US 5,555,728 A · Apparatus and method for producing power using the excess pressure in natural gas pipelines

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided that comprise the use of a water-filled vessel having two vertical sections and two horizontal sections that connect the respective upper and lower ends of the vertical sections. A sprocket is mounted for rotation with a horizontal output shaft in one of the horizontal sections, and an idler pulley is mounted for rotation in the other horizontal section. An endless drive chain carrying a plurality of gas receptacles, or buckets encircles the sprocket and the idler pulley within the vessel. A gas inlet is positioned at the bottom of the vessel such that a portion of the gas entering the vessel enters the open ends of the downwardly facing buckets and forces part of the water out of the buckets. The hydrostatic pressure of the water exerts an upward buoyant force on the gas in the bucket moving the bucket upwardly. The hydrostatic pressure of the water decreases as the bucket moves upward causing a corresponding reduction in the pressure of the gas until, at the surface, the gas will have decreased in pressure by the hydrostatic pressure of the water at the inlet of the gas into the vessel. The upward movement of the buckets rotates the sprocket and the output shaft whereby power is produced for use outside of the vessel and the pressure of the gas is reduced.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An apparatus for producing power while reducing the pressure of gas in a pipeline, comprising:

a liquid-filled vessel having a first generally vertical section and a second section that is upwardly inclined away from the first section and two generally horizontal sections connecting the upper and lower ends of the first and second sections;
a sprocket mounted for rotation with a horizontal output shaft in one of the horizontal sections;
an idler pulley mounted for rotation in the other horizontal section;
an endless drive chain encircling the sprocket and idler pulley;
a plurality of open-ended receptacles formed of a material having substantially neutral buoyancy in the liquid and carried by the drive chain, each receptacle being positioned on the chain for the open end of the receptacle to be facing downwardly as the receptacle moves upwardly with the drive chain through the second section and facing upwardly as the receptacles move downwardly with the chain through the first section;
a gas inlet at the bottom of the vessel positioned for at least a portion of the gas entering the vessel to enter the downwardly facing open ends of the receptacles in the second section and displace liquid from the receptacles, thereby creating a positive buoyant force urging the receptacles upwardly and imparting rotation to the sprocket and the output shaft and reducing the pressure of the gas in the receptacles, which gas is released to flow upwardly to the top of the vessel as the receptacles are turned upside down as they travel over the sprocket;
and
an outlet for the gas at the top of the vessel.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for producing power using the excess pressure in natural gas pipelines

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for producing power using the excess pressure in natural gas pipelines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6