System and method for producing energy
OwnerBrian K. Meanoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for producing energy comprising an impoundment area having at least one buoyancy device positioned therein and extending from a pressurization assembly. The impoundment area is preferably positioned with respect to a lifting fluid source such that, by opening an inlet, lifting fluid will flow into the impoundment area to create a rising fluid level and will cause a motive fluid to flow into the pressurization assembly. The lifting fluid can then be removed from the impoundment area to cause the motive fluid to be pressurized. The pressurized motive fluid will preferably be delivered to a fluid turbine.
Claims20
An apparatus for producing energy comprising:
- an impoundment area having an inlet and being positioned with respect to a source of a lifting fluid to receive said lifting fluid from said source through said inlet such that a rising level of said lifting fluid is provided in said impoundment area and said impoundment area having an outlet for removing said lifting fluid to provide a decreasing level of said lifting fluid in said impoundment area and
- at least one pressurization assembly having a buoyancy device positioned in said impoundment area such that said buoyancy device will rise with said rising level and cause a motive fluid to flow into said pressurization assembly and said buoyancy device will move downwardly with said decreasing level to cause said motive fluid to be pressurized in said pressurization assembly.
A method of generating power comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning an impoundment area having an inlet with respect to a water source such that, when said inlet is opened, water will flow from said water source into said impoundment area, said impoundment area having at least one buoyancy device positioned therein and extending from a pressurization assembly in a manner so that a rising water level in said impoundment area will raise said buoyancy device and cause a motive fluid to flow into said pressurization assembly and a decreasing water level in said impoundment area will cause said motive fluid to be pressurized in said pressurization assembly, said impoundment area also having an outlet;
- (b) opening said inlet to cause said rising water level in said impoundment area and to cause said motive fluid to be received in said pressurization assembly;
- and
- (c) opening said outlet to cause said decreasing water level in said impoundment area and to cause said motive fluid to be pressurized in said pressurization assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.