Electric energy storage in the form of underground gravity and buoyant energy
AssigneeEnergy Future, Inc.
InventorBrian Raine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Underground facilities built for storing electric energy in the form of gravity and buoyant energy are described herein. In one embodiment, the facility is disposed in a thixotropic fluid beneath the ground surface and houses water to maintain a positive buoyancy and a piston having a bulk density greater than the water. In another embodiment, the underground facility is configured as a buoyant capsule arranged in a cylinder filled with water, where the cylinder is sealed except for openings in a bottom half of the cylinder to allow near unimpeded water flow from a location inside to a location outside of the cylinder. In another embodiment, the underground facility is configured as a negatively buoyant capsule.
Claims44
A system adapted for storing electric energy in a form of gravity energy, the system comprising:
- an excavation disposed beneath a ground surface, the excavation being filled by a fluid;
- a cylindrical facility having a first side disposed opposite a second side, the first side being located above the ground surface and the second side being disposed in the fluid beneath the ground surface, wherein the cylindrical facility houses water to maintain a positive buoyancy and a piston having a bulk density greater than the water;
- an arrangement of pipes that connect the cylindrical facility with a pumping facility disposed above the ground surface;
- a roof disposed above the ground surface and covering the first side of the cylindrical facility;
- power cables disposed above the ground surface;
- and
- water lines and thixotropic lines disposed above the ground surface and configured to supply fluids to the system.
A system adapted for storing electric energy in a form of gravity energy, the system comprising:
- an excavation disposed beneath a ground surface, the excavation being filled by a fluid;
- a buoyant capsule arranged in a cylinder filled with water, wherein the cylinder is partially sealed with openings in a bottom half of the cylinder to allow near unimpeded water flow from a location inside of the cylinder to a location outside of the cylinder;
- an arrangement of pipes that connect the cylinder with a pumping facility disposed above the ground surface;
- power cables disposed above the ground surface;
- and
- water lines and thixotropic lines disposed above the ground surface and configured to supply fluids to the system.
A system adapted for storing electric energy in a form of gravity energy, the system comprising:
- an excavation disposed beneath a ground surface, the excavation being filled by a fluid;
- a negatively buoyant capsule;
- a pumping system mounted on a top portion of the negatively buoyant capsule;
- a plurality of pumps located above the ground surface and configured to interact with power cabling located above the ground surface to allow for vertical movement of a piston;
- and
- pipe valves remotely actuated to close off flow when the piston is maintained at a given elevation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.