US 10,871,142 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for generating electricity with pressurized water and air flow media

AssigneeCarroll Hector, LLC

InventorsFrancis Norbert Hector, Jr., Juan Keith Carroll

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Abstract

A facility for generating electricity, including a water source and a plurality of penstocks adapted for selective flow communication with the water source for delivering water from the water source to a turbine electricity generator. An electricity distribution system is provided having a first component adapted to deliver electricity generated by the turbine electricity generator to an electric grid and an alternative second component adapted to use the electricity to power an air compressor. A compressed air storage reservoir is provided for storing air compressed by the air compressor, including an outlet for selectively delivering the compressed air to the plurality of penstocks according to a predetermined sequence for providing energy to the water contained in the penstock to propel the water from the penstock to the turbine.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A facility for generating electricity, comprising:

(a) a water source;
(b) first and second penstocks adapted for selective flow communication with the water source for delivering water from the water source to a turbine electricity generator, each of the first and second penstocks including a respective water inflow valve positioned upstream of the penstock and downstream of the water source and a respective water outflow valve positioned downstream of the penstock and upstream of the turbine electric generator;
(c) an air compressor for supplying compressed air to a compressed air storage reservoir;
(d) computer controlled compressed air outlets for selectively delivering the compressed air to the plurality of penstocks according to a predetermined sequence, wherein:
(i) as the water inflow valve of the first penstock closes and the water outflow valve of the first penstock opens to discharge the water in the first penstock under air pressure to the turbine electric generator;
(ii) the water inflow valve of the second penstock opens and the water outflow valve closes to recharge the penstock with water from the water source;
(iii) the steps (d)(i) and (d)(ii) repeat in sequential coordination converting alternating water discharge from the first and second penstocks and alternating water recharge into the first and second penstocks from the water source into serial continuous water flow to the turbine electric generator;
and
(e) an electricity distribution system operatively associated with the turbine electric generator and having a first distribution component adapted to deliver electricity generated by the turbine electricity generator to an electric grid and a second distribution component adapted to use electricity generated by the turbine electricity generator to power the air compressor.

6 more elements

A facility for generating electricity, comprising:

(a) a water source selected from the group consisting of a river, channel, canal, lake, or CCR pond;
(b) a plurality of penstocks adapted for selective flow communication with the water source for delivering water from the water source to a turbine electricity generator, each of the plurality of penstocks including a respective water inflow valve positioned upstream of the penstock and downstream of the water source and a respective water outflow valve positioned downstream of the penstock and upstream of the turbine electric generator;
(c) an air compressor for supplying compressed air to a compressed air storage reservoir;
(d) computer controlled compressed air outlets for selectively delivering the compressed air to the plurality of penstocks according to a predetermined sequence, wherein:
(i) as the water inflow valve of one of the plurality of penstocks closes and the water outflow valve of one of the plurality of penstocks opens to discharge the water in one of the plurality of penstocks under air pressure to the turbine electric generator;
(ii) the water inflow valve of another of the plurality of penstocks opens and the water outflow valve of another of the plurality of penstocks closes to recharge the penstock with water from the water source;
(iii) the steps (d)(i) and (d)(ii) repeat in sequential coordination converting sequential repeating water discharge from the plurality of penstocks and sequential repeating water recharge into the plurality of penstocks from the water source into serial continuous water flow to the turbine electric generator;
(e) an electricity distribution system having a first component adapted to deliver electricity generated by the turbine electricity generator to an electric grid and a second component adapted to use the electricity to power an air compressor;
(f) a water intake positioned between the water source and the plurality of penstocks;
and
(g) a pump positioned within or adjacent to the water intake for moving water from the water source into the penstocks.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/383,894Filed 15 Apr 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Sep 2018
Published: US 2020/0080531 A112 Mar 2020
Granted: 22 Dec 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

F03B 1/04
Engines of impulse type, i.e. turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on blades or like rotors, e.g. Pelton wheels; Parts or…
F03B 11/004
Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups , e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and…
F03B 13/266
Using tide energy: to compress air
F03B 15/04
By varying liquid flow: of turbines

Family

Application62/729,834Us provisional application · filed 11 Sep 2018
US 2020/0080531 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Mar 2020
US 10,871,142 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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