WO2007049288A1

WO2007049288A1 - A system for generating continuous energy

Info

Publication number: WO2007049288A1
Application number: PCT/IN2006/000014
Authority: WO
Inventors: Astad Nadir Parakh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-27
Filing date: 2006-01-17
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-27

Abstract

The invention is a system for continuous generation of energy by repetitively utilising the pressure available from the weight of water at the base of a Column (1) of Water, to drive a shaft / turbine (11) situated above the top of the Column of Water; by then recycling the spent water (after driving the shaft / turbine) to replenish the original mass of the Column of Water; and to achieve this cycle repetitively. The system uses piston assembly (2, 4) situated at the base of the Column of Water for blocking and utilising the full weight of the Column of Water, to pressurise batches of water repetitively .

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION :

A SYSTEM FOR GENERATING CONTINUOUS ENERGY

The invention relates to a system for generating continuous energy from utilising liquids, particularly water. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for generating continuous energy by repetitively utilising the pressure at the base of a Column of Water to drive a turbine above the said Column of Water, and by recirculation of the water.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION : The invention utilises mechanical engineering methods, and water, to generate force which could be used for generating electricity and for other applications / drives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION :

Presently, the generation of electricity is essentially dependent upon : a. Thermal power generation using either Fossil fuels, or

Atomic power; b. Hydro-electric power generation requiring large Dams.

Fossil fuels are fast depleting, and concentrated in select pockets. They are expensive, and their emissions are environmentally harmful.

Atomic power is prone to hazards, which limit it's acceptability. Large dams needed for hydro-electric generation are dependent on fresh supply of water, and use of vast catchment areas.

All these conventional methods need high capital and operating costs — for generation and for distribution of electricity. Inadequate availability of stable supply of electricity from such centralised producers has caused much hardship to domestic and industrial users and affected the economys of some countries.

Various other alternatives such as harnessing of energy from the sun, wind, waves, etc have been attempted, but these have limitations of location, high capital / operating costs, and commercial viability.

PRIOR ART :

US Patent No. 4,930,993 discloses an energy regenerative apparatus for a water hammer type pump which includes a water hammer type pump and an energy regenerative apparatus. The water hammer type pump includes a reservoir which is connected to a pump body by a pipe. A pressure tank is fixed on top of the pump body. A piston rod with a piston head is slidably provided in the pump body. A water passage between the pump body and the pressure tank is controllable by the piston head so as to control a flow of water from the pump body to the pressure tank. A flat valve is disposed between an outlet pipe and the present tank so as to prevent any reverse flow of water from the outlet pipe into the tank. A water gate valve is provided for controlling a water passage of the pump body. The energy regenerative apparatus includes a rack connected to a lower end of the piston rod and a pinion driven by the rack so as to drive a ratchet by means of a pair of rocker levels and produce ^' a power output from an axle of the ratchet by means of an up and down movement of the piston rod of the water hammer type pump.

The aforesaid US Patent is for producing a small power output from the movement of the hammer-type pumps. The said pumps operate by the use of water falling or flowing from a height, and have limited usage mainly confined to flowing water in hilly areas.

The present invention is an improvement over existing systems of producing energy. The said invention is for a stand-alone system for continuous, renewable, cheap, dependable and clean generation of energy, capable of de-centralised installations, reducing distribution losses and costs, free of the vagaries of cost escalations and of the inequities of economic power which energy scarcity has created.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for generating continuous energy by repetitive use of pressure obtained from the weight of a column of liquid, comprising of at least a column of liquid, means at the base of the said column to force the liquid to drive a turbine above the said column, such that pressure obtained at the said base is transmitted by forcing the said liquid from the said base to drive the said turbine and thereafter the said liquid to fall back into the said column of liquid for continuous reuse.

The system uses piston(s) situated at the base of the Column of Water for blocking and taking the full weight of the Column of Water, to pressurise batches of water repetitively.

