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US 2012/0056430 A1Published application
Generating hydroenergy
OwnerJanne Aaltonen, Markus Aarnioinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of recovering energy from the potential energy of water in a body of water includes providing a reservoir at least partly below a surface of a body of water, leading water from the body of water in the reservoir, and storing potential energy by removing water from the reservoir. A hydroenergy plant recovers energy from the water while leading the water into the reservoir using a turbine and an electric generator coupled to the turbine.
Claims20
A method of generating hydroenergy comprising:
- providing a structure in a body of water, the structure comprising a reservoir having an inner volume for water, the structure configured so that a portion of the structure is situated at least partly below a surface of the body of water and a bottom of the structure is situated at or below a level of a sea bed to limit an amount of water underneath the structure;
- storing potential energy by removing water from the reservoir;
- leading water from the body of water into the reservoir;
- recovering energy from the water while leading the water into the reservoir.
1 more element
A hydroenergy generating plant, comprising:
- a structure arranged in a body of water, the structure comprising:
- a top portion, a bottom portion and walls between the top and bottom portions defining a reservoir therein, the reservoir having an inner volume for water, the structure configured so that a portion of the structure is situated at least partly below a surface of the body of water and the bottom of the structure is at or below a level of a sea bed to limit an amount of water underneath the structure;
- removal means for removing water from the reservoir;
- inlet means for leading water from the body of water into the reservoir;
- energy recovering means configured to recover energy from potential energy of the water led into the reservoir through the inlet means.
2 more elements
A method of storing potential energy of water, the method comprising:
- providing a reservoir for water, a portion of the reservoir being positioned at least partly below a surface of a body of water,
- the reservoir having a top portion and a bottom portion, and walls defining the reservoir, wherein the top portion has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the bottom portion;
- positioning a bottom portion of the reservoir on a bed of the body of water;
- leading water from the body of water into the reservoir;
- and
- storing potential energy by removing water from the reservoir.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.