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US 3,939,356 AGranted
Hydro-air storage electrical generation system
AssigneeGeneral Public Utilities Corporation
InventorEdward S. Loane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydro-air storage system for generating electricity in which a subterranean reservoir containing water is pressurized and the water is pumped to a surface reservoir during periods when the demand for electricity is low and in which water from the surface reservoir flowing into the subterranean reservoir and compressed air released from the subterranean reservoir are both utilized to generate electricity during periods when the demand for electricity is high.
Claims10
A hydro-air storage system for generating electricity comprising:
- a surface reservoir containing water;
- a subterranean hydroelectric power plant;
- a penstock connecting said surface reservoir with said hydroelectric power plant;
- a subterranean reservoir having an upper region containing compressed air and a lower region containing water;
- a conduit connecting the lower water containing region of said subterranean reservoir with said hydroelectric power plant;
- a surface power plant for generating electrical power from compressed air;
- and
- an air shaft connecting the upper compressed air region of said subterranean reservoir with said surface power plant, whereby water from the surface reservoir flows through the subterranean power plant to generate electricity and compressed air is forced through the surface power plant by the water to generate electricity.
5 more elements
A hydro-air storage system for generating electricity, comprising:
- a surface reservoir for water with suitable outlet and control structures;
- a subterranean combination hydroelectric generator and water pump plant having at least one generating unit, each generating unit having a hydrualic unit comprising a pump and turbine;
- a penstock connecting said surface reservoir with each hydraulic unit of said subterranean plant;
- a subterranean reservoir for air and water;
- a conduit connecting the bottom of said subterranean reservoir with the hydraulic units of said subterranean plant;
- a surface combination combustion turbine generator and air compressor plant;
- and
- an air shaft connecting the top of said subterranean reservoir with said surface plant.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.