GB2575615A

GB2575615A - Rollerball a machine and system of pumped storage

Info

Publication number: GB2575615A
Application number: GB1705439.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eva Lind Susie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-04
Filing date: 2017-04-04
Publication date: 2020-01-22
Also published as: GB201705439D0

Abstract

A pumped storage electricity, a dual height method of electricity production, uses balls of an appropriate weight and consistency, travelling from a height down through a tunnel. The system uses two reservoirs filled with spheres with one reservoir being at a higher level than the other. The containers are linked by the tunnel. The balls travel from the higher container downwards, through the tunnel, to the lower container. As the balls travel downwards they pass through a generator turbine where the generator shaft is turned and electricity generated. The balls pass through the turbine at peak electricity use and price. At lowest electricity use and price the balls are elevated back to the higher container using the electricity generated. This is repeated continually or as and when required. Since the costs of returning the balls back to the higher level is lower than the price gained on passing the balls down through the generator this results in a net profit.

Description

Background

History of electricity

Electricity began with the observation that rubbing amber or Jet attracted pieces off fluff to stick to the amber and that lodestone possessed magnetic properties .In 1600 William Gilbert, physician to Queen Elizabeth the first, published his treatise ‘De Magnate, Magneticisque Corporibus’ distinguishing between magnetism and static showing that magnets only attracted iron. This was expanded by two European inventors- Otto Van Guerguenasick and Charles Francois. Otto von Guericke proved that a vacuum could exist. Guericke invented the first generator, a machine that produced static electricity. This was to play a vital role in the study of electronics.

In 1729 Stephen Gray discovered electricity conduction .In 1733 Charles Francoise du Fay discovered that electricity comes in two forms which he named resinous and vitreous. Negative and positive respectively. In 1745 a Dutchman, Pieter van Musschenbroek, and a German, Christan Von Kle invented the first capacitor, a device that stored and released electric charge, the Leyden jar. Subsequent advances have led to present day electricity generation.

Current methods of electricity generation

Water is boiled using coal and the resultant steam is used to drive turbines and generate electricity.

Geothermal

Using water, for example, heat from the earth’s mantle produces steam which is trapped and used to turn a generator.

Biomass.

Biomass can be burned in order to generate heat which is further used to produce electrical energy.

Tidal Energy.

Tidal plants utilize energy carried by waves which turn turbines and generate electricity.

Photovoltaic Panels

Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity unlike solar heat concentrators. With an increasing awareness about the environmental advantages these panels are being used on a larger scale worldwide.

Nuclear Fission

When neutrons collide with the nucleus of a Uranium atom, resulting in fission, heat is produced and this turns a generator in the reactor core. Heated water is transformed into steam ieading to the generation of electricity. A major problem with nuclear fission is the production of nuclear waste, extremely harmful to the environment

Fuel Cells

A chemical reaction takes place that involves fuel, an oxidizing agent and oxygen. Heat

Hydroelectric Plants

Water flowing at great force can drive a turbine to generate electricity. More than 2000 hydroelectric power plants are present in the US and they generate about 7% of the total electricity produced.

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity uses flowing water to generate electricity. The water, in for example a flowing river passes through a rotator turbine

Another Hydroelectricity method pumped storage hydroelectricity production employs a different method from the traditional Hydroelectricity method. An advance in Hydroelectricity is the newer method Pumped storage electricity.

The first use of pumped storage was in the 1890s in Italy and Switzerland. In the 1930s reversible hydroelectric turbines became available. These turbines could operate as both turbine-generators and in reverse as electric motor driven pumps. The latest in large-scale engineering technology are variable speed machines for greater efficiency. These machines operate in synchronization with the network frequency when generating, but operate asynchronously (independent of the network frequency) when pumping.