The system uses the advantage of buoyancy of the piston and of collapsible piston .rings, for reducing the energy lost in returning the pistons after each pressure thrust, to resume the next cycle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the same numericals / charachters denote the same parts and wherein :

Figure 1 shows the cross-sectional front view of the system ;

Figure 2 shows the exploded cross sectional front view of the pressure generating area of the system ; Figure 3 shows the cross sectional front view of pre-fill chamber ;

Figure 4 A to D shows cross-sectional front view of the pressure cycle ;

Figure 5 PR-I to PR-3 explains options for collapsible piston rings ;

Figure 6 E-I to E-3 explains the options for assistance for ascent of the upper piston and piston assembly.

Figure 1 gives an over-view of the process / system for generating energy by repetitive use of pressure obtained from the weight of one or more Column(s) of Water. Figure 1 shows two such identical systems synchronised to drive a turbine. Each system comprises of a Column of Water (1), and a piston assembly comprising of an upper piston (2), rigidly connected by a rigid connector (3), to a lower piston (4). The system utilises the weight of the said Column of Water (1) to exert the force required for pressurising successive batches of water in the pressure chamber (6) situated at the base of the Column of Water, and to transmit these successive pressurised batches of water through hydraulic-pressurised riser pipes ( 9) to nozzles (10) for driving a turbine / shaft (11) above the top of the Column of Water. The spent batches of water, after driving the turbine, fall back to replenish the Column of Water so that the volume of water in the Column remains constant. At the base of the

Column of Water is the repetitive pressure generating area, which is illustrated in Figure 2 and more fully explained below. The system uses external power assistance unit (12) for some operations. Control valves (Cl to C4) and externally connected sequencing and operation control devices (not shown in the Figures) manage the repetitive operations of the system.

Figure 2 shows the repetitive pressure generating area situated at the base of the Column of Water. This area comprises of : a pre-fϊll chamber ( 5), and a pressure chamber ( 6), within which is situated a piston assembly comprising of : an upper piston ( 2), a rigid connector (3), and a lower piston (4).

The piston assembly situated in this pressure generating area repetitively blocks, and utilises the weight of the water in the Column of Water (1) to pressurise and drive successive pressurised batches of water from the pressure chamber (6) through the hydraulic-pressurised riser pipes (9) to the nozzles / accumulator (10) to drive the turbine (11).

Pressure from the weight of water in the Column of Water is intensified through the use of the piston assembly whereby the upper piston of a larger cross-sectional area is firmly and rigidly connected to a lower piston of smaller cross-section, such that : pressure ' p ' on the upper piston of cross-sectional area ' 2x ', becomes pressure ' 2p ' on the lower piston of cross-sectional area ' x '.

Figure 3 shows details of the pre-fill chamber (5) which forms an important part of the pressure generating area. The pre-fill chamber houses the upper piston (2), and provides the space and facility for the upper piston to travel in an empty space without obstruction on the pressure stroke and by buoyancy on the return (empty) stroke.

The pre-fill chamber also incorporates a booster feed pipe (5C) for spurting water below the upper piston, the space for assisting the faster and controlled ascent of the piston assembly, and for minimising frictional operational losses. The pre-fill chamber also acts as a reservoir for filling the pressure chamber with successive batches of water in each cycle.

