US 6,182,615 B2Granted

Combustion-driven hydroelectric generating system

OwnerCharles H. Kershawinventor

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Abstract

A combustion-driven hydroelectric generating system has one or more combustion cylinders that contain a liquid (such as water) and receive a combustible fuel/oxidizer mixture that is ignited and the explosive force of the combustion acts on the surface of the liquid to transfer a metered slug of the liquid to a pressurized vessel containing a pressurized gas (preferably an inert gas). The pressurized liquid from the pressurized vessel serves as a “head of water” that can be used to operate a water wheel (Pelton wheel) or hydroelectric generator and perform other useful work. The transferred liquid is replaced in the combustion cylinder, another charge of the fuel/oxidizer is introduced and ignited and the process is repeated.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A process for generating hydroelectric power comprising the steps of:

providing first and second combustion cylinders each containing a volume of liquid, a pressurized vessel containing a volume of gas under pressure connected with each combustion cylinder through one-way valve means to allow fluid flow from said first and second combustion cylinders into the pressurized vessel in alternating cycles, hydroelectric power generation means connected with said first and second combustion cylinders, liquid replacement means connected with said pressurized vessel and said hydroelectric power generation means, liquid replacement means connected with said hydroelectric power generation means and said first and second combustion cylinders, and a fluid transfer cylinder connected between said liquid replacement means and said first and second combustion cylinders;
said fluid transfer cylinder having first and second chambers divided by a movable piston and each chamber having a liquid outlet connected with respective said first and second combustion cylinders and a liquid inlet connected with said liquid replacement means through metering valve means for alternately filling said first and second chambers with liquid at a first rate between combustion cycles of one of said first and second combustion cylinders and discharging liquid into the other one of said first and second combustion cylinders at a greater rate to increase the rate at which liquid is conducted into said first and second combustion cylinders;
alternately introducing a combustible fuel mixture into said first and second combustion cylinders above the volume of liquid and combusting the fuel mixture to forcefully transfer a portion of the volume of liquid from said first and second combustion cylinders into the pressurized vessel in alternating cycles, wherein the liquid contained therein is pressurized at a predetermined pressure;
conducting a portion of the pressurized liquid from the pressurized vessel to a hydroelectric power generation apparatus for operating the hydroelectric apparatus to generate power;
and
conducting a portion of the liquid used to operate said hydroelectric power generation apparatus through said liquid transfer cylinder and alternately filling its said first and second chambers with liquid at a first rate between combustion cycles of one of said first and second combustion cylinders and discharging liquid into the other one of said first and second combustion cylinders at a greater rate to rapidly replace the portion of liquid that was transferred from said first and second combustion cylinders.

3 more elements

Apparatus for generating hydroelectric power, comprising:

a first and second combustion cylinder for containing a volume of liquid each having a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid, a fuel mixture inlet for receiving a combustible fuel mixture, fuel ignition means, an exhaust outlet for exhausting products of combustion, and a liquid discharge outlet for discharging liquid therefrom;
a pressurized vessel for containing a volume of gas under pressure having a gas inlet for receiving a volume of gas, a liquid inlet connected in fluid communication with said first and second combustion cylinder liquid discharge outlets through one-way valve means to allow fluid flow from said first and second combustion cylinder into said vessel in alternating cycles, and a liquid outlet;
hydroelectric power generation means operatively connected with said pressurized vessel liquid outlet for receiving liquid from said vessel and generating power responsive thereto;
liquid replacement means for receiving a portion of the liquid from said hydroelectric power generation means including one-way valve means, pump means and conduit means connected with each said combustion cylinder liquid inlet for conducting a portion of the liquid from said hydroelectric power generation means back into each said combustion cylinder;
and
a fluid transfer cylinder having first and second chambers divided by a movable piston and each chamber having a liquid outlet connected with a respective liquid inlet of said first and second combustion cylinders and a liquid inlet connected with said liquid replacement means through metering valve means for alternately filling said first and second chambers with liquid at a first rate between combustion cycles of one of said first and second combustion cylinders and discharging liquid into the other one of said first and second combustion cylinders at a greater rate to increase the rate at which liquid is conducted into said first and second combustion cylinders;
wherein
a volume of gas is introduced into said pressurized vessel, a combustible fuel mixture is alternately introduced into said first and second combustion cylinders above a volume of liquid contained therein, said ignition means is activated to combust the fuel mixture to forcefully transfer a portion of the volume of liquid through said one-way valve means into said pressurized vessel and the products of combustion are exhausted from said first and second combustion cylinders in alternating cycles;
the liquid transferred to said pressurized vessel is pressurized by said gas therein, and a portion of the pressurized liquid is conducted from said vessel to said hydroelectric power generation means for operating the same to generate power;
and
a portion of the liquid used to operate said hydroelectric power generation means is conducted by said liquid replacement means and said liquid transfer cylinder back into one of said combustion cylinders to rapidly replace the portion of liquid transferred therefrom while a fuel mixture is introduced and combusted the other one of said combustion cylinders.

