, of one or more associated tidal stacks, or attached beneath, around or integrated within one or more floating platforms belonging to one or more FPEC systems, CVFPEC systems, or both, that are capable of being periodically maintained above as well as below host water level, or a combination of two or more of these, thus providing greater flexibility of useful output when desired.
38. As in one or more of Claims 1-37, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with backup power supply from generators or battery, depending fully or as much as possible on renewable generation or renewably charged battery backup such as from FPEC, CVFPEC, CV, VWCP, ITERG, solar, wind, tidal stream, wave power, geothermal, or other sources, preferably locally hosted, or conventional diesel, gas generation, or battery, or a combination of two or more of these as appropriate.
39. As in one or more of Claims 1-38, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, or as in Patent App. Ref. HP307, or a combination of two or more of these, with integrated Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, OTEC, system or systems supported in many embodiments by one or more platforms, tidal stacks, or fixed height columns, or a combination of two or more of these, with suction or pressure or electric output derived from processes described in one or more of Claims 1-38, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, or a combination of two or more of these, being used to pump fluids with or without other matter by conduit means from, or from and to depth, or both, to provide coolant for one or more OTEC condensers, or warm fluids such as for one or more vapourisers in the extraction process for heat energy or electrical generation or both, or a * **** combination of two or more of these, in open or closed circulation, or a :.: combination of these systems, thus boosting efficiency of OTEC useful output. ****
40. As in one or more of Claims 1-39, or as in Patent App. Ref. HP307, or a : .. combination of two or more of these, supplying fluid by conduit means for use as * * heat source or sink as appropriate, to one or more integrated heat pumps to generate heated fluids or other matter, or heat energy, or electrical energy, or refrigeration, or a combination of these, for various useful outputs, in some embodiments also extracting heat energy or electrical energy from OTEC waste * coolant, or a combination of these.
41. As in Claims 1-40, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with use of one or more FPEC units or one or more CVs, or in some cases CVFPECs, or a combination of these, to provide a closed circulation heat pump or OTEC system, or both, with compression and Suction pumping at different times, or both simultaneously in different parts of the circuit using both FPEC and CV means, or a combination, greatly reducing energy penalties normally associated with pumping for OTEC, or heat pumps, or both, being used to pump fluids with or without other matter by conduit means by compression pumping through one or more vapourisers, offering opportunities for power generation in one or more conduits en route by turbine, dynamo or other means, where appropriate, and by suction pumping from one or more subsequent condensers back to the pumping unit or units, in some embodiments pumping around the circuit being achieved entirely by compression or suction, the intervening conduit or conduits between one or more vapourisers and condensers offering opportunities for electric power generation by heat engine, dynamo, turbine or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, before fluids with or without other matter are returned by conduit means to one or more of the pumping units in readiness for the next cycle, being further cooled en route in many embodiments by virtue of the or each condenser or adjacent conduit or conduits, or both, being located in cooler waters at depth or in some cases in cooler adjacent waters, the return cycle offering further opportunities for power generation by turbine, dynamo or other means within conduit or conduits where appropriate, in many embodiments there being an outer, secondary circuit similar to the primary circuit, but taking cool waters or other fluids from depth or adjacent cold areas and pumping them through one or more heat exchangers in contact with the primary condenser or condensers, in many embodiments in the opposite direction. of flow to enhance efficiency of cooling, subsequently being recycled by conduit means using pumping to one or more of the pumping units in the secondary circuit in readiness for the next cycle, both the outbound stage of the circuit to the vapouriser or vapourisers or return stage of the circuit from the condenser or condensers offering further opportunities for power generation by turbine, dynamo or other means in one or more conduits en route, where appropriate, in both outer and inner circuit supply of low grade heat or coolant by closed conduit or pipeline means being possible in some cases for various purposes onsite or offsite before being returned to the * . * relevant circuit for the next cycle, in many embodiments one or more auxiliary pumping circuits with backup conventional, renewable or other battery powered 1**** pump or pumps, notably as in Claims 38 and 67 among others, being available to the primary or secondary circuit, or both, to enhance or replace the normal pumping unit or units where this may be necessary, such as during periods of little change in host surface water levels, pumping failure through faults or maintenance outages, or high output demand, bypassing the inactive portion of the relevant circuit where necessary, regularity, quality, quantity, timing and direction of flow being regulated where appropriate by flow management systems or * mechanical control systems, as in part or all of Claims 49 and 65 notably, among others, or as in Patent App. Ref. HP307, such as valves, variable sized apertures, sensors, computer monitoring or control, hydraulic or other controls, or a combination of two or more of these, ensuring constant high quality useful output.
