WO2014035267A1

WO2014035267A1 - Buoyancy power plant

Info

Publication number: WO2014035267A1
Application number: PCT/PL2013/000106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zbigniew Korzelski
Original assignee: Zbigniew Korzelski
Priority date: 2012-08-28
Filing date: 2013-08-22
Publication date: 2014-03-06
Also published as: PL223920B1; PL400535A1; WO2014035267A8

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a buoyancy power plant, generating energy, following laws of hydro- and aerostatics. According to the invention, the buoyancy plant is a set of interconnected power generation devices. The plant consists of one or more buoyancy units (100), (100.1), with a built-in float (121) (121.1). The float (121) (121.1) moving inside the tank (141), (141.1) of the device and is connected via a connector (502), (502.1) with a mechanical drive assembly (200) (200.1) (200.2) (200.3) (200.4) (200.5) (200.6) and/or a hydraulic drive unit (300) and/or a hydraulic power unit. These assemblies are connected to an electricity generator (505) and/or a mechanical energy generator. Preferably, the connector (502) (502.1) is equipped with a mechanical energy storage unit (600). The operating principle of the. basic buoyancy device system (100) (100.1) is based on the interaction of two buoyancy assemblies. In this system, two buoyancy devices operate alternately, i.e. when float (121) of the first buoyancy device (100) operates in the duty cycle, the float (121.1) of the second buoyancy device (100.1) operates in the passive cycle. A connector (502), connecting the float (121) of the first buoyancy device (100) with the float (121.1) of the second buoyancy device (100.1) moves between these two buoyancy displacement devices (100) (100.1) (100.2) (100.3), (100.4), cyclically, in reciprocating motion.

Description

Buoyancy power plant

The invention subject is a buoyancy plant, generating power based on the laws of hydro- and aerostatics.

There are numerous buoyancy and gravity-buoyancy appliances using basic laws of hydrostatics and aerostatics to concert buoyant energy into mechanical energy and subsequently into electrical energy.

Polish patent application No. P.343660 describes a buoyancy-gravity motor that uses gravity buoyant force to rotate a ring or tube bent into the shape of a circle. This motor consists of a tank filled with a liquid, with cut apertures and guides on the vertical side, inside which the ring or tube bent into the shape of a circle moves. The movable ring or tube is divided into sections, in which the load (water) and gas (air) are located. A part of the ring or tube moves outside, and another part inside the tank, which enables the use of various properties of two different environments, the force of gravity on the outside (gas load) , and buoyancy force inside the tank (gas in the liquid) , until the rotation of the ring or tube bent in' the shape of a circle is achieved.

Polish patent application No. P.380089 describes a water-pulley plant, obtaining electricity from a renewable energy sources, which is water (any water course in an open or closed circuit) through the use of a fixed pulley, a piston coupled with a "top" and an openable container, and the "top" driving the generator moves in result of movement of arms of a rope suspended from the pulley, which is possible by the difference weights suspended at its ends, which is possible due to water entering and exiting the openable container.

Polish patent application No. P.387778 describes a floating power plant, using the buoyancy of a float being a closed tank and wave energy as the driving force. This plant has a fixed or floating structure, to which the float is attached by a rigid connector, for example, a steel beam, and the steel beam is connected to a shaft that is fixed to the structure. The shaft has bearings that allow up and down movement, forced on the float, beam and shaft, and the movement is then transferred to pistons.

Polish Patent No. PL 192 165 describes a buoyancy turbine, which enables the production of mechanical energy and electricity from existing, natural resources of liquids and gases. The turbine design utilizes the phenomenon of buoyant force acting, according to Archimedes' principle, on a ring rotor placed in two chambers, the right chamber being filled with a liquid, for example water, and the left on with gas, e.g. air. Buoyant force, acting at the center of gravity of the rotor half creates torque, which puts the rotor in rotational movement round roller supports, thus generating mechanical power. Mechanical power can be received by friction gears, electromechanical coupling or the rotor can be used as the stator for a power generator. A disadvantage of prior art devices is their limited scope of use or dependence on the flow rate of natural resources, such as waterways.

The present invention provides an ecological device used in the production of mechanical energy and electrical energy for its further use in various fields of technology, and whose operation is based on the use of buoyancy force generated by impacts on a body immersed in liguids and gases, according to Archimedes' principle.

According to the invention, the buoyancy power plant is a set of interconnected power generation devices. The plant contains one or more buoyancy devices with a built-in float. The float moving within the buoyancy device is connected via a connector to a mechanical drive unit and/or a hydraulic drive unit and/or hydraulic power unit. These units are connected to a electricity generator and/or mechanical energy generator. Preferably, the connector has a mechanical energy storage unit.

