US 6,739,131 B1Granted

Combustion-driven hydroelectric generating system with closed loop control

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 cylinders, another charge of the fuel/oxidizer is introduced and ignited and the process is repeated. Replacement liquid is introduced into the combustion cylinders through a closed loop system utilizing the exhaust of the combustion cycles to significantly lower the elapsed time period of each single cycle, and increases the production of power, efficiency of operation, and reliability.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A process for generating hydroelectric power comprising the steps of:

providing first and second combustion cylinders containing a volume of liquid, a pressurized vessel containing a volume of gas under pressure connected with each combustion cylinder through valve means for discharging liquid from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel in alternating cycles, hydroelectric power generation means connected with said first and second combustion cylinders, liquid replacement means connected with said hydroelectric power generation means, and fluid transfer means connected with said liquid replacement means and said first and second combustion cylinders;
said fluid transfer means having a liquid chamber and a gas chamber, said liquid chamber connected with said liquid replacement means through valve means for receiving replacement liquid therefrom and having first and second liquid outlets connected with said first and second combustion cylinders through liquid metering valve means, respectively, said gas chamber having first and second liquid outlets connected with said first and second combustion cylinders through exhaust gas metering valve means, respectively;
alternately introducing a combustible fuel mixture into said first and second combustion cylinders above the volume of liquid therein and combusting the fuel mixture to forcefully transfer a portion of the volume of liquid from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel at a first rate, the liquid transferred to said pressurized vessel being pressurized by the volume of gas therein;
alternately introducing exhaust pressure from said first and second combustion cylinders into said gas chamber of said fluid transfer means during exhaust cycles to pressurize the liquid contained therein and discharging the liquid under pressure into said first and second combustion cylinders to alternately refill said first and second combustion cylinders with liquid between combustion cycles at a rate greater than said first rate at which the portion of the volume of liquid is transferred from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel;
and
conducting a portion of the pressurized liquid from the pressurized vessel to the hydroelectric power generation means for operating the hydroelectric power generation means to generate power.

3 more elements

Apparatus for generating hydroelectric power, 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 pressure and 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 with said first and second combustion cylinders liquid discharge outlet through valve means to receive liquid discharged therefrom in alternating cycles, and a liquid outlet;
hydroelectric power generation means operatively connected with said pressurized vessel liquid outlet for receiving liquid discharged from said pressurized vessel and generating power responsive thereto;
liquid replacement means for receiving a portion of the liquid from said hydroelectric power generation means;
a fluid transfer cylinder having a liquid chamber and a gas chamber, said liquid chamber connected with said liquid replacement means through valve means for receiving and containing a volume replacement liquid therefrom, and having first and second liquid outlets connected with a respective said liquid inlet of said first and second combustion cylinders through valve means for alternately supplying liquid thereto, and said gas chamber having first and second gas inlets connected with a respective said exhaust outlet of said first and second combustion cylinders through valve means for alternately receiving exhaust pressure therefrom;
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 the 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 from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel at a first rate, the liquid transferred to said pressurized vessel being pressurized by the volume of gas therein;
exhaust pressure from said first and second combustion cylinders is alternately introduced into said gas chamber of said fluid transfer means during exhaust cycles to pressurize the liquid contained therein and the liquid is discharged under pressure into said first and second combustion cylinders to alternately refill said first and second combustion cylinders with liquid between combustion cycles at a rate greater than said first rate at which the portion of the volume of liquid is discharged from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel;
and
a portion of the pressurized liquid from said pressurized vessel is conducted to the hydroelectric power generation means for operating the hydroelectric power generation means to generate power.

7 more elements

A system for producing a head of liquid 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 pressure and 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 with said first and second combustion cylinders liquid discharge outlet through valve means to receive liquid discharged therefrom in alternating cycles, and a liquid outlet;
and
a fluid transfer cylinder having a liquid chamber and a gas chamber, said liquid chamber connected with a source of replacement liquid through valve means for receiving and containing a volume replacement liquid therefrom, and having first and second liquid outlets connected with a respective said liquid inlet of said first and second combustion cylinders through valve means for alternately supplying liquid thereto, and said gas chamber having first and second gas inlets connected with a respective said exhaust outlet of said first and second combustion cylinders through valve means for alternately receiving exhaust pressure therefrom;
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 the 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 from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel at a first rate, the liquid transferred to said pressurized vessel being pressurized by the volume of gas therein;
exhaust pressure from said first and second combustion cylinders is alternately introduced into said gas chamber of said fluid transfer means during exhaust cycles to pressurize the liquid contained therein and the liquid is discharged under pressure into said first and second combustion cylinders to alternately refill said first and second combustion cylinders with liquid between combustion cycles at a rate greater than said first rate at which the portion of the volume of liquid is discharged from said first and second combustion cylinders into said pressurized vessel;
and
a portion of the pressurized liquid from said pressurized vessel is conducted from said pressurized vessel to perform useful work.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.