GB2549743A

GB2549743A - Renewable energy bank

Info

Publication number: GB2549743A
Application number: GB1607300.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Herbison Francis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-27
Filing date: 2016-04-27
Publication date: 2017-11-01

Abstract

An energy storage system for storing intermittent energy includes a plurality of cells each containing a weight 5 which is attached to a single continuous pulley cable 3. The weights are graduated, and store energy as they are raised, and release energy when they are lowered by an electric winch 10. All of the weights 5 are connected via the single cable, but they may be raised and lowered individually in sequence by locking the other weights in a raised or lowered position.

Description

I

Energy storage is an urgent need worldwide to store and level the intermittency of the renewable energy technologies, once stored it can be delivered in a level flow to the grid, or into a local system.

This concept is such a storage system there are many ideas, but the overall result is the promise of advanced long life batteries and very little else other than pumped storage for large scale use compatible with the grid. This system I am putting forward is a mechanical one based on the use of generators attached to winches which lift weights using intermittent renewable energy through a number of linked cells or shafts using as many kilometres of cable as possible and holding weights in place to store energy; when needed weighs are lowered and the revolving winch then drives the attached generator, which returns the energy as and when needed.

This system I call a renewable energy bank + emission leveller 'R.E.B. +E.L' it can be made to varying sizes according to need and store any given amount of energy according to need, can be used as a long term storage for emergency use for such events as a solar storm outage, or break down of a system; to power hospitals and emergency systems, or can be used regularly, once full it is emptied in a level flow compatible into the grid, then recharged with intermittent emissions.

Each weight in each cell locks into place at the top and at the bottom of cell via locking mechanisms only two cells differ by having one locking mechanism, cell one with smallest weight only has a top locking mechanism, and the last cell with largest weight in a section, only has a bottom locking mechanism. These two also only have one trigger mechanism which triggers fall or rise of next cells weight, just before entering into their own locking mechanism, meaning the next cell in the sequence of rise or fall has started moving just before the preceding cell that triggered its start, locks itself into place at top or bottom of cell.

The weights in cell get gradually heavier the further they are from winch, this graduating heavier weights means cable pulls better through all sheaves of all cells when locked in place, to reach the cell with falling weight, ensuring even paced pulling and rotating of winch and generator.

The winch although only operating two weights in two separate cells for a period between triggering next rise or fall sequence, needs to be substantial as it needs a lot of pulling power too, as it pulls cable through all sheaves in all cells to lift last weight. It should be capable of lifting all weights in all cells, that being so the system may easily work well letting weights rise and fall randomly hoping graduated weights work well for fall and rise system, but by using trip systems to lock or release weights, ensures smooth running of system.

Drawing Page 1/7 Figure 1

Shows (1) a crane jib, and top of jib (2) a sheave which ensures smooth running of (3) the cable a single fall of cable which takes little time to reach the floor when lowered, a locking pear (6) and set (4) the shape of pear (6) that locks cable into a holster looking pocket into which pear (6) fits, the tighter the pull on the cable from the weight attached (5) locks cable tight into set (4).

Figure 2

Shows (2) side and end views it is designed so a cable fit nicely into it.

Figure 3

Shows (4) a set the pocket the pear (6) fits into (6) has side and end view and is designed to fit half cable depth into it, once in set (4) and pulled tight it locks cable in place the set shown end and side views shows holes to which pear and set are bolted to the crane, on a single fall locked onto lifting part of cable a hook or shackle, with a return or multi fall as shown on Figure 4, It is locked at top of jib (1) to the cat head (7).

Figure 4

Shows (1) the jib (2) in this case multiple sheaves built into cat head (7) with corresponding sheaves (2) at bottom of multiple falls of cable (3) with weight (5) this illustrates the difference that multiple falls of cable, take multiples of the single falls time to reach floor.

Drawing Page 2/7 Figure 5

Shows a single cell (8) being the structural steel work, to which the winch (10) has cable (3) running to via (2) a sheave or snatch block at base to (2) a sheave on winch side of structure at the top, feeding the cable (3), to multiple fall sheaves (2) top attached to R.S.J. a rolled steel joist down to multiple lower sheaves (2) with weight (5) which falls to a shaped cradle (9) at the bottom of cell, a simple explanatory drawing not all details shown.

Figure 6

Shows a number of cells from a top perspective and shows how multiple falls from multiple cells is achieved to use as many kilometres of cable as possible in a given section, a section being the number of cells one winch can accommodate. (8) Indicates cell steel frame, (11) the R.SJ.'s for multiple sheaves (2) to each cell and (3) the cable which is fed through multiple sheaves (2) both top and bottom and through to last sheave to next cell, the cable loop from one cell to the next through last sheave first loop from cell one to two on the left then from cell two to three on the right then from right to left and left to right throughout the length of section to last cell of section when cable is locked off with pear (6) and set (4) to R.J.S (11) on its underside to purposed locking off point.

