NO20210628A1

NO20210628A1 -

Info

Publication number: NO20210628A1
Application number: NO20210628A
Authority: NO
Priority date: 2021-05-20
Filing date: 2021-05-20
Publication date: 2022-03-21
Also published as: NO346139B1

Description

TITTEL: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF ENERGY

The Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and a method for producing electrical energy, using water as the source for producing the electrical power.

The Background of the Invention

In view of the need in the future for energy sources other than hydrocarbonbased energy sources, various energy producing sources has been investigated ad proposed. In addition to base production on flow of water hydro power stations, it has also proposed to use solar or wind energy and also producing electrical power by exploiting the energy in wave.

It has previously bee proposed to displace water vertically to a higher level by displacing water in a cylinder provided with one or more one-way valves allowing water from an external water source to flow into the cylinder and by lowering a displacing body, configured to move up and down in the cylinder to displace the water towards to a higher level and use displaced water to flow downwards through turbine connected to a generator a common shaft, for production of electricity.

NO 344634 discloses a system for supply of water in a seafood farm, wherein a closed cage is supplied with water from a water source wherein the system comprises a chamber, a displacing body adapted to be lowered into and raised out of the chamber, an inlet with valve connecting the chamber to the water source, controlling the inlet flow of water, the valve being a one-way valve, and a chamber outlet duct connecting the chamber to the closed cage. This publication also discloses a method for water circulation in an onshore or offshore seafood farm according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a seafood tank is supplied with water from a connecting water source, wherein the system further comprises a chamber, a displacing body adapted to be lowered and raised in the chamber, an inlet valve connecting the chamber to the water source, and a chamber outlet duct connecting the chamber to the tank, which method comprising at least the steps of opening an inlet valve of the chamber, filling the chamber with water, preferably to a same water level as the water source, shutting the inlet valve of the chamber, lowering the displacing body into the chamber; directing a flow of displaced water through the chamber outlet duct, and raising the displacing body out of the chamber.

It is a need for additional energy delivering systems, replacing use of fossil hydrocarbon source.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is based on the principle of use of gravity for displacing and lifting water from one enclosed defined volume in one body to a corresponding volume in another body having a corresponding defined volume, by lifting one body up and out of an external body of water and lowering another body due to gravity down into a body of water, thus lifting displaced water from a water body at the bottom of the water. The invention is also based on use of the incompressible properties of water.

According to the present invention, “a defined volume” may for example be a tank, container, or a basin, hereinafter named “defined volume”.

“Resulting vertical direction” means either vertical movement or movement in an inclined direction out of or into the volume of the body of water.

“Continuous” used herein means repeated lowering and lifting the displacing body into or out of the defined volume of body in a continuous and repeating cycles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a continuous production of electrical power using supply of water exploit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system for generating electrical power, by lowering one body and lifting another body, the two bodies being interconnected by means of a wire system, running over pulleys, generating rotation of a generator axis caused by the rotation of the pulley(s).

Another objective of the invention is to provide a plant where as much energy as possible, supplied to the plant for lifting the water, is recovered.

A still further objective of the invention is to produce electrical power based on a more or less still water source, i.e. an external water source having more or less constant level ad more or less independent of varying tidal height or, and/or the system having varying/adjustable height due to change of tide and/or changing water level, for example in non-ocean water such as lakes or ponds or being placed is associating with flowing water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a solution and a method using the funicular principle, i.e. at least two separated units interconnected and operating by cable with one ascending unit and another descending unit counterbalancing the first unit.

The objects are achieved by a system and method as further defined by the independent claims, while embodiments, alternatives and variants are defined by the dependent claims.

In one aspect of the invention a system for producing energy is provided wherein a device is configured to use water to create movement of bodies interconnected by means of a wire system passing over at least one pully, connected to a generator producing electricity by using the rotation of the at least one pulley.

According to an embodiment, the bodies may be provided with enclosed volumes, slidably arranged in correspondingly shaped cylinders, the wire system being connected to the enclosed volumes at their top part, running over the at least one pulley.

Moreover, bodies may at their lower end region be provided with one-way valve configured to drain water from the enclosed volume and with an inlet at the top for supply of water to the enclosed volume. Furthermore, each body may according to one embodiment also be provided with a weight chamber, arranged at the lower end of the body, below the enclosed volume configured to contain the water.

According to another embodiment, the one-way valve arranged at the lower end of the enclosed volume is provided with a manipulator, arranged to open the one-way valve when the body has reached its lower position.

