WO2021043641A1

WO2021043641A1 - Facility for producing electricity

Info

Publication number: WO2021043641A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/073773
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Pelloux-Gervais
Original assignee: Pelloux Gervais Pierre
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2020-08-25
Publication date: 2021-03-11
Also published as: FR3100581B1; FR3100581A1

Abstract

Said facility comprises: - a tank (1) containing a liquid (10); - a pipe (2) comprising a lower end (20) immersed in the liquid (10) and an upper end (21) emerging from the liquid (10); - an impulse turbine (3) attached to the upper end (21) of the pipe (2); - injection means designed to inject a gas (4) compressed at the lower end (20) of the pipe (2) so as to produce a flow rate of the liquid (10) in the pipe (2) from the lower end (20) to the upper end (21).

Description

INSTALLATION FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICITY Technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of installations for producing electricity in an ecological manner from the movement of a liquid by a compressed gas.

The invention finds its application in particular to equip a fixed site (e.g. a power plant, a home, a factory, etc.) or a mobile transport device (sea, land, e.g. aircraft, submarine, etc.).

State of the prior art

An installation known from the state of the art, in particular from document US Pat. No. 4,767,938, comprises:

- a reservoir, containing a liquid;

- a first pipe, comprising: an upper end, submerged in the liquid, a lower end, extending below the tank, under the ground; the first pipe having a section increasing from the lower end to the upper end;

- a second pipe, comprising: an upper end, extending from the bottom of the tank, a lower end, extending below the ground;

- a hydroelectric type turbine, connected to the lower ends of the first and second pipes;

- injection means, arranged to inject a compressed gas at the lower end of the first pipe so as to obtain a flow velocity of the liquid in the first pipe from the lower end to the upper end.

The kinetic energy of the liquid, set in motion by the compressed gas, is recovered by the turbine after the liquid flows from the upper end to the lower end of the second pipe.

Such an installation of the state of the art is not entirely satisfactory insofar as the turbine does not recover the maximum kinetic energy of the liquid set in motion by the compressed gas. Disclosure of the invention

The invention aims to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. To this end, the invention relates to an installation for producing electricity, comprising:

- a reservoir, containing a liquid;

- a pipe, comprising: a lower end, immersed in the liquid, an upper end, emerging from the liquid;

- an action turbine, connected to the upper end of the pipeline;

- injection means, arranged to inject a compressed gas at the lower end of the pipe so as to obtain a flow velocity of the liquid in the pipe from the lower end to the upper end.

Definitions

- By "upper end" is meant the end portion of the pipe which has the highest position in the tank.

- By "lower end" is meant the end portion of the pipe which has the lowest position in the tank.

Thus, such an installation according to the invention makes it possible, thanks to the action turbine connected to the upper end of the pipe (and not to the lower end as in the state of the art), to recover the kinetic energy maximum of the liquid set in motion (and accelerated) by the compressed gas. It is essential that the turbine be active (not reactive) in order to turbinate the flow rate of the liquid / gas mixture, unlike a reaction turbine which only turbines the liquid.

By way of illustration, such an installation according to the invention makes it possible to generate an electric power ranging from a few kW to a few MW.

The installation according to the invention may include one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the injection means are configured so that the upper end of the pipe has a mixture of gas and liquid with a volume proportion of gas of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%. Thus, an advantage provided by such a volume proportion of gas is to avoid an isenthalpic expansion of the gas in the pipe which would not make it possible to efficiently recover the energy supplied to the gas, and thereby would not make it possible to obtain a satisfactory flow rate of liquid in the pipeline from the lower end to the upper end. Indeed, when the gas is present in too large a quantity, it cannot transmit its energy to the liquid due to the formation of gas corridors. However, such a volume proportion of gas allows an expansion close to an isentropic expansion of the gas in the pipe so as to obtain a satisfactory flow rate of the liquid in the pipe from the lower end to the upper end. We will choose a proportion of gas between approximately 60% and 70% in order to obtain the maximum power of the installation. It is also possible to choose a gas proportion of less than 60% with a lower power generated but with better efficiency. On the other hand, when the volume proportion of gas is less than 20%, the quantity of energy contained in the gas becomes insufficient to significantly accelerate the liquid and to obtain a positive balance due to the different efficiencies of the injection means and of the turbine, and pressure drops.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the injection means comprise:

- an injection tube, connected to the lower end of the pipe, and preferably thermally insulated;

- a compressor, arranged to supply the compressed gas to the injection tube.