The pre-fill chamber comprises of : (5A) Operational area — which, for each cycle : draws a fresh batch of water from the Column of Water, which permits the upper piston to ascend by buoyancy, then empties half of it's total volume of water to replenish the pressure chamber with a fresh batch of water, thereby creating a vacant space in the upper half (of 5A) for the unobstructed travel of the upper piston for the pressure stroke; (5B) Service area — which is a dry chamber with walls which permit the said dry chamber to expand and contract for each cycle. This service area, when fully extended has almost the same volumetric capacity as the operational area. The side walls of this service area are of accordion (bellows) type or of over-lapping sliding type to permit the said service area to get compressed on the downward (pressure) stroke of the upper piston, and to resume it's normal height on the upper piston's return stroke. The service area allows friction-free movement of the rigid piston connector (3). It also provides the space (7) for the mechanisms (Fig 6) to assist the ascent of the piston assembly, and for the connections for the piston-ring activation mechanism (Fig 5) to the external power assistance unit (12); (5C) Booster feed-pipe — which, for each cycle, injects fresh batches of water into the service area (5A), through control valve (C-I); (5D) Gravity feed-pipe — to re-fill the pressure chamber (6) with a fresh batch of water for each cycle, through control valve C-2; (5E) Recess — for releasing the external pressure on the piston rings at the end of each downward stroke, so as to allow the piston to float /move freely for ascent; (5F) Stopper and latch - the fixed stopper halts the ascent of the upper piston, and the latch holds the upper piston at that position till the next pressure stroke commences. The latch is connected to and energised by the external power assistance unit (12). Control Valves C-I and C-2 control the flow of water into the pre-fill and pressure chambers during each cycle. Air vents ( 8), release air pressure trapped in the pre-fill and pressure chambers.

Figure 4 — illustrates the repetitive pressure cycle which is a key factor in the working of the invention. Each cycle has : a pressure (downwards) driving stroke ~ Stage B; and a return (ascent ) empty stroke ~ Stage C . The is explained in detail below :

At Stage A, upper piston (2) is fully raised and held at the top (5F), the piston rings (PR) of both the upper and lower pistons are at their normal (extended) diameter, and the operational area (5A) of the pre-fill chamber is full of water. Half of this volume of water in the operational area is now released through control valve (C-2) to fill the pressure chamber (6) with a fresh batch of water, and an empty space is created in the upper half of the operational area for resistance-free travel of upper piston (2) for the next pressure stroke.

At Stage B, the latch (5F) releases the upper piston (2), which causes the piston assembly to be driven downward on the pressure stroke under the weight of water from the Column of Water (1). The pressurised batch of water from the pressure chamber (6) is forced through the hydraulic-pressurised riser pipes (9) to the nozzles / hydro-pneumatic accumulators (10), for diving the turbine (11) through the operation of control valves C-3 and C-4 . At Stage C, the piston rings (PR) in both the upper and lower pistons are retracted inwards for eliminating friction. Simultaneously water is released from the booster feed pipe (5C) through control valve C-I to re-fill the operational area (5A) of the pre-fϊll chamber and to enable the return (ascent) of the piston assembly through the buoyancy of, and / or external assistance to, the upper piston,

At Stage D, when the upper piston has fully ascended, it is held in that position by the stopper and latch (5F), and the piston rings resume their normal (extended) diameter. The operational area (5A) of the pre-fϊll chamber is full of water and control valve (C-I) is closed to stop the flow from the booster feed pipe (5C).

Figure 5 explains three different forms of collapsible piston rings.

In this figure : SV denotes side view, TV denotes top view;

R-N denotes normal ring diameter, R-R denotes retracted ring diameter.

The collapsible rings can be used in both, upper and lower pistons.

The retraction (R-R) of the rings' diameter for the return (empty) ascent stroke of the pistons reduces / eliminates friction, and also frees the upper piston to ascend by buoyancy.

The normal (R-N) rings' diameter for the pressure (downward) stroke activates the pistons to transmit force in much the same way as is done by a piston in an internal combustion engine.

This is further explained in the following chart : Pistons Rings Expansion and Retraction of Rings ^• made of Mechanism Activated by

Hollow, (PR-H Split Piston Rings and Metal Sections which : light weight or fit together to extend outwards Externally

Upper Piston other on down (pressure) stroke (RN) generated sized for hard separate and get pulled inwards, mechanical, maximising material on the up (return) stroke (RR). pneumatic buoyancy ** or hydraulic

(PR-2) Inflatable Piston Rines pressure

- Do - Rubber or Rings diameter : from external other inflate for pressure stroke (RN) power unit flexible deflate for return stroke (RR) (12) through material the service area of the

