Modular Closed Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsGordon W. Wittmeyer, Biswajit Dasgupta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular component dam. The dam may be configured for pairing with another dam in the form of a closed loop pumped storage hydropower plant. One or both of the dams may be constructed of buttress frames made up of prefabricated modules of predetermined varying dimensions which allow for rapid construction over a period of less than about a year. The modules may be transported to dam sites by standard transportation units such as 18 wheelers. This is facilitated by the modules occupying no more than about 14 feet in vertical height above a surface of a roadway during transport and no more than about 11 feet in horizontal width across the roadway during transport.
Claims20
A dam constructed of modular components, the modular components comprising:
- a plurality of buttress frames to support a water retaining surface at a dam site;
- and
- a plurality of structural modules comprising the buttress frames, each of the modules occupying no more than about 14 feet in vertical height above a surface of a path to the site during transport and no more than about 11 feet in horizontal width across the path during the transport.
A closed loop pumped storage hydropower system comprising:
- a first reservoir;
- a second reservoir hydraulically linked to the first reservoir;
- and
- a plurality of structural modules comprising buttress frames for at least one dam retaining at least one of the reservoirs, each of the modules occupying no more than about 14 feet in vertical height above a surface of a path to the site during transport and no more than about 11 feet in horizontal width across the path during the transport.
A method comprising:
- loading a transport unit with prefabricated dam buttress modules occupying no more than about 14 feet in vertical height above a surface of a path supporting the unit and no more than about 11 feet in horizontal width across the path;
- and
- transporting the modules over the path to a dam site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.