Figure 7

Shows a simple illustration of two back to back sections, ten cells in each at the sides at the base are the winches (10) for each section left and right, with cable (3) through (2) sheave at base to (2) sheave at top of first cells of section left and right (3) runs through sheaves (2) on top of each cell to lower sheaves (2) shown small in all cells (8) to (5) the weights, one in each cell that graduates in size from first to last cell of section. The graduation of weights ensues when falling the furthest and heaviest falls first the smallest last, when lifting is in process the first and smallest lifts first, and last the heaviest, lifts last, all others rise and fall in sequence the length of the section down to (9) the cradle at bottom, to ensure this cannot go wrong and nothing fails to lift or fall, trip systems top and bottom kick in these are explained later.

Drawing Page 3/7 Figure 8

Shows more detail (11) is the R.S.J. to which top sheaves (2) are attached along a shaft (12), between and fixed to sheaves (2) are spacer bearings (19) all attached to shaft (12) through support bracket (14) and lock on with locking not (13) bracket (14) fixed to R.S.J. (11) with bolts (15), attached to the underside are shaped channels (16) fixed with bolts (15) either side of R.S.J. (11) with a gap the lower shape of channel (16) allows gap to locate (25) a locating plate, that guides lower block of sheaves (2) into central position under R.S.J. (11) the channels 16 are stiffened and strengthened by a number of welded gussets (17) this allows lower set of sheaves (2) to ne held securely and squarely under R.S.J. (11) a plate (25) fixed to top length of lower sheaves block ensures it stays squarely in place, and that top of sheave separation plates (23) butt up under channels (16) and don't fold to either side which is possible without measures made to ensure otherwise. Top locating plate (25) later becomes locking plate will be shown in more detail later just building up the stages to explain process simply. The bottom blocks of sheaves (2) which has multiple falls of cable when threaded through is made up as shown, plates (23) which separate spacer bearings (19) and sheaves (2). The number (19) not shown on lower set but same as upper set of sheaves. The sheaves (2) spacer bearings (19) and separations plates (23) are all fixed along shaft (12) the end plate (20) have fixed stiffeners (24) they all lock solidly together on central shaft (12) and end locking nuts (13) three other full length locking bolts (21) fixed through holes in all separation plates (23) and end plates (24) these three long bolts are left out until cable (3) is in place, it allows for easy cable (3) fixing once cable (3) is through all sheaves (2) upper and lower bolts 21 are fixed.

Figure 9

Shows side view of above top sheave (2) on shaft (12) fixed via (13) onto bracket (14) fixed via bolts (15) onto R.S.J. (11), to which is fixed shaped channels (16) on underside with stiffening strengthening gussets (17) top plate (25) running length of lower block of sheaves (2) in locating space between channels (16) . End plate (20) with stiffeners (24) through which bolts (21) are fixed with nut (22) plus central shaft (12) fixed with nut (13)

Drawing Page 4/7 Figure 10 and Figure 11

Are exactly the same as Figures 8 & 9 apart from showing adaptions which allow for the lower block of sheaves to lock into place under the top block of sheaves. The locking system a simple mechanically triggered one is made up of (26) a locking notch added to locating top plate (25) this locks with sprung locking bar (28) spring (27) located between back of channel (16) on one channel only and plate (40), (28) locking bar is pulled back to free lower block by (29) a pull arm attached to bar (18) which extends between structural steel beams of cell (8), bar (18) is turned by pull bar (30) which has a cable (32) attached by a shackle (31). The cell which precedes falls to cradle (19) on floor the weight (5) depresses a trigger which pull down cable (31) rotating bar (18) pulling back arm (29) which pulls locking bar (28) out to release lower block and allows it to fall the weight (5) when it reaches cradle in this cell does the same and triggers the fall or the next cell.

Drawing Page 5/7 Figure 12

Shows what has been explained by previous figures but shows top block and lower block now fully fitted with cable which first is passed through top sheave (2) on right of drawing to lower block back round and to the top, having five upper and lower sheaves in the cell the sixth sheave (2) on the top left of drawing is the loop sheave which travels cable (3) to next cell, the lower block of sheaves (2) are on the wa^ up and new mechanism is now shown, one which triggers the release and rise of next cell lower block. (33) a steel channel section is welded to R.S.J. (11) and lower fixed shaped channel (16) and extends below, neai the bottom a slot holds a small sheave (34) fixed into slot for a trigger cable (38) the vertical channel (33) is located twice on both side of R.S.J. (11) and shaped channel (16) to correspond with bar (37) to be raised between two if vertical channels (33) a roller (35} locked onto bar (37) with stop end (36) roller (35) lifts cable (38) which has one fixed end to one vertical channel (33) the cable pulls the length of ceil to a trigger which locks weight (5) fixed to block by hanging straps (50) through cradle (19) to base of cell, releases weight (5) by pulling locking mechanism (41) from locking slot (39) located on weight (5), allowing the next cell in raising sequence to start to rise, the release happens just before the raising block locks into place, so the sequence is operated by simple system which lock or release weights to either raise them or lower them each release to fall or rise precedes marginally, the locking in place, of the releasing block be it up or down.