The first use of pumped-storage in the United States was in 1930 by the Connecticut Electric and Power Company, using a large reservoir located near New Milford, Connecticut, pumping water from the Housatonic River to the storage reservoir 230 feet above

Pumped storage hydroelectricity

Pumped storage electricity differs from traditional hydroelectricity generation in that it does not for example require moving water from a river or dam. Pumped storage electricity production uses water at two different heights.

Water from the upper level travels down to the lower level through a tunnel. As the water travels downwards to the lower level it passes through a turbine generator generating electricity. It is then pumped back to the higher level using the electricity produced. (Fig 2 ).

When the water from the upper level passes through the turbine to the lower level this done at premium electricity rate. The water is then returned to the higher lake at low rate. Because it is cheaper to return the water to the upper lake in comparison to the electricity generated at premium rate this results in a net profit.

Statement of invention

The following invention relates to an alternative system of electricity generation.

Rollerball

Rollerball is different method of pumped storage electricity generation .In Rollerball the two containers filled with water are replaced with two containers filled with balls. (Fig.3)

The advantages of using balls instead of water are

1) Rollerball Dual Height electricity plants are cheaper to build as balls are easier to contain than water because of the fluid nature of water and its ability to pass through small holes or cracks (not tested).

3) It has less effects on the environment because it does not for example cause flooding or drought.

4) Rollerball can generate electricity as and when required and therefore storage, in for example batteries, is not required .

5) Rollerball does not require water and can be used in areas devoid of water (6) Rollerball is not weather dependant and can be used in countries /areas with no wind, rain or sunlight wherever required using two containers of balls in contrast to two lakes of water.(Ref. 1).

10) Rollerball can be used in small plants or in for example houses or high rise buildings.

11) Rollerball can use very small balls made of heavy materials and this allows for smaller systems that can be used in smaller spaces.

12) Rollerball can generate more electricity using balls of heavier materials

13) Rollerball can be performed in areas that are not areas considered attractive and therefore has little or no effect on tourism.

14) Balls can be of different materials and be different sizes as required.

15) Rollerball has no effect on wildlife.

16) Rollerball systems including large plants can be hidden by for example growing grass or trees around or/and over them.

17) Rollerball can be performed having the upper container at maximum height possible to give maximum force and therefor electricity generation.

18) Rollerball is not dangerous unlike for example nuclear energy production.

19) Rollerball does not use natural resources such as coal.

20) Rollerball does not have the dangers, including earthquakes, associated with Fracking

References

1. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean energy/our-energy-choices/ashort-history-of-energy.html#.WInozPmLTIU

2. http://inventors.about.eom/cs/inventorsalphabet/a/electricity .htm

3. https://en.wikipedia.orq/wiki/Pumped- storaqe hydroelectricity#History

Claims

Claim 1

A pumped storage system comprising a downward path and an upward path, an electricity generator, an electricity powered motor, 2 containers and 2 or more substantially spherical balls whereby the balls are permitted to roll down the downward path under the force of gravity and such rolling movement causes the electrical generator to generate electricity wherein the electricity is generated at a higher price which can then be operated to force the balls to move up the upward pathway to the higher container whereby the balls are permitted again to roll from the higher level back to the lower ball container on the downward pathway to generate electricity again when electricity is at a higher cost with the system therein in continuous motion as required.
Claim 2

A dependence to claim 1 whereby the balls travel on the upward and downward pathways with both pathways of a shape and material able to contain the balls in the direction required in production of the said electricity
Claim 3

2 containers, as claim 1, store the balls with one container filled with balls at a higher level until the balls are released to generate electricity on the downward pathway, passing through a generator, whereby the balls are then returned to the lower level container before being

CM elevated again to the higher level container in continuous motion as required.
Claim 4

A motor connected to the upward pathway that moves the pathway and balls upwards to the higher container pathway with the balls being pushed upward too by balls which have already travelled down the downward pathway by gravity whilst the motor is switched on providing motive power of sufficient level to move the balls sequentially up the upward path towards to the upper container

Intellectual Property Office