Thus, an advantage obtained by the fact of thermally insulating the injection tube (isolated from the liquid when the injection tube extends inside the tank or isolated from the external environment when the injection tube extends partly outside the tank) is to be able to maintain a high temperature of the gas at the lower end of the pipe, and therefore to best conserve the energy supplied to the gas during compression.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the compressor has a speed of rotation suitable for the upper end of the pipe to have a mixture of gas and liquid with a volume proportion of gas of between 20% and 70%, preferably of between between 30% and 65%.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the reservoir has a section at constant value, denoted å; and the injection means comprise a Venturi device, mounted at the lower end of the pipe, and having a section, denoted s, verifying: Thus, an advantage provided by the Venturi device is to reduce the injection pressure (ie the gas pressure at the lower end of the pipe at the level of section s of the Venturi device), and to be able to control the gas flow. injected at the lower end of the pipeline. Thus, such a Venturi device with a section s verifying the relationship s <S / 4 allows excellent distribution of the gas within the liquid in order to promote the transfer of energy to the liquid during the expansion of the gas in the gas. pipeline.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the speed of rotation of the compressor is adapted to the section s of the Venturi device so that the upper end of the pipe has a mixture of gas and liquid with a volume proportion of gas of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the pipe extends in a vertical direction, and the reservoir is fixed.

Thus, an advantage obtained is to use the volume density differential of potential energy of gravity between the liquid in the tank and the liquid / gas mixture circulating in the pipe, in order to assist the gas to set the liquid in motion. in the pipeline from the lower end to the upper end. This volume density differential of potential energy of gravity can be translated according to the formula (p - p ') g h where:

- p is the volume density of the liquid / gas mixture circulating in the pipe,

- p is the volume density of the liquid in the tank,

- g is the normal acceleration of gravity,

- h is the height of the pipe, We can estimate that the value of the flow velocity of the liquid in the pipe obeys Torricelli's formula, that is to say is approximately equal to

·

According to one characteristic of the invention, the reservoir is movable in rotation about a vertical axis of rotation; the pipe being integral in rotation with the reservoir; the upper end of the pipe being proximal to the axis of rotation, the lower end of the pipe being distal to the axis of rotation.

Thus, an advantage obtained is to use the centripetal force (and not the normal acceleration of terrestrial gravity as in the case where the reservoir is fixed) exerted on the lower end of the pipe to assist the gas to be set in motion. the liquid in the pipeline from the lower end to the upper end. The use of the centripetal force makes it possible to obtain acceleration values greater (or even much greater eg by a factor of 10 to 1000) than the normal acceleration of gravity.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises motorized drive means arranged to drive the reservoir in rotation around the vertical axis of rotation; the reservoir being made in the form of a drive arm inside which the lower end of the pipe is mounted integrally; the drive arm being provided with at least one opening shaped to receive the liquid so that the lower end of the line is submerged in the liquid.

Thus, an advantage obtained is to obtain a compact installation insofar as the lower end of the pipe is immersed in the liquid, inside the reservoir formed by the drive arm.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the pipe has a horizontal part comprising the lower end; the horizontal part being provided with at least one internal partition, preferably of helical shape.

Thus, an advantage provided by the partition or partitions is to be able to limit the separation of the liquid / gas mixture caused by the centrifugal effect.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises a protective casing arranged to surround the reservoir and the impeller.

Thus, an advantage obtained is to obtain a closed circuit installation, protected from the outside environment. The protective casing is advantageously arranged to also surround the compressor. The installation can thus operate at constant pressure, and free itself from external conditions.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises a receiving tank arranged downstream of the action turbine for receiving the mixture of gas and liquid.