(PR-3) Pressure-expanding Piston Rings Pre-fill

- Do ~ Rubber, Rings diameter : Chamber or other expands on pressure stroke (RN) compresshrinks on return stroke (RR) sible material

** The lower piston does not need buoyancy. The height and weight of the lower piston could be kept to a minimal level.

Figure 6 — shows the side views (SV) of the forms of assistance which can be given to the upper piston^' (2) for faster / controlled ascent. P-D indicates Piston Down, and P-U indicates Piston Up. Such assistance can be either —

Mechanical assistance :

(E-I) springs which compress during the pressure (down) stroke, and expand to push the piston on the return (empty) ascent stroke, (E-2) synchronised reciprocal connection between two or more piston assemblys in a single or multiple Column(s) of Water — in a manner similar to the operation of a crank-shaft of an internal combustion engine, or, by a rocker-arm. or :

Pneumatic or hydraulic assistance :

(E-3) rams, activated from external assistance power unit (12).

Electricity output : The following is a hypothetical example of the electricity ouput that can be obtained, using the formula :

Power Output = Flow x Head x Efficiency

Cu Metres Mefres Assumed as 70 % of pre second gravitational constant (9.8)

To Requires Available from (sample options): generate electricity No. of Pressure Chamber Col. of Upper output F x H x E Cycles effective ; usable * Water Piston of: per Dia. Height Height Dia mVs Meters % Minute Metres Metres Metres Metres

100 Kw 0.145 100 6.9 24 0.79 0.75 50 1.12

500 Kw 0.363 200 6.9 ^• 24 1.08 1.00 100 1.53

1 Mw 0.484 300 6.9 36 0.83 1.50 150 1.17

10 Mw 2.900 500 6.9 36 1.57 2.50 250 2.22

20 Mw 5.800 500 6.9 36 1.88 3.50 250 2.66

Pressure Chamber size calculated to match volume required per cycle .

In the above calculations,

Flow = Pressure Chamber capacity (m^s) x No. of cycles per min. ÷ 60

Head = Half the normal head of water since the pressure is doubled by rigidly joining the upper piston to a lower piston of half the cross-sectional area.

Cycles per Minute are calculated as follows : Time per cycle per piston (seconds) 15 15 No. of cycles per piston (per minute) 4 4 Configuration (No. of pistons) x 6 x 9

Number of shots / cycles (per minute) = 24 = 36 The power output would vary to the extent of the net effect of : reduction — on account of (a) friction, (b) weight of water in the riser pipes, and (c) use of external power (12); increase ~ in power output which could be achieved due to :

(a) the force of the larger cross-section of the pressure chamber piston on smaller cross-section of riser pipes, (b) improved operating efficiencies and reduced cycle time per piston (eg. 10 seconds/cycle instead of 15).

Buoyancy : of the piston assembly is determined by the size of the upper piston in relation to the weight of the piston assembly. The following corresponding calculations are illustrative of this :

Upper Piston Displacement Piston Assembly we εht (Kg)

Dia # Height Volume weight (Kgs) Positively Neutral Not Metres Metres Cu.Mtrs of water Buoyant Buoyant Buoyant

1.12 0.50 0.492 49 34 49 50

1.53 1.50 2.756 275 192 275 277

1.17 1.50 1.612 161 113 161 162

2.22 2.00 7.736 773 541 773 775

2.66 2.50 13.885 1388 972 1388 1390

Water: 1 Gm / CuCm = 1 Kg / 1000 CuCm (1 Litre); lCuMtr = 100,000 CuCms

An increase in the height of the upper piston, without adding to the weight of the rest of the piston assembly, would improve buoyancy. Buoyancy would also be helped by increasing the surface area of the base of the upper piston, by giving a concave shape to that base.

The buoyancy advantage is required only for assisting the piston's ascent stroke. This factor has no relevance, neither advantage nor dis-advantage, during the downwards (pressure) stroke of the piston, since the upper piston has empty space below it for resistance-free travel on the downwards (pressure) stroke.