The basic layout of the plant set of devices, according to the invention, comprises two or more buoyancy devices, linked together directly or indirectly by a connector. The connector, along the section between the devices, is supported by guiding elements.

The buoyancy plant device set is preferably equipped with a hydraulic power unit, and a mechanical energy storage unit.

The buoyancy device consists of a liquid tank, float, connector linking the float with a mechanical drive unit and/or hydraulic power unit. The connector is supported by guiding elements and a brake. The tank is equipped with guide rails for the float, with intake valves and a drain valve assembly. To the outside of the tank, an overflow pipe is mounted, as well as a supply pipe and a discharge pipe. The float at any shape has a casing, on which, in its upper part, an upper air valve is mounted, whereas in the lower casing part, an aperture/s can be found; the said apertures allow drainage of liquid from the float interior, and there are apertures allowing air being supplied through air ducts. Preferably, these apertures are equipped with bottom drainage valves and bottom air valves. On the float housing, there are mounted rollers that support the float along guide rails, mounted inside the tank. On the float housing, preferably to its lower part, a connector is mounted.

The mechanical drive unit consists of a drive wheel connected to a transmission, while the transmission is connected to an electric and/or mechanical generator of energy. Preferably, the connection of the drive wheel with the transmission is carried out by a transmission belt. Preferably, the transmission is equipped with a flywheel.

The hydraulic drive unit consists of a double-acting hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic fluid flow controller, a hydraulic fluid tank, hydraulic fluid lines with safety valves and a hydraulic motor, connected via a coupling to the generator of electricity. The rod in the double-acting hydraulic actuator is connected by connectors with two floats of the two buoyancy devices in basic set of devices of the buoyancy power plant.

The hydraulic power unit consists of a hydraulic fluid flow of controller, a hydraulic fluid tank, a hydraulic motor, a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic distributor. All of these components of the hydraulic power unit are connected to one another by hydraulic lines. The mechanical energy storage unit accumulates excess mechanical energy in order to use it at a time convenient to the user. It also stores energy during possible shutdowns of power generators or other subassemblies of the buoyancy power plant. The mechanical energy storage assembly is composed of a fixed block, a sliding block, a hook, a grip and a mechanical accumulator, installed between the fixed and the sliding block. The fixed block of the energy storage unit is the basis for the set. The slide block of the energy storage unit is contains a mounting plate, wherein the gripper is mounted, and connected to the hook mounted on the connector. The mechanical accumulator of the energy storage unit stores energy in springs and/or gas springs, and then, at a convenient moment, returns the energy to the circuit. It is advantageous, if the mechanical energy storage unit cooperates with the hydraulic power unit.

The operation of the buoyancy power plant, according to the invention, is the production of energy based on the fundamental right of hydro- and aerostatics.

The basic unit of the plant is the buoyancy device. The device is configured with other devices or sets of devices. Configuration of individual devices of the plant is selected taking into account the prevailing local conditions and power demand, in order to achieve the most efficient energy solution. The start-up and operation of the buoyancy power plant is filling with liquid of the buoyancy tank, through a liquid supply pipe. Any excess liquid is drained via the overflow pipe. Preferably, the liquid to be used is water, or another liquid with strong buoyancy properties. Inside the tank, a float is mounted, which performs plane motion along the tank height. The float moves up or down the tank and is stabilized by guide rollers moving along guide rails mounted on the tank inner walls.

The operation of the buoyancy device is divided into two cycles. The duty cycle, in which buoyancy force acts on the float, and the passive cycle.

The duty cycle begins when the float is filled with air and is located at the bottom of the buoyancy device tank, filled with a liquid. The buoyant force directed vertically towards the top of the tank acts on the float. The required float position is maintained by a brake. When the required buoyancy force acts on the float, the brake is released, and the float moves upward the tank in a plane motion, while pulling the connector. When the float reaches the preset top position, in the container the upper air valve and the liquid valve assembly are opened. Through the upper air valve, air accumulated in the float is released, and through the liquid valve set, the float is filled with liquid.

The passive cycle begins when the float is filled with liquid and begins its plane motion downward the tank. After the float is filled with liquid, the upper air valve is closed. When the float rests on the tank bottom, lower air valves for the float are connected with the tank inlet valves, and the liquid valve assembly is connected with the drain valve assembly. Following the connection, the float valve and the tank will be opened. Through the opened liquid valve assembly and opened drain valve assembly, the float interior will be emptied of liquid, and through the opened lower air valves and intake valves, air is drawn in and delivered via air ducts to the float chamber interior. After filling the chamber with air, the float and tank valves are closed.