Thus, such a receiving tank, with a suitable section, makes it possible to reduce the (vertical) flow speed of the liquid downstream of the action turbine. When the tank is movable in rotation about a vertical axis, the receiving tank is integral in rotation with the tank in order to promote the separation of the liquid / gas mixture by centrifugation of the mixture. According to one characteristic of the invention, the receiving tank is provided with an Archimedean screw arranged to guide the liquid of the mixture towards the opening (s) of the drive arm.

Thus, an advantage obtained is to be assured of being able to recover the liquid despite negative accelerations in the vertical direction, which is likely to occur when the installation equips a mobile transport device such as a land vehicle or an aircraft. .

According to one characteristic of the invention, the pipe is provided with honeycomb-type structures shaped to confine the gas with the liquid.

Thus, an advantage obtained is to limit the separation of the liquid / gas mixture, in particular when the pipe has non-vertical portions or when the reservoir is mobile in rotation.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the liquid is selected from water, glycol water, potassium formate, cesium formate, a mixture of potassium formate and cesium formate.

Thus, an advantage provided by glycol water, potassium formate and cesium formate is to have a higher density than water, while maintaining acceptable viscosities. Thus, such liquids make it possible, for a given gas and at a fixed pipe height, to increase the volume density differential of potential energy of gravity (between the liquid in the reservoir and the liquid / gas mixture circulating in the pipe) by compared to water, and thereby increase the power generated. In other words, such liquids make it possible, relative to water, to reduce the height of the pipe while generating the same power. In addition, an advantage of glycol water, potassium formate and cesium formate is that they freeze at temperatures well below 0 ° C.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, the disclosure being accompanied by examples and references to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an installation according to the invention, illustrating a first embodiment where the tank is fixed.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of an installation according to the invention, illustrating a second embodiment where the reservoir is movable in rotation. Detailed description of the embodiments

Elements that are identical or perform the same function will bear the same references for the different embodiments, for the sake of simplicity.

An object of the invention is an installation for producing electricity, comprising:

- a reservoir 1, containing a liquid 10;

a pipe 2, comprising: a lower end 20, immersed in the liquid 10, an upper end 21, emerging from the liquid 10;

- an action turbine 3, connected to the upper end 21 of the pipe 2;

- injection means, arranged to inject a gas 4 compressed at the lower end 20 of the pipe 2 so as to obtain a flow speed of the liquid 10 in the pipe 2 from the lower end 20 towards the end upper 21.

Reservoir and liquid

The tank 1 can be on the ground, buried or above ground (raised). Reservoir 1 can be formed by a dam, by the contours of a lake, or even by a water tower-type structure. The reservoir 1 advantageously has a section greater than a threshold below which gas bubbles 4 are entrained downstream from the action turbine 3 towards the bottom of the reservoir 1. Thus, a section of the reservoir 1 greater than such a threshold allows to greatly limit a potential entrainment of the gas bubbles 4 downstream of the action turbine 3 towards the bottom of the tank 1.

The liquid 10 is advantageously selected from water, glycol water, potassium formate, cesium formate, a mixture of potassium formate and cesium formate. Of course, other liquids can be used, preferably having a density greater than water, while maintaining acceptable viscosities. For example, liquid 10 can be a thermally stable oil between 250 ° C and 300 ° C. By "thermally stable" is meant that the oil undergoes neither change of state (sufficiently low saturating vapor pressure) nor thermal degradation.

Means of injection

The compressed gas 4 is preferably air.

The injection means advantageously include:

- an injection tube 5, connected to the lower end 20 of the pipe 2; - a compressor 6, arranged to supply the gas 4 compressed in the injection tube 5.

The injection tube 5 is advantageously thermally insulated from the liquid 10 (when the injection tube 5 extends inside the tank 1) so that all the heat contained in the gas 4 at the level of the compressor 6 (or at the level of the last stage in the case of a multi-stage compressor 6) can be restored to the lower end 20 of the pipe 2. When the injection tube extends partly outside the tank 1, the injection tube 5 is advantageously thermally insulated from the external environment. To do this, the injection tube 5 is advantageously surrounded by a thermal insulator selected from an alumina powder, perlite, rock wool, vacuum, cork, a ceramic fiber. The injection tube 5 may extend entirely inside the reservoir 1. Alternatively, the injection tube 5 may have a part extending outside the reservoir 1.