42. As in Claims 1-41, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, but with an open circulation system, providing opportunities for useful output of salts, minerals, loose or granular solids, or other materials such as left by evaporation or settling out, or a combination of two or more of these, in one or more vapourisers in open mode in the primary circuit or circuits or secondary circuit or circuits, or both, for supply of used warmer or cooler waters or other fluids with or without other matter, from either primary or secondary open circulation circuit or circuits, or both, for various purposes such as, inter alia, heating, swimming pools, aquaria, fish farming, storage, heat store, cold store, recovery of loose, suspended or dissolved matter, or other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these also being possible at this stage, with further opportunities for power generation by turbine, dynamo or other means en route within the relevant conduit or conduits leaving the system, while useful output of distilled water or other fluids may be extracted from one or more of the condensers in the primary open circuit, or in some cases in the secondary circuit if appropriate, or both, in many embodiments closed circulation circuits being able to operate in open mode when necessary, with intake or expulsion of fluids with or without other matter by conduit means respectively by suction or compression pumping to or from host waters, above the host water column surface, beneath or adjacent to the host water column, one or more pipelines, containers, ITERGs, in some cases with additional pumping by one or more external, adjacent open circulation CVs, FPEC units, CVFPEC units, conventionally pumped supply, or a combination of two or more of these, with opportunities for further power generation by turbine, dynamo or other means en route in one or more conduits on entering the system, with filtration of incoming or outgoing fluid with or without other matter, notably as, inter alia, in Claims 17-20, 28, or as in Patent App. Ref. HP307, for quality control or recovery of resources contained in it, or a combination of two or more of these as appropriate, regularity, quality, quantity, timing and direction of flow being regulated where appropriate by flow management systems or mechanical control systems as in part or all of Claims 49 and 65 notably, among others, or as in Patent App. Ref.HP307, such as valves, variable sized apertures, sensors, computer monitoring or control, hydraulic or other controls, or a combination of two or more of these, in :.:: many embodiments one or more auxiliary.pumping circuits with backup conventional, renewable or other battery powered pump or pumps also being available, or a combination of two or more of these, ensuring constant high quality useful output.
43. As in one or more of Claims 1-42, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more platforms as hosts for various forms of energy and other outputs, such as CSP, solar PV, solar thermal, stand alone OTEC, heat pump, wind turbine output, wave energy, direct solar hydrolysis, geothermal, tidal stream, vertical tidal power as described in this patent application, in Natural Energy Platforms, NEPs, described in this patent application, in Patent GB2403986, Patent Application GBO7 12423.3, or in Patent Application Ref.HP307, or a combination of two or more of these, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part.
44. As in one or more of Claims 1-43, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with cross-linking of two or more columns or platforms, or both, for greater strength, notably for protection against currents and storms, with some embodiments using several cables attaching the upper levels of one or more columns to the stratum or strata below the host water column, pulling in opposite directions in the manner of supports for tent poles.
45. As in one or more of Claims 1-44, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with a combination of either FPEC, CVFPEC, CV systems, or a combination of two or more of these to enable near constant supply of pumping of fluids with or without other matter, by suction, or compression, or renewable electricity output, or a combination of two or more of these, combined where appropriate with flow management, storage systems, alternative renewable sources onsite, conventional energy backup sources where unavoidable, or a combination of two or more of these, to provide constant useful output.
