Marine-Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage
AssigneeRCAM Technologies, Inc.
InventorJason Rust Cotrell
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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.
Claims28
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;
- 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;
- a pump configured to pump water from the fluid chambers toward an exterior environment of the system;
- and
- a generator configured to generate electrical energy in response to water flowing from the exterior environment into the fluid chambers.
A method comprising:
- pumping water from fluid chambers of an underwater energy storage system to an exterior environment of the underwater energy storage system, the underwater energy storage system comprising:
- a base having a bottom side resting on an underwater floor and a top side comprising a plurality of recessed surfaces;
- a plurality of domed walls extending from the top side of the base to form the 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;
- generating electrical energy in response to water flowing from the exterior environment into the fluid chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.