The injection means are advantageously configured so that the upper end 21 of the pipe 2 has a mixture of gas 4 and liquid 10 with a volume proportion of gas 4 of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30%. and 65%. To do this, the compressor 6 has a rotational speed suitable so that, in steady state, the upper end 21 of the pipe 2 has a mixture of gas 4 and liquid 10 with a volume proportion of gas 4 of between 20%. and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%.

The reservoir 1 advantageously has a section with constant value, denoted å. The injection means advantageously comprise a Venturi device 7, mounted at the lower end 20 of the pipe 2, and having a section, denoted s, verifying: s <S / 4.

In the presence of the Venturi device 7, the speed of rotation of the compressor 6 is advantageously adapted to the section s of the Venturi device 7 so that, in steady state, the upper end 21 of the pipe 2 has a mixture of gas 4 and liquid. 10 with a volume proportion of gas 4 of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%. When the pressure at the level of the Venturi device 7 is less than 4 bars, the compressor 6 can be single-stage. When the pressure at the level of the Venturi device 7 is greater than 4 bars, the compressor 6 is preferably multistage. The gas 4 is cooled on all the stages of the compressor 6, except the last stage, in order to approach an isothermal compression which consumes less energy. By way of example, the compressed gas 4 leaving the compressor 6 can be of the order of 250 ° C. The compressor 6 is preferably suitable, ie the pressure obtained at the outlet of the compressor 6 corresponds to the pressure at the level of the Venturi device 7 and to the pressure drops. When the compressor 6 is suitable, the speed of rotation of the compressor 6 and the internal compression ratio are advantageously adapted to the section s of the Venturi device 7 so that, in steady state, the upper end 21 of the pipe 2 has a mixture of gas 4 and liquid 10 with a volume proportion of gas 4 of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%.

The Venturi device 7 is a Venturi injector chosen as a function of the section, denoted S, of the pipe 2. The Venturi device 7 has an internal surface having a throttling zone of section s, and delimiting a liquid mixing chamber 10. and gas 4. The Venturi device 7 is advantageously mounted inside the lower end 20 of the pipe when the section S of the pipe 2 is less than 200 mm. By way of nonlimiting example, a Venturi device 7 of the inverted water pump type can be chosen. The Venturi device 7 is advantageously mounted outside the lower end 20 of the pipe 2 when the section S of the pipe 2 is between 200 mm and 500 mm. When the section S of the pipe 2 is greater than 500 mm, the injection means advantageously include:

- a first Venturi device 7 mounted inside the lower end 20 of the pipe,

- a second Venturi device 7 mounted outside the lower end 20 of the pipe 2.

Furthermore, S and s will advantageously be chosen so that the difference (Ss) corresponds to the section necessary for passing the gas 4 at the pressure of the Venturi device 7. In other words, S and s will advantageously be chosen so that the flow speed of the liquid 10 at section s of the Venturi device 7 is equal to the flow speed of the liquid 10 / gas 4 mixture downstream of the Venturi device 7.

Pipe with fixed tank

According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the pipe 2 extends in a vertical direction, and the reservoir 1 is fixed. Line 2 extends inside tank 1. Line 2 is fixed relative to tank 1. Line 2 can be mounted integral with tank 1. Line 2 has a height greater than a threshold beyond which the installation can produce more electricity than it consumes. As mentioned previously, it can be estimated that the value of the flow velocity of liquid 10 in line 2 obeys Torricelli's formula, that is to say is approximately equal

g is the normal acceleration of gravity, - h is the height of pipe 2,

- p is the volume density of the liquid 10 / gas 4 mixture circulating in the pipe,

- p is the volume density of liquid 10 in tank 1,

Line 2 preferably has a height greater than or equal to 30 m when the liquid 10 is water. Line 2 can have a constant section S. Line 2 may have a section S decreasing from the lower end 20 to the upper end 21 in order to increase the flow speed of the liquid 10 in the line 2 (from the lower end 20 to the upper end 21 ) with respect to a constant section S. The pipe 2 may have a conical shape so as to have a section S decreasing from the lower end 20 to the upper end 21.