Drawing Page 6/7

Shows top and bottom mechanisms as explained before, but now also shows triggers top and bottom.

Figure 13

Shows top block with vertical channels (33) in place with sheave (34) in clot and cable end (38) in place.

Figure 14

Shows cable (38) fixed on right vertical channels (33) passing under sheave (34) and over another sheave (43) which diverts cable (38) downwards via floor fixed at bottom of cell sheave (42) which diverts to trigger lock (41) from channel (39) in weight (5).

Figure 15

Shows roller (35) fixed on bar (37) by stop end (36) bottom of weight (5) is slot (39) for locking via (41), also shown is upper release trigger weight (5) lands in cradle (19) bars (44) protruding either side of cradle (19), to depress hinged arm (45) which pulls down cable (32) to trigger release by upper mechanism of tiie next cell fall sequence. As the fall starts, the cradle is depressed fully onto fixed spring mechanism (46) which is fixed to floor as well as cradle (19) and weight (5) is low enough for lock (41) to lock into slot (39) in weight (5) one sequence is complete and another started.

Drawing Page 7/7 Figure 17

Shows a simple representation of part of a bank, three sections of ten cells showing looped cable (3) from one cell to next first left loop through sheaves (2) to next cell then a loop to the right to the next cell and so on to cell ten where cable (3) is locked off. Three sections of ten cells which would mirror the same behind. If a bank were twenty cells wide a section of ten cells both to the left and to the right all built together with structural steel (8) and fifty cells long it would take up an area around the size of a football field. If a cell where fifty meters high the higher the better with ten falls of cable each cell would use around half a kilometre ten cells equalling five kilometres, a winch capable of this much cable capacity, should be readily available. Shown too winch 10 and motor (47) and generator (48) because together they would be bigger than width of a cell they would need to overlap.

Figure 18

Shows how overlap of winch (10) and generators (48) need not impede each other they would be fixed on raised platforms four levels should be enough then back to floor level and repeat levels to floor again and so on until bank accommodated. Side view of winches (10) on platforms (49) with cable (3) through lower sheave or snatch block (2) to upper top sheave (2) onto each cell, via loop.

This system could be built with some other structural system such as slip forming, could use the shells of extinct power stations once decommissioned and gutted, built to be unobtrusive as possible to resemble such building as tall office blocks or high rise flats, another possibly depending if area has one or more would be build in larger deep dry quarries, the options are many; the R.E.B. +E.L system can be built to be as effective as pumped storage and if all works well built to last for 100 years with good maintenance. The cost per kilowatt measured over possible lifetime would be very little and more comparable with batteries or any other system.

Claims

1. A renewable energy bank that stores intermittent energy comprising a plurality of cells each comprising means including a cable for lifting graduated weights to store, means for releasing weights to return energy via electric winch with attached generator, an extra sheave located on the top pulley block of each cell to achieve as long a return as possible, said cable being looped over the extra sheave to link to the next cell, thereby allow the cells to be linked together to form a battery; whereby the weights are raised and lowered individually in each cell in sequence via upper and lower pulley blocks, this being facilitated by holding back locks which are released to allow rise and fall of weights by a trip and release mechanism.

2. A renewable energy bank according to claim 1, wherein the extra sheave is added on the top block, allowing the loop and link system to multiply the amount of cable used by the number of cells.

3. A renewable energy hank according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bank has trip and release mechanisms in each cell which are activated by a rising or falling weight to release the next weight in sequence by releasing its holding back lock and allowing weight to rise or fall depending on whether storing or releasing energy.

4. A renewable energy bank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bank has holding back locks in each cell to hold back weights to allow individual working sequence to work, and wherein the lock engages automatically just after the trip and release mechanism for release of next rising or falling weight in sequence is activated.

5. A renewable energy bank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bank is provided with an electric winch which stores up cable on its drum by lifting graduated weights in cells, that can when needed release energy via falling weights turning drum to drive attached generator.

6. A renewable energy bank according to claim 5, wherein the weights in each cell get heavier, the first cell nearest the winch has a given weight that is sufficiently heavy to drive the winch and generate energy needed via attached generator, each and every weight thereafter being graduated to be as heavy as needed to pull cable through sheaves and pulley blocks to achieve the same objective as weight in first cell.