46. As in one or more of Claims 1-45, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, supplying near constant or constant supplies of fluid for OTEC, or heat pump operation, or both, to enable near constant or constant flow in one direction by switching from one or more pressure or suction sources to one or more others by conduit means, or both pressure and suction-driven operation simultaneously in adjacent OTEC or heat pump units, each switching between sources as needed to enable smooth operation, or a combination of two or more of these, combined where appropriate with one or more flow management systems including by valve means, and computer control where appropriate.
47. As in one or more of Claims 1-46, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with storage systems, alternative renewable sources including existing technologies located onsite, or a combination of two or more of these, to provide constant useful output.
48. As in one or more of Claims 1-47, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part,with * gaps between platforms or gaps between ridges on the underside of platforms, or channels within platforms, acting as conduits, either open or trapping incoming waters for later use, or a combination of two or more of these, to reduce wave :.. impact, or with flow being intercepted in either direction to drive turbines for * wave power, or storage, or a combination of two or more of these. S.. -
49. As in one or more of Claims 1-48, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with : *.* use of flow management or mechanical control techniques,' such as valve means, hydraulic means, computer control systems, sensors such as pressure, * temperature, fluid level,, chemical concentration, turbidity, or pollution sensors, as -appropriate, use of storage devices such as ITERGs, compressible vessels, other containers, pools or reservoirs, vacuum containers, filters, nozzles, conduits, pipelines to control timing, quantity and quality of useful output and purposes, to enable more regular, secure output, switching between or blending of these outputs as desired, above, within or below the host water column onsite or offsite, ora combination of two or more of these.
50. As in one or more of Claims 1-49, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, providing jetties, pontoons, suitable foundations for single or multiple units of homes, or for temporary residential or hotel accommodation, or buildings for various other non-residential uses, or a combination of two or more of these.
51. As in one or more of Claims 1-50, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with expelling of fluids such as air or other gases, or both, under pressure into surrounding waters, for example, for aeration, mixing, or collection of the pressurised fluid in vessels or pipelines for removal, treatment of sewage or other pollution, enhanced fisheries, or a combination of two or more of these, among other purposes, as desired.
52. As in. one or more of Claims 1-51, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with ejection of one or more jets or spray of fluids such as water or gases such as air, or a combination of these, with or without other matter such as sea salt, or other fine particles, or both, at various heights in the atmosphere and various extents and areas of dispersion, as desired, for useful output and purpose, such as recycling of' nutrients from depth, cloud cover enhancement for precipitation or combating global warming, collection of spray in one or more containers for settling out and separation of liquid, gas or other substances, or as in Patent Application Ref.HP307, or a combination of two or more of these, for useful output.
53. As in one or more of Claims 1-52. and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more compressible vessels embedded in sediment or other strata beneath the host water column and subject to frequent changes in loading from it, for useful output.
54. As in one or more of Claims 1-53, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with the part of one or more female columns that enclose void space broadened into a relatively much wider section, enclosing substantially larger void space, returning to normal diameter in the neck into which the male column inserts, the pressure chamber thus created providing useful storage and output. *. S. S. S* **
55. As in one or more of Claims 1-54, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with : variable aperture, valve, sluice, or other door mechanisms, other mechanisms, or a combination of two or more of these, controlling flow through oneor more inlets :.: ** and outlets to conduits or other vessels, or both, as described.

S S.
56. As in one or more of Claims 1-55, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more mechanisms to lock one or more columns in desired position or positions, similar to those commonly used in retractable ladders, based on one or more catches, swivelling catches on hinges, retractable bolts inserting into, under, or over holes or projections from the column or columns to be locked, arising inward or outward from the female or male column or columns, or a combination of two or more of these, as appropriate, controlled where appropriate by electrical, hydraulic, computer or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, as appropriate.