8 more elements

A system for producing a head of liquid at under pressure at different rates to be used for performing useful work, comprising:

first and second combustion cylinders for containing a volume of liquid each having a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid, a fuel mixture inlet for receiving a combustible fuel mixture, fuel ignition means, an exhaust outlet for exhausting products of combustion, and a liquid discharge outlet for discharging liquid therefrom;
a pressurized vessel for containing a volume of gas under pressure having a gas inlet for receiving a volume of gas, a liquid inlet connected in fluid communication with said first and second combustion cylinder liquid discharge outlets through one-way valve means to allow fluid flow from said first and second combustion cylinders into said vessel in alternating cycles, and a liquid outlet;
and
a fluid transfer cylinder having first and second chambers divided by a movable piston and each chamber having a liquid outlet connected with a respective liquid inlet of said first and second combustion cylinders and a liquid inlet connected with a source of replacement liquid through metering valve means for alternately filling said first and second chambers with liquid at a first rate between combustion cycles of one of said first and second combustion cylinders and discharging liquid into the other one of said first and second combustion cylinders at a greater rate to increase the rate at which liquid is conducted into said first and second combustion cylinders;
wherein
a volume of gas is introduced into said pressurized vessel, a combustible fuel mixture is alternately introduced into said first and second combustion cylinders above a volume of liquid contained therein, said ignition means is activated to combust the fuel mixture to forcefully transfer a portion of the volume of liquid through said one-way valve means into said pressurized vessel and the products of combustion are exhausted from said first and second combustion cylinders in alternating cycles;
the liquid transferred to said pressurized vessel is pressurized by said gas therein, and a portion of the pressurized liquid is conducted from said vessel to performing useful work;
and p1 a portion of the liquid used to perform useful work is utilized as replacement liquid and conducted by said liquid transfer cylinder back into one of said combustion cylinders to rapidly replace the portion of liquid transferred therefrom while a fuel mixture is introduced and combusted the other one of said combustion cylinders.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A process for generating hydroelectric power comprising the steps of:

providing first and second combustion cylinders each containing a volume of liquid, a pressurized vessel containing a volume of gas under pressure connected with each combustion cylinder through one-way valve means to allow fluid flow from said first and second combustion cylinders into the pressurized vessel in alternating cycles, hydroelectric power generation means connected with said first and second combustion cylinders, liquid replacement means connected with said pressurized vessel and said hydroelectric power generation means, liquid replacement means connected with said hydroelectric power generation means and said first and second combustion cylinders, and a fluid transfer cylinder connected between said liquid replacement means and said first and second combustion cylinders;
said fluid transfer cylinder having first and second chambers divided by a movable piston and each chamber having a liquid outlet connected with respective said first and second combustion cylinders and a liquid inlet connected with said liquid replacement means through metering valve means for alternately filling said first and second chambers with liquid at a first rate between combustion cycles of one of said first and second combustion cylinders and discharging liquid into the other one of said first and second combustion cylinders at a greater rate to increase the rate at which liquid is conducted into said first and second combustion cylinders;
alternately introducing a combustible fuel mixture into said first and second combustion cylinders above the volume of liquid and combusting the fuel mixture to forcefully transfer a portion of the volume of liquid from said first and second combustion cylinders into the pressurized vessel in alternating cycles, wherein the liquid contained therein is pressurized at a predetermined pressure;
conducting a portion of the pressurized liquid from the pressurized vessel to a hydroelectric power generation apparatus for operating the hydroelectric apparatus to generate power;
and
conducting a portion of the liquid used to operate said hydroelectric power generation apparatus through said liquid transfer cylinder and alternately filling its said first and second chambers with liquid at a first rate between combustion cycles of one of said first and second combustion cylinders and discharging liquid into the other one of said first and second combustion cylinders at a greater rate to rapidly replace the portion of liquid that was transferred from said first and second combustion cylinders.

3 more elements