The operating principle of the basic set of buoyancy devices is based on the interaction between two buoyancy assemblies. In this system, two buoyancy devices operate alternately, i.e. when the float of the first buoyancy device works in the duty cycle, the float of the other buoyancy device works in the passive cycle. The connector interconnecting the first buoyancy device with the float of the second buoyancy device moves between the two devices in cycles, in reciprocating motion. The basic system enables the installation, between two buoyancy devices, of an assembly of devices, which, powered by the connector, produce energy.

The basic assembly of buoyancy devices and the hydraulic device assembly constitute the hydraulic system in the buoyancy power plant. Buoyancy devices operate following the principle of operation of the basic system. Buoyancy devices are connected indirectly with connectors with the double-acting hydraulic actuator. The connector is attached to the float in the first buoyancy device and the left rod of the double-acting hydraulic actuator, while the other connector is mounted to the float of the other buoyancy device and the right rod of the double-acting hydraulic actuator. When the float of the first buoyancy device performs its working cycle, the connector attached to the float drives the double-acting hydraulic actuator. On the other hand, when the float of the second buoyancy device performs its working cycle, the connector attached to its float drives the rod of the double-acting hydraulic actuator. The double-acting hydraulic actuator is a part of the hydraulic power unit. As a result of the operation of the double-acting hydraulic actuator, the hydraulic power unit produces pressure of the operating medium, which, via hydraulic lines, and through the flow controller, is transferred to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor is connected via a coupling to the generator of electricity. The hydraulic power unit is equipped with safety valves and a hydraulic fluid tank.

The operation of the mechanical energy storage unit enables the storage of energy obtained from the operation of the buoyancy device float. The connector, joining the float with the mechanical drive unit is equipped . with a hook cooperating with the grabber mounted in the sliding block of the mechanical energy storage unit. When the float moves up the buoyancy tank, and performs its work cycle by pulling the connector, the hook mounted on the connector is connected with the gripper mounted in the block of the sliding energy storage unit, and causes the shift of the sliding block against the fixed block, and the transfer of the float buoyancy energy to the mechanical accumulator, mounted between the fixed and sliding blocks of the energy storage unit. The mechanical accumulator will start returning stored energy when the gripper releases the connector's hook.

The advantage of the buoyancy power plant is the generation of energy in an ecological manner, without polluting the environment, as well as its low cost of operation. The invention uses operation media such as atmospheric air, and inland, sea or ocean water. The invention generates energy without limits, at low or zero cost of the operating media. Operating media are then discharged into the environment without pollution, therefore, the energy cost is low. The invention allows the construction of low-power devices or groups of devices, at the same time generating power in thousands of KW. It is important that, in comparison with conventional hydro plants, the invention demonstrates a much lower demand for the operating medium (water) , so it can be built on small watercourses where the construction of a conventional hydro plants would be unprofitable due to insufficient power. The invention can be applied in the power sector, powering generators of electricity, can be used to produce thermal energy, and can also be applied to drive devices that use mechanical energy.

The invention in its embodiment is shown in drawings, where Figure 1 shows the buoyancy device with the float in the upper part of the tank, Figure 2 shows the design of the float, Figure 3 shows the liquid tank of the buoyancy device, Figure 4 shows the basic layout of buoyancy devices, Figure 5 shows the mechanical system of the invention in the primary circuit, Figure 6 shows the hydraulic system of the invention in the basic layout, Figure 7 shows a view of two basic layouts of the invention, Figure 8 shows an axonometric projection of the two basic systems cooperating with each other, Figure 9 shows a view of the hydraulic power unit, and Figure 10 shows the mechanical energy storage assembly, connected with the buoyancy device.

The buoyancy power plant in its embodiment consists of buoyancy devices 100, 100.1, 100.2, 100.3, 100.4 of the mechanical drive unit 200, 200.1, 200.2, 200.3, 200.4, 200.5 and 200.6, of the hydraulic drive unit 300, electricity generator 505, hydraulic power unit 400 and energy storage unit 600. The buoyancy device 100, 100.1, 100.2, 100.3, 100.4 consists of tank 141, 141.1 inside which float 121, 121.1 performs plane motion and is stabilized by means of rollers 126 and 126.1, mounted to the outer lateral wall of the float housing, which move along guide rails 145 and 145.1, mounted to the inner wall of tank 141, 141.1. The upper outer float casing has the upper air valve 122, while the lower outer float casing is fitted with bottom air valves 123 and 123.1, fluid valve assembly 124 and connector 502, 502.1. Inside the float chamber, air ducts 125 and 125.1 are mounted. Above reservoir 141, 141.1, tube 146 is mounted, supplying liquid to the tank. The upper part of tank 144, 141.1 has fluid overflow tube 144, whereas in the lower part of the tank suction valve 142, 142.1 is mounted, drain valve assembly 143 and liquid discharge pipe 147. The mechanical drive unit 200, 200.1, 200.2, 200.3, 200.4, 200.5, 200.6 consists of drive wheel 201, transmission belt 202 and the transmission connected to the electricity generator 505. connector 502, 502.1, through guide elements 503, 503.1 and brake 504, 504.1 is connected with drive wheel 201. Hydraulic drive unit 300 consists of hydraulic double- acting actuator 330 with built-in piston 333 and left piston rod 331, to which connector 502 is attached, and right rod 332 to which rod 502.1 is attached, hydraulic fluid reservoir 302, safety valve 303, 303.1, which, through hydraulic lines 308, 308.1 with flow regulators 301 and 301.1, is connected to hydraulic, motor 304, which, through transmission 305, is connected to electricity generator 505. Hydraulic power unit 400 comprises hydraulic fluid tank 302, hydraulic distributor 403, hydraulic pump 402, 402.1, 402.2, 402.3, 402.4, 402.5, 402.6 and hydraulic motor 304. Mechanical energy storage assembly 600 is constructed of solid block 604, sliding block 605, hook 602, gripper 603, mechanical energy accumulator 601 and hydraulic actuator 330, which is connected to the hydraulic drive unit .