57. As in one or more of Claims 1-56, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more hydraulic or electrical control systems, with or without computer control systems, or a combination of these, controlling intakes, outlets, valves, doors, sluices, variable diameter apertures, movement or locking of columns, conduits, filters, compressible vessels, or a combination of two or more of these.
58. As in one or more of Claims 1-57, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with subsurface, surface or aerial connection of one or more electrical cables, pipelines, conveyor belts, to land, other offshore installations, floating vessels, or a combination of two or more of these.
59. As in Claims 1-58, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with transport of packets of liquid between gases by conduit means, separation of liquid from gas components in one or more fluid streams for useful output, notably as in Claims 8-9, 10 among others of Patent Application Reference HP307.
60. As in one or more of Claims 1-59, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, acting also as one or more supporting structures or Natural Energy Platforms, for further forms of natural energy, in/er alia as one or more CCTECs, OCTECs, other compressible vessels for useful output, hosted wind turbines, tidal stream, solar thermal, solar PV, direct solar or electrochemical hydrolysis for hydrogen and oxygen output, operating alone but hosted, or integrated and using one or more systems described in Claims 1-59 an subsequently, such as for pumping, fluid supply, coolant, storage, consumption, transport, Concentrated Solar Power units, wave power devices, or a combination of two or more of these.
61. As in one or more of Claims 1-60, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, as supporting structures for oil or gas extraction providing supplemental power, s... particularly in pumping of fluid into or out of one or more strata beneath the base of the water column using enhanced recovery methods, or in extraction of other minerals by dissolving or leaching and subsequent extraction, or a combination of * two or more of these.IS
62. As in one or more of Claims 1-61, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, as :.: * supporting structures for Carbon Capture and Storage facilities, providing * : * pressure, suction, electrical output, electrical or fluid storage, or a combination of * two or more of these, to enable or assist management of carbon dioxide pumping directly, or for oil or gas extraction, as supplemental power.
63. As in one or more of Claims 1-62, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with pumping of hydrogen, water, methane, natural gas, petroleum or other fluid into one or more containers or geological strata, or a combination of two or more of these, for storage.
64. As in one or more of Claims 1-63, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with closed or open circulation pumping of fluid with or without other matter through relatively hot or cold stratum or strata below or adjacent to the water column, for example providing far more energy-efficient output of geothermal waters, heat or minerals, or a combination of two or more of these, as desired, or, subject to environmental sensitivity and protection, providing fluids cooled through permafrost or glaciers, or cooled fluids to maintain permafrost or glaciers cool, or both, or a combination of two or more of these, for useful output.
65. As in one or more of Claims 1-64, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with flow management and mechanical control systems, in many cases but not necessarily in all located at or near entry or exit points, in or between one or more FPEC, CVFPEC, CVs, OTEC or heat pump circuits, conduits, or a combination of two or more of these, involving one or more means such as control of intake or expelling.timing, flow rate, direction of fluid movement, levels of other matter present, temperature, pressure, chemical concentration, as appropriate, notably by one or more valves, doors, variable diameter apertures, hydraulic systems, filters, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, chemical sensors, timers, sediment gauges, electronic control systems, computer control programs, swivelling locking mechanisms, or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, as appropriate to ensure efficient quality, or quantity, or timing of flow, or prevention of backflow where appropriate, or other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these.