The injection tube 5 advantageously comprises a vertical portion 50 which preferably extends inside the reservoir 1, immersed in the liquid 10. An advantage provided is to be able to deport the compressor 6, and thereby to facilitate its operation. setting up. Indeed, depending on the nature of the reservoir 1, it may be difficult to place the compressor 6 in the vicinity of the lower end 20 of the pipe 2.

The pipe 2 is advantageously provided with honeycomb-type structures (not shown) shaped to confine the gas 4 with the liquid 10. Each honeycomb-type structure defines patterns advantageously having a section less than or equal to one tenth. of section S of pipe 2, in order to greatly limit the separation of the liquid 10 / gas 4 mixture, in particular when the pipe 2 has non-vertical portions.

The pipe 2 advantageously forms a wall at least partially thermally insulated, preferably totally thermally insulated. To do this, the pipe 2 can have an external surface which is completely or partially thermally insulated. One advantage is being able to maintain a high temperature of the gas 4 in the pipe 2, and therefore to best conserve the energy supplied to the gas 4 during compression. The fact of keeping a high temperature of the gas in the pipe 2 makes it possible to limit the volume density p 'of the liquid 10 / gas 4 mixture circulating in the pipe 2. This results in a high flow rate of the liquid 10 in the pipe 2. (cf. above, Toricelli formula with p '“p).

Line 2 advantageously has a hydrophobic internal surface in order to increase the flow rate of liquid 10 in line 2 by reducing its flow rate. adhesion. To do this, the internal surface of the pipe 2 can be provided with a hydrophobic coating, for example made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Pipe with rotating mobile tank

According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the reservoir 1 is movable in rotation about a vertical axis of rotation. The pipe 2 is mounted integral in rotation with the reservoir 1. The pipe 2 is therefore fixed with respect to the reservoir 1. The upper end 21 of the pipe 2 is proximal with respect to the axis of rotation while the lower end 20 of pipe 2 is distal to the axis of rotation.

The installation advantageously comprises motorized drive means arranged to drive the reservoir 1 in rotation around the vertical axis of rotation. The reservoir 1 is advantageously produced in the form of a drive arm 8 inside which is mounted integral with the lower end 20 of the pipe 2. The drive arm 8 is arranged to drive the pipe 2 in rotation. around the vertical axis of rotation. The drive arm 8 is advantageously provided with at least one opening 80 shaped to receive the liquid 10 so that the lower end 20 of the pipe 2 is immersed in the liquid 10.

The pipe 2 advantageously comprises a first part 22, horizontal, comprising the lower end 20. The first part 22 of the pipe 2 can extend inside the drive arm 8. According to an alternative, the first part 22 of the pipe 2 can extend outside the drive arm 8, except the lower end 20 which must be immersed in the liquid 10, for example by means of an elbow connector. The first horizontal part 22 of the pipe 2 is advantageously provided with at least one internal partition (not shown), preferably of helical shape. As a variant, the first horizontal part 22 of the pipe 2 can be provided with honeycomb-type structures (not shown) shaped to confine the gas 4 with the liquid 10. The pipe 2 advantageously comprises a second part 23, comprising the upper end 21, and projecting from the drive arm 8. The first and second parts 22, 23 of the pipe 2 are advantageously thermally insulated. To do this, the first and second parts 22, 23 of the pipe 2 can have a thermally insulated outer surface. Line 2 advantageously has a hydrophobic internal surface in order to increase the flow rate of liquid 10 in line 2 by reducing its adhesion. To do this, the internal surface of the pipe 2 can be provided with a hydrophobic coating, for example made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The drive arm 8 is advantageously provided with reinforcing members 81 arranged to hold the horizontal part 22 of the pipe 2 in position with respect to the driving arm 8. Such reinforcing members 81 make it possible to ensure the mechanical strength. of the pipe 2.

The motorized drive means comprise an M motor configured to rotate the drive arm 8 around the vertical axis of rotation, and to keep the rotational speed constant. For example, the rotation of the drive arm 8 by the motor M can be provided by gears or by a belt. The motor M is configured to maintain a rotational speed of the drive arm 8 adapted so that the centripetal force exerted on the lower end 20 of the pipe 2 assists the gas 4 to set the liquid 10 in the pipe 2 in motion. from the lower end 20 to the upper end 21.