Claims

Patent claims

1. The buoyancy power plant, using the float buoyant force characterized in that it is a set of interconnected devices, containing one or more buoyancy devices (100) (100.1) (100.2) (100.3) (100.4), each of which containing a liquid tank (141), (141.1), inside which float (121) (121.1) slides, whose inner chamber is fitted with air pipes (125), (125.1), while on the outer walls of the float chamber casing (125), (125.1) rollers (126), (126.1) are mounted, moving along guide rails (145), (145.1), the said guide rails being preferably attached to the inner wall of the tank (141), (141.1), wherein to the upper part of the float housing (121), (121.1) the upper air valve (122) is mounted, while the lower part of the float - housing (121), (121.1) is equipped with an aperture or apertures discharging liquid from the interior of the float chamber and air inlet apertures, and preferably in these apertures, lower air valves are mounted (123), (123.1) and liquid valve assembly (124), and to float (121) (121.1) connector (502), (502.1) is attached, connected to mechanical drive unit (200) (200.1) (200.2) (200.3) and/or to hydraulic drive unit (300) and/or hydraulic power supply (400), which are connected to electricity generator (505) and/or a generator of mechanical energy, and preferably on connector (502), (502.1), a mechanical energy storage assembly (600) is installed, while above tank (141), (141.1) is mounted on a tube (146) supplying fluid to the reservoir, wherein in the upper part of the tank (141), (141.1), liquid overflow pipe (144), is mounted, while in the lower part of tank (141) (141.1) suction valve (142), (142.1) is mounted, drain assembly (143) and liquid drain tube (147) .

Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that mechanical drive assembly (200) (200.1) (200.

2) (200.

3)

(200.4) (200.5) (200.6) preferably consists of drive wheel (201), connected to the transmission that is connected to the electricity generator (505) and/or the mechanical energy generator, wherein connector (502),

(502.1) by means of guide elements (503), (503.1) and brake (504), (504.1) is connected to drive wheel (201).

Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that hydraulic power unit (300), preferably composed of double-acting hydraulic actuator (330) with built-in piston (333) , and left piston rod (331) to which connector (502) is attached, and right piston rod (332) to which connector (502.1) is attached, hydraulic fluid tank (302), which, through hydraulic lines (308) (308.1) with flow controllers (301) and (301.1) is connected to hydraulic motor (304), the said motor (304) via transmission (305) is connected to electricity generator (505) , wherein the hydraulic power unit is equipped with safety valve (303), (303.1) .

4. Power plant according to claim 1 characterized in that hydraulic power unit (400) consists preferably of hydraulic fluid tank (302), hydraulic distributor (403), hydraulic pump (402) (402.1) (402.2) (402.3) (402.4) (402.5) (402.6) and hydraulic motor (304),

5. Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that mechanical energy storage assembly (600) is constructed of fixed block (604) movable block (605), hook (602), gripper (603) and mechanical energy accumulator (601).

6 Power plant according to claim 1 characterized in that the basic design of device assembly comprises two or more buoyancy devices (100), which are connected together directly or indirectly with a connector (502) .

7. Power plant according to claim 1 characterized in that the piston rod of the double-acting hydraulic actuator (331), (332) is connected through connectors (502), (502.1) with two floats (121) (121.1) of two buoyancy devices (100) (100.1) of the basic device assembly system.

8. Power plant according to claim 1 characterized in that connector (502) (502.1), along the section between buoyancy devices (100), (101.1) is carried by guide elements and brake (504), (504.1).

9. Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with hydraulic power unit (400) and mechanical energy storage assembly (600),