Fluid dynamic energy producing device

An energy storage and retrieval system comprising:

• (a) a loop having a downcomer leg and a riser leg and adapted to hold a liquid;
• (b) a generator communicating with said loop and motivated to produce electricity by flow of the liquid through said loop;
• (c) a gas compressor device motivated by electrical power;
• said compressed gas being of less density than the fluid;
• (d) compressed gas storage means communicating with said gas compression device and storing gas compressed thereby;
• (e) selectively controllable injection means for injecting said compessed gas from said storage means into the liquid in said loop riser leg in a lower portion thereof having a diameter substantially greater immediately above said injection means than therebelow thereby reducing the density of the liquid in the riser leg such that liquid is urged to flow from said downcomer leg to said riser leg due to a density difference therebetween, thereby motivating said generator to produce electricity;
• (f) whereby during periods of low electrical consumption electricity may be withdrawn from a power grid system to operate said compressor and during periods of high electrical consumption electricity may be produced by said generator and returned to said power grid system.

A method for storing electrical energy comprising the steps of:

• (a) using electricity from an electrical power grid system during periods of low electrical consumption to motivate gas compressors to produce compresed gas;
• (b) storing said compressed gas;
• (c) placing a liquid in a loop having first and second generally vertically aligned legs, said legs being interconnected near lower ends thereof to each other and to a hydraulic-type electrical generator;
• (d) adding a foaming agent to said liquid;
• (e) injecting said stored compressed gas into said second leg during periods of high electrical consumption in said electrical power grid, such that the density of the fluid in said second leg is reduced by said compressed gass thereby urging fluid of normal density in said first leg to flow into said second leg and motivating said generator to produce electricity;
• (f) returning said produced electricity to said power grid.