The drive arm 8 is advantageously provided with a cover adapted to reduce the friction of the drive arm 8 in the air. The cover can be made in the form of a lenticular wheel.

The injection tube 5 comprises:

- a first portion 51, integral in rotation with the drive arm 8, and connected to the lower end 20 of the pipe 2;

- a second portion 52, fixed, and connected to the compressor 6.

The first and second portions 51, 52 of the injection tube 5 are interconnected by means of a swivel joint 500. The swivel joint 500 is advantageously thermally insulated from the environment in which it is located.

The tank 1 can be made in the form of a set of drive arms 8, preferably an even number (for example 4 or 6), arranged to drive several pipes 2 in rotation around a vertical axis of rotation. The reservoir 1 is advantageously produced in the form of an even number of drive arms 8 because it is easier to produce and to balance. The drive arms 8 of the assembly are advantageously integral with each other (for example by welding) so as to reduce the forces exerted on them.

Action turbine

By definition, the action turbine 3 is connected to the upper end 21 of the pipe 2 so as to be set in motion by a jet of liquid 10 exiting from the upper end 21 of the pipe 2, as illustrated in Figures 1. and 2. On the contrary, a reaction turbine requires an immersion of the blades inside the pipe 2. In other words, the action turbine 3 has blades arranged outside the pipe. pipe 2 so as to be set in motion by a jet of liquid 10 emerging from the upper end 21 of pipe 2.

When the liquid 10 is water, the action turbine 3 is of the hydraulic type. The action turbine 3 can be selected from a Pelton turbine, a Banki turbine, a Turgo turbine.

When the tank 1 is fixed, the action turbine 3 is preferably a Banki turbine because the flow speed of the liquid 10 at the outlet of the pipe 2 (ie leaving the upper end 21 of the pipe 2) is relatively low. (of the order of a few tens of m / s). As illustrated in Figure 1, the blades of the action turbine 3 are arranged so as to face the upper end 21 of the pipe 2, away from the liquid 10. In other words, the blades of the action turbine 3 are arranged facing the upper end 21 of the pipe 2, away from the liquid 10.

When the reservoir 1 is mobile in rotation, the action turbine 3 is preferably selected from a Pelton turbine and a Turgo turbine.

When the tank 1 is fixed, the installation can include a set of 3 action turbines fed by line 2, to reduce infrastructure costs. Each action turbine 3 of the assembly is connected to the upper end 21 of the pipe 2.

When the tank 1 is fixed, the installation may include:

- a set of pipes 2,

- a set of action turbines 3, each action turbine 3 being dedicated to a pipe 2.

When the reservoir 1 is mobile in rotation, the action turbine 3 advantageously has a diameter, denoted D, verifying:

D <L / 5, where L is the length of the training arm (i.e. the dimension in the horizontal direction). Such sizing makes it possible to reduce the (tangential) speed of the drive arm at the level of the action turbine 3, and also to avoid wasting energy to rotate the liquid 10.

The action turbine 3 is provided with a generator 30 for converting the kinetic energy of the liquid 10 into electrical energy.

Receiving tank for the liquid / gas mixture

The installation advantageously comprises a receiving tank 9 arranged downstream of the action turbine 3 to receive the mixture of gas 4 and liquid 10. When the tank 1 is fixed, the receiving tank 2 has a section adapted so that the flow speed of the liquid 10 is reduced to a speed less than 0.2 m / s. The receiving tank 9 is advantageously covered with a cover in order to avoid losses by misting. When the tank 1 is movable in rotation, the receiving tank 9 is integral in rotation with the tank 1. The receiving tank 9 is advantageously provided with an Archimedean screw 90 arranged to guide the liquid 10 of the mixture towards the one or more. openings 80 of the driving arm 8. The receiving tank 9 is arranged above the driving arm 8, at a suitable height so that the liquid 10 exiting the receiving tank 9 can acquire a satisfactory flow speed inside the drive arm 8 until it reaches the lower end 20 of the pipe 2.