Further, water may be filled into the enclosed volume through a water supply lie, one end of which being ended at lower end of the cylinder body on which the body is arranged to move up and down, said cylinder at its lower ed being provided with a one-way valve allowing water only to enter the cylinder.

According to yet another embodiment, at least two sets of bodies may be used, said bodies being moveably arranged up and down in two corresponding cylinders or chambers, the bodies being interconnected by a wire affixed at each end to a body and running over at least one pully or wheel the bodies, causing a rotation and a corresponding generation of electricity by a generator.

According to still another embodiment, the lower end of the cylinder communicates with an external source of water through a one-way valve, the valve being configured to open to allow water from the external water source to flow into the lower end, but preventing water from flowing back to the external water source.

According to another aspect of the invent a method for generating electrical energy is provided , wherein hollow bodies, interconnected at their upper end by means of a wire system running over one or more pullies on common shaft(s) with a generator, are configured to run up and down in a cylinder or chamber, the bottom end of the cylinder(s)/chambers being in fluid communication with an externally arranged water source through a one-way valve, the two bodies being configured in such way that when one body is moving downwards in its cylinder/chamber, the other body is brought to move upwards in its cylinder/chamber and vice versa, the body moving downwards displaces water which is forced into a volume of the opposite body through a piping system, and where supplied water to the other body is allowed to be discharged out of the body when the opposite body reaches its lower piston in its opposite cylinder/chamber.

An essential advantage of the present invention is that the system may produce electricity without being dependent on any difference in or varying external water level or any flow of water past the system. Moreover, a more or less production of electricity is possible the year around.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and further features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and together with advantages thereof will become clearer from consideration of the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following, embodiments of the present invention shall be described in more details, referring to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows schematically and in a sectional view a pair of opposing funicular units, interconnected by a wire and pulley system, each funicular unit being movably arranged inside an inclined cylindrical body;

Figure 2 shows generally and schematically and in more detail an example of the ballast tank drain valve mechanism, showing the lower end of an inclined cylinder where the lower end of a funicular unit on the one on the right side is in an extreme lower position and the other funicular unit (the one to the left) is in its extreme upper position; and

Figure 3 shows in principle and schematically and in more detail an example of the water reservoir filling valve mechanism, showing the opposite situation where the funicular unit on the left side is in its extreme lower position and the one on the right side being in its extreme upper position.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented, or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure intended to cover such an apparatus or method which in practices are using either structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

Figure 1 shows schematically and in a sectional view a funicular based assembly configured to produce electricity. The funicular based assembly 16 comprises the following main elements:

- a supporting structure 13, supporting the funicular unit system 16;

- two inclined cylinders 6, supported by a supporting structure 13, the inclined cylinders being closed at the bottom end while the opposite end, the upper end being open. The two cylinders 6 are arranged in an inclined configuration, leaning towards each other in upwards direction;

- a combined water chamber 1 and ballast chamber 2, movably arranged inside each inclined cylinder 6, wherein the water chamber is closed at its bottom and open at its top and where the ballast chamber 2 contains a suitable ballast material, the ballast chamber 1 being positioned on top of the ballast chamber 2;

- a wire system 7 associated with a pulley and generator on common shaft system 9;

- a valve system comprising one-way inlet valve 10, sluicing water from the external source 11 into the lower end of the cylinder 6 in a controlled manner; and a one-way outlet valve 4 sluicing out of the water chamber 1 and into the bottom of the cylinder 6 or back into the external water source 11; and

- a piping system comprising a pile 5 in each cylinder, providing a water communication between the bottom of a cylinder and the top of the water chamber 1 movably arranged in the corresponding opposite cylinder 6.

As shown in Figure 1, the pair of opposing funicular units 16, interconnected by a wire 7. Each end of the wire 7 is fixed to the top end of a corresponding funicular unit 16 in a known manner, such as for example by means of a yoke (not shown and a conventional wire connection to the yoke. Furthermore, the wire 7 runs alternatively over and under wheels or pulleys or similar, each of which being arranged on a common axis (not shown) with generator 9.

When one of the funicular units 16 is moved downward, the corresponding funicular unit 16 will move upwards, such motion causes the pulley and the generator 9 on the common shaft to rotate, generating electricity. According to the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1, five pulley and generator assemblies are disclosed. It should be appreciated, however, that the number of such units may be any feasible number.

