Marine-pumped hydroelectric energy storage
AssigneeRCAM Technologies, Inc.
InventorJason Rust Cotrell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a general aspect, a system stores energy underwater. In some aspects, the system includes a base having a bottom side resting on an underwater floor and a top side that includes recessed surfaces. The system also includes domed walls extending from the top side of the base to form respective fluid chambers. Each of the fluid chambers includes an interior volume that is at least partially defined by one of the recessed surfaces and an interior surface of one of the domed walls. The system additionally includes a pump and a generator. The pump is configured to transport water from the fluid chambers toward an exterior environment of the system. The generator is configured to generate electrical energy in response to water flowing from the exterior environment toward the fluid chambers.
Claims26
A system for storing energy underwater, comprising:
- a base having a bottom side resting on an underwater floor and a top side comprising a plurality of recessed surfaces, the base comprising a conduit system;
- a plurality of domed walls extending from the top side of the base to form respective fluid chambers, each of the fluid chambers comprising an interior volume that is at least partially defined by one of the recessed surfaces and an interior surface of one of the domed walls, the fluid chambers in fluid communication with each other through the conduit system;
- a pump coupled to the conduit system and configured to pump water through the conduit system from the fluid chambers toward an exterior environment of the system;
- and
- a generator coupled to the conduit system and configured to generate electrical energy in response to water flowing through the conduit system from the exterior environment into the fluid chambers;
- wherein the conduit system comprises:
- a central union, and
- a plurality of conduits extending from the central union to respective fluid chambers, the plurality of conduits disposed in the conduit system such that water flowing between the exterior environment and at least a subset of the fluid chambers flows through the central union.
A method comprising:
- pumping water through a conduit system from fluid chambers of an underwater energy storage system to an exterior environment of the underwater energy storage system;
- and
- generating electrical energy in response to water flowing through the conduit system from the exterior environment into the fluid chambers;
- wherein the underwater energy storage system comprises:
- a base comprising the conduit system and having a bottom side resting on an underwater floor and a top side comprising a plurality of recessed surfaces, and
- a plurality of domed walls extending from the top side of the base to form respective fluid chambers of the underwater energy storage system, each of the fluid chambers comprising an interior volume that is at least partially defined by one of the recessed surfaces and an interior surface of one of the domed walls, the fluid chambers in fluid communication with each other through the conduit system;
- and
- wherein the conduit system comprises:
- a central union, and
- a plurality of conduits extending from the central union to respective fluid chambers of the underwater energy storage system, the plurality of conduits disposed in the conduit system such that water flowing between the exterior environment and at least a subset of the fluid chambers flows through the central union.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.