General :

The system utilises differential cross-sectional areas for the pressure creation and transmission sections : to maximise force, and to overcome / minimise operational losses.

The system enables easy scaling of the energy output by varying the dimensions of the Column of Water, the use of multiple piston drives, and of multiple / sequenced jets from each piston drive.

The system is suitable for decentralised small outputs as well as for centralised large outputs.

The system can be installed wholly or partly above or below the surface of land or bodies of water.

The terms : 'Water' includes any liquid;

'Nozzle' includes any form of high pressure jet; 'Turbine' includes any shaft or drive; 'Energy' includes any form of motive power.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

1. Generation of electrical power;

2. Generation of drives for other applications; 3. Generating pressure for transporting liquids. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 : Cross sectional front view of the system

Figure 2 : Exploded cross sectional front view of the pressure generating area of the system Figure 3 : Cross sectional front view of pre-fill chamber

Figure 4 A to D : Cross sectional front view of the pressure cycle Figure 5 PR-I to PR-3 : Options for collapsible piston rings

Figure 6 E-I to E-3 : Options for assistance for ascent of the upper piston and piston assembly.

Explanation of Numericals and signs used in the Drawings

Numerical* Denotes

1 Column of Water

2 Upper piston, with collapsible rings 2R 2 + 3 + 4 = 3 Rigid connector Piston 4 Lower piston, with collapsible rings 4R_ Assembly 5 Pre-fill chamber : 5A Operational area 5B Service area 5Bl Service area exterior 5 C Booster feed pipe 5D Feed to pressure chamber 5E Recess 5F Stopper and latch

6 Pressure chamber

7 Area for assistance for ascent of piston assembly

Air vent

9 Hydraulic-pressurised riser pipes

10 Nozzle/accumulator to drive turbine 11 Turbine 12 External power assistance unit

Control Valves : O Open; Shut; Open-Shut

C-I Control for booster feed to pre-fill chamber

C-2 Control for batch feed to pressure chamber

C-3, C-4 Control for high-pressure hydraulic riser pipe

Claims

. 1 . 1 /2CLAIMS :

1. A system for generating continuous energy by repetitive use of pressure obtained from the weight of a column of liquid, comprising of at least a column of liquid, means at the base of the said column to force the liquid to drive a turbine above the said CoIUnIn₁ such that pressure obtained at the said base is transmitted by forcing the said liquid from the said base to drive the said turbine and thereafter for the said liquid to fall back into the said column of liquid for continuous reuse.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said means to force the liquid from the said base to drive the said turbine comprises of one or more pistons or piston assembly(s).

3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the said piston assembly(s) comprise of an upper piston rigidly connected to a lower piston.

4. A system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the said upper piston has a larger cross-sectional area than the said lower piston.

5. A piston having collapsible piston rings which retract on the return stroke.

6. A piston as claimed in Claim 5 wherein piston rings comprise of sections which fit together on the pressure stroke and get pulled inward on the return stroke.

7. A piston as claimed in Claim 5 wherein piston rings are inflated on the pressure stroke and deflated on the return stroke.

. 2 . 2 / 2

8. A system as claimed in any of the Claims 2 to 4 wherein one or more pistons are fitted with collapsible piston rings, • which retract on the return stroke.

9. A system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein piston rings comprise of sections which fit together on the pressure stroke and get pulled inward on the return stroke.

10. A system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein piston rings are inflated on the pressure stroke and deflated on the return stroke.

11. A system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the upper piston operates in a chamber which allows the said piston to be surrounded by water to attain buoyancy on the return stroke and which empties the space below the piston to enable the . piston to travel freely and without resistance from water on the pressure stroke.

12. A system as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the said chamber has within itself a dry chamber with walls which permit the said dry chamber to expand and contract.

13. A system for generating continuous energy by repetitive use of the pressure generated by the weight of a column of liquid substantially as herein described with reference to the diagrams accompanying the complete specifications.