66. As in one or more of Claims 1-65, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with assemblage of FPEC, CVFPEC, CV units, with or without integrated OTEC or heat pump systems or both, or a combination of two or more of these types, in one location, ensuring a diversity of pumping sources and power generation operating S in different phases of suction or compression at the same time, thus maximising use of vertical differences in aquatic potential energy for useful output of ener.gy, natural resources, environmental management means, or a combination of two or more of these, and increasing regularity or manageability of output, or both. I. *.:
67. As in one or more of Claims 1-66, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with addition of one or more alternative or auxiliary circulation routes as in Claim 12 of Patent Application Ref. HP307 with auxiliary, backup pumping in one or more conduits that can be used instead of or in addition to the normal circuit during periods of limited availability of FPEC, CVFPEC, CV pumping output, or periods of exceptionally high demand for useful output, or both, powered by renewable energy sources such as batteries charged by FPEC, CVFPEC, CV, ITERG, stored

I-or current output, or both, from other renewable sources such as those hosted, ITERGs, biofuels, conventional sources such as natural gas or diesel fired generation or pumping, or a combination, in some embodiments using additionally or instead wind, wave or various forms of tidal, dam or other renewable power for direct physical pumping or for generation of power to drive pumps, or both, or a combination of two or more of these.
68. As in Claims 1-67, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with pumping units such as those based on FPEC, CVFPEC, CV or other designs connected by conduit means, each type in a different or slightly different phase, assisted where appropriate by flow management systems such as valves, or mechanical control systems, or both, offering a high degree of control over output or input characteristics, or both, for useful output.
69. As in one or more of Claims 1-68, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with an FPEC unit supplying pumping needed in a closed circulation system of fluid with or without other matter, such that fluid with or without other matter is sucked in from the circulation during periods of rising surface water levels, stored in the columnar chamber of the FPEC, and expelled round the circuit under pressure during the next compression phase at low water, either through the same conduit or conduits or one or more different conduits, or a combination of these, generation by turbine, dynamo or other means being possible en route within one or more conduits in both phases of flow, a continual circulation being possible, with rate, duration, direction or quality of flow, or a combination of two or more of these, adjustable by use of flow management systems or mechanical control systems, or both, for useful output.
70. As in one or more of Claims 1-69, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with open circulation, fluid with or without other matter being taken into the columnar chamber by suction during the rising surface water phase from surrounding waters, atmosphere, one or more strata beneath or adjacent to the host water column, one or more pipelines or containers, or a combination of two or more of * these, to be circulated around one or more circuits by conduit means, or expelled * into surrounding waters, atmosphere, one or more strata beneath or adjacent to the host water column, one or more pipelines, conduits or containers, or a * * combination of two or more of these, by conduit means, aided as appropriate by flow management, mechanical or filtration systems, or a combination of two or more of these, for useful output. I. **

*
71. As in one or more of Claims 1-70, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with * multiple FPEC, CV or CVFPEC units, or a combination of two or more of these forms, connected in series by conduit means, in open or closed circulation, in : *** many embodiments with differing rates of intake and expulsion in pumping units * enhanced by flow management, mechanical control or filtration systems, or a combination of two or more of these, such as valves, hydraulic controls, sensors, computer monitoring or control, filters, or other means, or a combination of two or more of these, in order to increase flexibility of transport of fluid with or without other matter, such as multi-stage transport between levels, increased pumping capacity, storage, extended potential periods of circulation by compression and pumping, even in periods of little change in surface water levels, enabling longer distance transport of fluids with or without other matter in relays, or a combination of two or more of these.
72. As in one or more of Claims 1-71, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with a CVFPEC unit acting as pump for an open circulation system, with fluid with or without other matter drawn from outside sources,
73. As in one or more of Claims 1-72, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with CV systems. also known as VWCP systems as in Patent Application Ref.HP307, or both, acting as pump for a circulation of fluid with or without other matter, drawn from outside sources or internally in closed systems.
74. As in one or more of Claims 1-73, in power output, power storage, output of warm or cool fluid, mixing of waters or other fluids within or outside the system or other forms of environmental management, aeration, purified fluids, fluid* transport, extraction of other materials, including solid materials, hydrogen, or other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these useful outputs from one or more of the systems described.
75. Export to and in some cases import of power supplies by cable or cables between the facility and other facilities or land-based destinations.