The system functions in the following way, starting with the positions of the water chamber 1 and ballast chamber 2 in the two corresponding cylinders 6 as disclosed in Figure 1: It should be noted that in order to start the system, one of the water chambers 1 must be filled either manually or in any way to the required system water level before any self-induced movement of the system can be initiated.

Subsequent to said first filling, the system will be self-operating.

In Figure 1 the combined water and ballast chamber 1,2 is in its extreme lower position, where the external bottom surface of the ballast chamber 3 is in contact with the bottom of the cylinder surface of the corresponding cylinder 6. In this position, the one-way valve 4 in the water chamber 1 is opened, allowing the water inside the water chamber 1 to flow out into the external water source 11 through the open valve 4. At the same time, the combined ballast and water chamber 1,2 in the other cylinder 6 is in its extreme upper position, leaving an open volume 3 inside the corresponding cylinder 6 below the bottom surface of the ballast chamber 2. In this position, the external bottom surface of the ballast chamber 2 is at a level above the one-way inlet valve 10 in the wall of the cylinder 6. Since the external side wall of the ballast chamber 2 in this position no longer prevent opening of the valve 10, the valve is allowed to be opened and water from the external water source is being sluiced into the internal water reservoir 3 until the reservoir is filled. Preferably then valve 10 is position below the lowest expected water level of the external water source 11, securing that the internal water reservoir inside the cylinder always will be filled when the valve 10 opens.

In order to start the descend of the unit from its extreme upper position, water is filled into the water chamber 1. At this stage, the water chamber 1 on the corresponding funicular unit is empty. As the water chamber 1 in the process of being filled is becoming heavier, due to the continuous addition of water, the water chamber becomes heavier and will start descending while the corresponding emptied funicular unity will ascend in the cylinder 6. As a consequence, the bottom surface of the ascending funicular unit will be lifted off its position on the floor of the cylinder 6 and the valve manipulator 17 will then leave its seat 19 at the lower external surface of the ballast chamber 2, moving the valve closure downwards, closing of the valve in the water chamber, sealing off the water chamber ready to be filled. This is achieved since the valve is 4 is controlled by the valve manipulator 17, the manipulator being slidably arranged in a duct through the ballast chamber.

In the opposite, corresponding cylinder, the downwards movement of the funicular unit will close the valve 10 in the cylinder wall, sealing off the interior of the lower part of the cylinder from the external water source 11. By further movement of the funicular unit downwards due to the weight of continuous supply of water, the incompressible water will be pressed out of the internal water reservoir through the water transfer pipe 5 and discharged into the emptied water chamber 1 of the water chamber of the opposite, complementary funicular unit.

When the water filled funicular unit, i.e. the one to the left in Figure 1 approaches the bottom of the cylinder 6 and the internal water reservoir 3, the mechanical interconnected contact sensor 18 of the one-way valve mechanism 4 is lifted into contact with the recess 19 in the bottom of the ballast chamber 2, moving the valve 4 in water chamber 1 into an open position, allowing water in the water chamber 1 to be sluiced out into the surroundings. In this position, the valve in the water chamber on the opposite funicular unit is closed, while the one -way valve in the cylinder wall is open sin the funicular unit is in its extreme upper position, whereby water is sluiced from the external water source 11 into the internal water reservoir at the bottom end of the cylinder. When the water chamber 1 on the left side is empty, the funicular unit on the right side will start descending du to unbalance in weight between the two funicular units, and the process is reversed and repeated.

During this repeated process, the wire system interconnecting the two funicular units, running over the pullies creates a production of electricity in the associated generators.

From a practical point of view, and in order to secure as even load distribution on the various pulleys, an odd number of pulleys are preferred, imposing even loads on each pulley or wheel.

Figure 2 shows generally and schematically and in more detail an example of the ballast tank drain valve mechanism, showing the lower end of an inclined cylinder 6 where the lower end of a funicular unit on the right-hand side is in an extreme lower position and the other funicular unit (the one to the left hand side) is in its extreme upper position. As shown the funicular unit in the cylinder 6 on the righthand side of the drawing has just left its extreme low position, the bottom of the ballast chamber has left the resting position on the bottom plate of the cylinder 6. As a consequence, the contact sensor 18 has left its locking position, whereby the valve 4 in the water chamber 1 is opened and water is sluiced out of the water chamber.