Additional equipment

The installation advantageously comprises a coalescer arranged downstream of the action turbine 3 to separate the mixture of gas 4 and liquid 10. Thus, an advantage obtained is to avoid losses of liquid 10, and possibly to be able to recycle the gas. 4.

The installation may include a battery B suitable for temporarily storing the electrical energy produced by the installation, which is particularly useful when the installation is fitted with a mobile transport device, and for restarting.

The installation may include valves, valves, non-return valves, a liquid retention tank 10, automatic liquid leveling valves 10 which may be useful for the proper functioning of the installation.

The installation advantageously comprises a protective casing arranged to surround the reservoir 1 and the action turbine 3. The protective casing is advantageously arranged to also surround the compressor 6.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed. Those skilled in the art are able to consider their technically operative combinations, and to substitute equivalents for them.

Claims

1. Installation for producing electricity, comprising:

- a reservoir (1), containing a liquid (10); - a pipe (2), comprising: a lower end (20), immersed in the liquid (10), an upper end (21), emerging from the liquid (10);

- an action turbine (3), connected to the upper end (21) of the pipe (2);

- injection means, arranged to inject a gas (4) compressed at the lower end (20) of the pipe (2) so as to obtain a flow velocity of the liquid

(10) in the pipe (2) from the lower end (20) to the upper end (21).

2. Installation according to claim 1, wherein the injection means are configured so that the upper end (21) of the pipe (2) has a mixture of gas (4) and liquid (10) with a volume proportion. of gas (4) between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%.

3. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the injection means comprise: - an injection tube (5), connected to the lower end (20) of the pipe (2), and preferably thermally insulated ;

- a compressor (6), arranged to supply the gas (4) compressed in the injection tube (5).

4. Installation according to claim 3 in combination with claim 2, wherein the compressor (6) has a speed of rotation adapted so that the upper end (21) of the pipe (2) has a gas mixture (4). and liquid (10) with a volume proportion of gas (4) of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%.

5. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reservoir (1) has a constant value section, denoted å; and the injection means comprise a Venturi device (7), mounted at the lower end (20) of the pipe (2), and having a section, denoted s, verifying: s <S / 4.

6. Installation according to claim 5 in combination with claim 4, wherein the speed of rotation of the compressor (6) is adapted to the section s of the Venturi device (7) so that the upper end (21) of the pipe ( 2) has a mixture of gas (4) and liquid (10) with a volume proportion of gas (4) of between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 65%.

7. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pipe (2) extends in a vertical direction, and the tank (1) is fixed.

8. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reservoir (1) is movable in rotation about a vertical axis of rotation; the pipe (2) being integral in rotation with the reservoir (1); the upper end (21) of the pipe (2) being proximal to the axis of rotation, the lower end (20) of the pipe (2) being distal to the axis of rotation.

9. Installation according to claim 8, comprising motorized drive means arranged to drive the reservoir (1) in rotation around the vertical axis of rotation; the reservoir (1) being made in the form of a drive arm (8) inside which the lower end (20) of the pipe (2) is integrally mounted; the drive arm (8) being provided with at least one opening (80) shaped to receive the liquid (10) so that the lower end (20) of the pipe (2) is immersed in the liquid (10) ).

10. Installation according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the pipe (2) comprises a horizontal part (22) comprising the lower end (20); the horizontal part (22) being provided with at least one internal partition, preferably of helical shape.

11. Installation according to one of claims 8 to 10, comprising a protective casing arranged to surround the reservoir (1) and the action turbine (3).

12. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a receiving tank (9) arranged downstream of the action turbine (3) for receiving the mixture of gas (4) and liquid (10).

13. Installation according to claim 12 in combination with claim 9, wherein the receiving tank (9) is provided with an Archimedean screw (90) arranged to guide the liquid (10) of the mixture towards the opening (s). (80) of the drive arm (8).

14. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the pipe (2) is provided with honeycomb-type structures shaped to confine the gas (4) with the liquid (10).

15. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the liquid (10) is selected from water, glycol water, potassium formate, cesium formate, a mixture of potassium formate and cesium formate.