76. As in one or more of Claims 1-75, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, providing protection for one or more supported buildings or other structures, or a combination of these, from inundation by means of one or more platforms on which they are constructed that can adapt to changing levels by floating, rising and falling in synchrony with host water levels, or that can be maintained above or below host water levels, for example for leisure or marine research purposes, or a combination of two or more of these, in many embodiments with fine adjustment through flow management systems or mechanical control systems, or * .* both. * S * S.*
77. As in one or more of Claims 1-76, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, providing useful output to one or more buildings or other structures constructed S..: on one or more floating platforms described in one or more of these claims..
78. As in one or more of Claims 1-77, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, providing useful output from one or more attached jetties, pontoons, walkways or : *.*, other transport corridors, or a combination of two or more of these. *.* S79. As in one or more of Claims 1-78, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with* maintenance at higher or lower levels than dictated by platform buoyancy aloneIrelative to the host water column if desired, to prolong period of suction or expulsion of fluid or fluid and other matter, as appropriate, or storage purposes, flow management, heat or cold source or sink, research, educational observation from sealed structure or structures, or other specialist needs, or for safety reasons, as adaptation for extreme weather, high wave or current conditions, other purposes, or a combination of two or more of these.80. As in one or more of Claims 1-79, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more floating platforms held down by one or more cables attached to the bed of the host water column, to maintain them low in the water or below the water surface at periods of high water, with one or more floating platforms below, also attached to the bed beneath by cable, the latter slacker or flexible, or both, thus exerting upward pressure on compressible vessels or columnar voids, or both, during high water, for useful output.81. As in one or more of Claims 1-80, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more floating platforms adapted to host docking facilities for water transport vehicles, allowing access in or out when one or more docks are flooded through maintenance of the platform or platforms at levels lower than normal buoyancy would allow, in many embodiments waters being subsequently trapped by retaining walls or other structures or both, waters allowed to drain by subsequent maintenance at higher levels than buoyancy would allow, one or more sluices being present in many embodiments, to enable water level management including closure or opening as dry or wet dock facilities, as desired.82. As in one or more of Claims 1-8 1, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with one or more conduits connecting waters in one or more docks, or reservoirs, or both, to the external, host waters, enabling control by conduit and valve or gate means, other flow management, mechanical control or filtration system means, ITERGs or other storage, natural resource or power generation devices, or a combination of two or more of these, of flooding and drainage, with interception of flow of waters in one or more conduits through dock walls or base of one or more platforms, with one or more turbine, dynamo or other forms of electrical generator where appropriate, in some embodiments managing impact of rise and fall of host waters on one or more platforms selectively, such that multiple platform arrangements, each with different heights, can be created in which water or other matter such as sediment, minerals, organisms or other fluids are trapped, nurtured or excluded by surrounding higher or lower platforms, or a combination of two or more of these, as appropriate; 83. As in one or more of Claims I-82,.and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, with shoreline moorings, partial siting of facilities on dry land, or infrastructural : connections, such as walkways, road, rail, utility supply connections, enclosed or open, above, at or below host water levels, or as offshore islands, separate or *: interconnected, with shoreline moorings, or infrastructural connections, or a combination of two or more of these.E84. As in one or more of Claims 1-83, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, offering protected communities and land uses of different types, such as energy production, environmental protection and enhancement, residential, recreational, nature conservation, agricultural, fishery, forestry, mineral extraction and other extracted resource collection with or without onsite processing, commercial, industrial, research, educational or other uses, deriving economic, social, environmental or other benefits from useful outputs and services, or ideally a combination of two or more of these.85. A combination of one or more of features described in Claims 1-84, Palent GB2403986, patent application GBO7 12423.3, or Patent Application Reference Number HP307, and subsequent Claims, in full or in part, or a combination of two* or more of these, as appropriate to most efficient use of the technologies described. * **SI S * SI S.,. * S *I. -I. *S S* I * SI I..S * IISI I *. S S..S