Energy generating system

A system for generating energy which includes:

• (a) an energy storage or generating arrangement;
• (b) first and second pressure vessel assemblies, wherein each pressure vessel assembly respectively includes:
• (i) a pressure vessel with an upper end with a water port, and a lower end with a slurry port, and
• (ii) a flexible bladder, inside the pressure vessel, with a mouth which is in communication with the water port and which, on an outer side, is sealingly engaged with the pressure vessel, the bladder defining a slurry volume of variable size between an outer surface of the bladder and an inner surface of the pressure vessel,
• (c) a water manifold, which includes water manifold valves, connected to the water ports of the pressure vessels,
• (d) a water pump and pressure accumulator arrangement including pressurising and depressurising valves for providing water under pressure alternately to the bladders of the pressure vessel assemblies,
• (e) a slurry manifold, which includes slurry manifold valves, which is connected to the slurry ports of the pressure vessels and which is connectable to a pressurised source of slurry, and
• (f) a controller which regulates operation of at least the pressurising and de-pressurising valves, the water manifold valves and the slurry manifold valves so that slurry flows through the slurry manifold into at least the slurry volume of the first pressure vessel assembly to collapse the bladder of the first pressure vessel and expel water from the bladder through the water manifold thereby to produce a source of pressurised water which is directed to the energy storage or generating arrangement, while water from a water source passes through the water manifold into the bladder of the second pressure vessel assembly thereby to expand the bladder allowing slurry, from the associated slurry volume, to flow through the slurry manifold, to a slurry collection location.