# US 11,078,649 B1 · Systems for selectively replenishing aquifers and generating electrical power based on electrical demand > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,649 B1 - Document ID: US11078649B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/837,870 - Filed: 2020-04-01 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-01 - Applicants: William Riley - Inventors: William Riley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078649B1 ## CPC - B01D 1/0035: {Solar energy (for treatment of water C02F1/14)} - E03B 3/34: of underground water - B01D 3/103: {by using a barometric column} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/046: {under vacuum produced by a barometric column} - C02F 1/447: {by membrane distillation (distillation and evaporation without the use of membranes C02F1/04)} - E03B 5/00: Use of pumping plants or installations; Layouts thereof (pumps; pumping plants or installations per se F04) - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - H02J 3/003: {Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand} - H02J 3/004: {Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation} - H02J 3/28: Arrangements for balancing of the load in networks by storage of energy - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 15/10: using storage of hydraulic energy - H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines} - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/009: Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells - C02F 2303/10: Energy recovery - G05B 2219/25252: Microprocessor - H02J 2101/22: Solar energy - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - Y02A 20/124: Water desalination - Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis - Y02A 20/142: Solar thermal; Photovoltaics - Y02A 20/212: Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation - Y02A 20/406: Aquifer recharge - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - Y02W 10/30: Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract In an example method, first electrical power is generated using one or more solar panels. Saline water is desalinated using a desalination facility powered, at least in part, by the first electrical power. The desalinated water is stored in a reservoir located at a first elevation. A usage of an electrical grid is monitored, and a determination is made that one or more criteria are satisfied at a first time. In response, the desalinated water is directed from the reservoir to a turbine generator located at a second elevation, second electrical power is generated using the turbine generator, the desalinated water is directed from the turbine generator into an aquifer located at a third elevation, and at least a portion of the second electrical power is provided to the electrical grid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: generating first electrical power using one or more solar panels; desalinating saline water using a desalination facility powered, at least in part, by the first electrical power; storing the desalinated water in a reservoir located at a first elevation; monitoring a usage of an electrical grid; determining, based on the usage of the electrical grid, that one or more criteria are satisfied at a first time; and responsive to determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time: directing the desalinated water from the reservoir to a turbine generator located at a second elevation, wherein the second elevation is lower than the first elevation, generating second electrical power using the turbine generator based, at least in part, on the desalinated water flowing through the turbine generator, directing the desalinated water from the turbine generator into an aquifer located at a third elevation, wherein the third elevation is lower than the second elevation, and providing at least a portion of the second electrical power to the electrical grid, wherein directing the desalinated water from the reservoir, to the turbine generator, and into the aquifer comprises causing the desalinated water to flow from the reservoir, to the turbine generator, and into the aquifer without an aid of a pump. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the usage of the electrical grid comprises: determining a demand for electrical power on the electrical grid over a period of time; and determining a supply of electrical power on the electrical grid over the period of time, and wherein determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time comprises determining that the demand for electrical power on the electrical grid exceeds the supply of electrical power on the electrical grid at the first time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the usage of the electrical grid comprises: determining a demand for electrical power on the electrical grid over a period of time; and determining a supply of electrical power on the electrical grid over the period of time, and wherein determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time comprises determining that a difference between the demand for electrical power on the electrical grid and the supply of electrical power on the electrical grid is less than a threshold level at the first time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time comprises: estimating, based on historical data regarding the usage of the electrical grid, that a peak demand on the electrical grid occurs at the first time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the usage of the electrical grid comprises: determining a demand for electrical power on the electrical grid over a period of time; and determining a supply of electrical power on the electrical grid over the period of time, and wherein determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time comprises: determining that that the demand for electrical power on the electrical grid did not exceed the supply of electrical power on the electrical grid during a time interval ending at the first time, and determining that the time interval exceeds a threshold length of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the usage of the electrical grid comprises determining a supply of electrical power on the electrical grid over the period of time from one or more solar power generators, and wherein determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time comprises determining that that the supply of electrical power from the one or more solar power generators has decreased below a threshold level at the first time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the desalination facility is predominantly powered by the first electrical power. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the desalination facility is located at the first elevation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first elevation is a surface of the earth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the aquifer is at least partially depleted, and wherein the desalinated water is directed from the reservoir to the turbine generator, after determining that the aquifer is at least partially depleted. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: one or more solar panels; a desalination facility; a reservoir located at a first elevation; a turbine generator located at a second elevation, wherein the second elevation is lower than the first elevation; and a control module having one or more processors, wherein the one or more solar panels are configured to generate first electrical power and provide the first electrical power to the desalination facility, wherein the control module is operable to: cause saline water to be desalinated using the first electrical power; cause the desalinated water to be directed to the reservoir; monitor a usage of an electrical grid; determine, based on the usage of the electrical grid, that one or more criteria are satisfied at a first time; and responsive to determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time: cause the desalinated water to flow from the reservoir to the turbine generator, cause second electrical power to be generated using the turbine generator based, at least in part, on the desalinated water flowing through the turbine generator, cause the desalinated water to flow from the turbine generator into an aquifer at a third elevation, wherein the third elevation is lower than the second elevation, and cause at least a portion of the second electrical power to be provided to the electrical grid, wherein the control module is operable to cause the desalinated water to flow from the reservoir, to the turbine generator, and into the aquifer without an aid of a pump. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control module is operable to monitor the usage of the electrical grid by: determining a demand for electrical power on the electrical grid over a period of time; and determining a supply of electrical power on the electrical grid over the period of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the control module is operable to determine that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time by: determining that the demand for electrical power on the electrical grid exceeds the supply of electrical power on the electrical grid at the first time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the control module is operable to determine that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time by: determining that a difference between the demand for electrical power on the electrical grid and the supply of electrical power on the electrical grid is less than a threshold level at the first time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the control module is operable to determine that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time by: estimating, based on historical data regarding the usage of the electrical grid, that a peak demand on the electrical grid occurs at the first time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the control module is operable to determine that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time by: determining that that the demand for electrical power on the electrical grid did not exceed the supply of electrical power on the electrical grid during a time interval ending at the first time, and determining that the time interval exceeds a threshold length of time. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control module is operable to: determine that the aquifer is at least partially depleted, and cause the desalinated water to flow from the reservoir to the turbine generator, after determining that the aquifer is at least partially depleted. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the desalination facility is predominantly powered by the first electrical power. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the desalination facility is located at the first elevation, and wherein the first elevation is a surface of the earth.