When the funicular is moving further upwards, the valve becomes closed, since the contact sensor and the valve manipulator, movably arranged inside the duct 20 through the ballast chamber moves downwards bring the attached slide valve into closing position, thus establishing an emptied water chamber to receive displaced water from the other funicular unit compression.

Figure 3 shows in principle and schematically and in more detail an example of the water reservoir filling valve mechanism, showing the opposite situation where the funicular unit has arrived at its extreme upper position where the one-way valve in the cylinder wall is opened so as to sluice in water from the external water source. At the same time the contact sensor 18 has left it seat 19 in the external bottom surface of the ballast chamber 2, whereby the one-way valve at the lower end of the water chamber become closed due to the downwards movement of the valve manipulator 17. During this descend, downwards moving funicular unit will force water out of the cylinder volume below the funicular unit, pressing the displaced water upwards through the pipe system 5 and into the water chamber 1 of the opposite unit.

It should be appreciated that the various valves may be provided with means such as springs to bring the valves into closing position and/or bring the contact sensor to leave its closing seat in the recess 19 in the external surface of the ballast chamber 2 and thereby bringing the valve tin to closing contact with the corresponding opening in the water chamber 1.

The funicular unit system may be arranged onshore, at shore or offshore, in close fluid communication with an external water source with a more or less constant volume of water. Alternatively, or in addition, the funicular system may be arranged on a barge. In such latter case, the lower end of each cylinder must be positioned at a sufficient depth so as to always secure sufficient supply of water to the lower end of the cylinder. Moreover, a number of such funicular may be arranged in series.

The various shown elements in the system drawings are not in scale and are subject to be calibrated and optimized to the best and most suitable properties, sizes and weights and to be tested to improve performance prior to using the system. Additionally, depending on water source used, there may be a need for constructing and dimensioning hydraulic lifting devices or other means for lifting or lowering the system if water level of the external water source varies, for example due to seasonal variance, so as to also secure sufficient and adequate supply of water to the internal water reservoir.

In stead of a wire system other transmission system may be used, such as for example chains, gear systems, belts or the like without deviating from the inventive idea. Moreover, in stead of having a pulley or wheel system on a common shaft with the generator, belt or chain transmission may be used with or without a gear system, or other transmission systems may be used in order to increase the rotation of the generator.

The skilled person will consider using various types of valves, such as for example a sliding valve in the ballast chamber spring loaded check valves or oneway valves, etc.

Claims

1. System for producing energy, characterized in that a device is configured to use water to create movement of bodies interconnected by means of a wire system passing over at least one pully, connected to a generator producing electricity by using the rotation of the at least one pulley.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein bodies are provided with enclosed volumes, slidably arranged in correspondingly shaped cylinders, the wire system being connected to the enclosed volumes at their top part, running over the at least one pulley.

3. System according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each body at their lower end region are provided with one-way valve configured to drain water from the enclosed volume and with an inlet at the top for supply of water to the enclosed volume.

4. System according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein each body is also provided with a weight chamber, arranged at the lower ed of the body, below the enclosed volume configured to contain the water.

5. System according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the one-way valve arranged at the lower end of the enclosed volume is provided with a manipulator, arranged to open the one-way valve when the body has reached its lower position.

6. System according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein water is filled into the enclosed volume through a water supply lie, one ed of which being ended at lower end of the cylinder body on which the body is arranged to move up and down, said cylinder at its lower end being provided with a one-way valve allowing water only to enter the cylinder.

7. System according to one of the clams 1 to 6, wherein at least two sets of bodies are used, moveably arranged up and down in two corresponding cylinders, the bodies being interconnected by a wire affixed at each end to a body and running over at least one pully or wheel the bodies, causing a rotation and a corresponding generation of electricity by a generator.

8. System according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the lower end of the cylinder communicates with an external source of water through a one-way valve, the valve being configured to open to allow water from the external water source to flow into the lower end but preventing water from flowing back to the external water source.

9. Method to generate electrical energy, wherein two hollow bodies, interconnected at their upper end by means of a wire system running over one or more pullies on common shaft(s) with a generator, are configured to run up and down in a cylinder, the bottom end of the cylinder(s) being in fluid communication with an externally arranged water source through a one-way valve, the two bodies being configured in such way that when one body is moving downwards in its cylinder, the other body is brought to move upwards in its cylinder and vice versa, the body moving downwards displaces water which is forced into a volume of the opposite body through a piping system, and where supplied water to the other body is allowed to be discharged out of the body when the opposite body reaches its lower piston in its opposite cylinder. .