# US 2019/0170109 A1 · Pumped storage hydropower system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170109 A1 - Document ID: US20190170109A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/265,984 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-07 - Applicants: Littoral Power Systems Inc. - Inventors: David Duquette; Katherine Leighton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170109A1 ## CPC - F03B 13/06: Stations or aggregates of water-storage type, {e.g. comprising a turbine and a pump}(turbines characterised by having means for functioning alternatively as pumps F03B3/10) - F03B 3/10: characterised by having means for functioning alternatively as pumps or turbines {(starting F03B15/005)} - F03B 13/08: Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor {, e.g. diffusors (bulb groups F03B13/105)} - F03B 17/06: using liquid flow {with predominantly kinetic energy conversion}, e.g. of swinging-flap type {, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" (F03B13/264 takes precedence)} - F04B 17/006: {Solar operated} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05F 1/66: Regulating electric power - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - F05B 2240/40: Use of a multiplicity of similar components - Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy - Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - 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) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A pumped storage hydropower apparatus includes a housing and at least one pump disposed within the housing. The at least one pump is configured to operate in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on an operation condition including at least one of a time or a price of electrical power from a remote electrical power source. In the first mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a first flow of water from a first water storage unit, transports the first flow to a second water storage unit, and generates electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source. In the second mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a second flow of water from the second water storage unit, and transports the second flow to the first water storage unit using electrical power from the remote electrical power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pumped storage hydropower system, comprising: a first water storage unit storing a first volume of water at a first elevation; a second water storage unit storing a second volume of water at a second elevation less than the first elevation; a housing; a power generation system including at least one pump disposed within the housing and an electrical generator, the at least one pump fluidly coupled to the first water storage unit and the second water storage unit to transport water between the first water storage unit and the second water storage unit, the electrical generator operatively coupled to the at least one pump, the electrical generator configured to receive electrical power from and transmit electrical power to a remote electrical power source; and a control circuit configured to control operation of the power generation system in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on an operation condition, wherein the operation condition includes at least one of a time or a price of the electrical power received from the remote electrical power source, wherein in the first mode of operation, the control circuit causes the at least one pump to receive a first flow of the first volume of water from the first water storage unit, transport the first flow to the second water storage unit, and drive the electrical generator to generate electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source using the first flow, and in the second mode of operation, the control circuit causes the electrical generator to drive the at least one pump, using electrical power received from the remote electrical power source, to receive a second flow of the second volume of water from the second water storage unit and transport the second flow to the first water storage unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, further comprising at least one solar power device mounted to the pumped storage hydropower apparatus, the solar power device configured to generate solar electrical power, wherein the power generation system is configured to use the solar electrical power to drive the pump to transport the second flow of the second volume of water from the second water storage unit to the first water storage unit while operating in the second mode of operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, wherein the power generation system is configured to output electrical power to the remote electrical source at a power no greater than five megawatts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, further comprising a manifold configured to selectively transport water between the first water storage unit and the at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump includes a plurality of pumps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, wherein the housing is a shipping container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump includes a plurality of pumps having different best efficiency points. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump is configured for reversible operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump includes a turbine unit configured to receive the first flow of the first volume of water from the first water storage unit, transport the first flow to the second water storage unit, and drive the electrical generator to generate electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source using the first flow when the power generation system operates in the first mode of operation, and a pump unit separate from the turbine unit, the pump unit configured to be driven by the electrical generator when the power generation system operates in the first mode of operation. ### Claim 9 A pumped storage hydropower apparatus, comprising: a housing; and at least one pump disposed within the housing, the at least one pump fluidly coupled to a first water storage unit storing a first volume of water at a first elevation and a second water storage unit storing a second volume of water at a second elevation less than the first elevation, the at least one pump configured to operate in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on an operation condition including at least one of a time of day or a price of electrical power received from a remote electrical power source, wherein in the first mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a first flow of the first volume of water from the first water storage unit, transports the first flow to the second water storage unit, and generates electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source using the first flow, and in the second mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a second flow of the second volume of water from the second water storage unit, and transport the second flow to the first water storage unit using electrical power received from the remote electrical power source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pumped storage hydropower apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one solar power device mounted to the pumped storage hydropower apparatus, the solar power device configured to generate solar electrical power, wherein the power generation system is configured to use the solar electrical power to drive the pump to transport the second flow of the second volume of water from the second water storage unit to the first water storage unit while operating in the second mode of operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The pumped storage hydropower apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power generation system is configured to output electrical power to the remote electrical source at a power no greater than five megawatts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The pumped storage hydropower apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a manifold configured to selectively transport water between the first water storage unit and the at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump includes a plurality of pumps. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The pumped hydropower storage apparatus of claim 9, wherein the housing is a shipping container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The pumped hydropower storage apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one pump includes a plurality of pumps having different best efficiency points. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The pumped hydropower storage apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one pump is configured for reversible operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The pumped hydropower storage apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one pump includes a turbine unit configured to receive the first flow of the first volume of water from the first water storage unit, transport the first flow to the second water storage unit, and drive the electrical generator to generate electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source using the first flow when the power generation system operates in the first mode of operation, and a pump unit separate from the turbine unit, the pump unit configured to be driven by the electrical generator when the power generation system operates in the first mode of operation. ### Claim 17 A pumped storage hydropower system, comprising: a plurality of second water storage units storing corresponding second volumes of water at a plurality of second elevations less than a first elevation at which a first water storage unit stores a first volume of water; and a housing and at least one pump disposed within the housing, the at least one pump fluidly coupled to the first water storage unit and the plurality of second water storage unit to transport water between the first water storage unit and the plurality of second water storage unit, the at least one pump configured to operate in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on an operation condition including at least one of a time or a price of electrical power received from a remote electrical power source, wherein in the first mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a first flow of the first volume of water from the first water storage unit, transports the first flow to at least one of the plurality of second water storage unit, and generates electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source using the first flow, and in the second mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a second flow of at least one of the second volumes of water from at least one of the plurality of second water storage unit, and transports the second flow to the first water storage unit using electrical power received from the remote electrical power source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of solar panels mounted to each of the plurality of second water storage unit, each solar panel configured to generate solar electrical power, wherein the pump is configured to use the solar electrical power to transport the second flow of the second volume of water from the second water storage unit to the first water storage unit while operating in the second mode of operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 17, wherein the pumped storage hydropower system has a round trip efficiency of at least seventy percent. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The pumped storage hydropower system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of second water storage units include housings formed from shipping containers.