Power generation system
AssigneeGlobal Power Enterprises, LLC.
InventorDavid J. Muchow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water tower includes a reservoir configured to store fluid. The reservoir includes a bottom surface. The water tower also includes a recirculating passageway fluidly connected to the reservoir. The recirculating passageway includes a first end connected to and located near or below the bottom surface of the reservoir, and a second end connected to the reservoir above the bottom surface of the reservoir. The water tower further includes a pump located in the recirculating passageway and configured to pump fluid through the recirculating passageway, and a fluid-driven energy generating device fluidly connected to the recirculating passageway. At least a portion of fluid directed through the energy generating device is directed through the recirculating passageway.
Claims20
A power generation system comprising:
- a reservoir configured to store fluid, the reservoir including a bottom surface and a plurality of inlets located at different vertical locations in the reservoir;
- a recirculating passageway fluidly connected to the reservoir, the recirculating passageway including a first end connected to and located near or below the bottom surface of the reservoir and a plurality of second ends connected to the plurality of inlets above the bottom surface of the reservoir;
- a fluid-driven energy generating device fluidly connected to the recirculating passageway, at least a portion of fluid directed through the energy generating device being directed through the recirculating passageway;
- and
- a pump located in the recirculating passageway.
A power generation system comprising:
- a reservoir configured to store fluid, the reservoir including a bottom surface;
- a recirculating passageway fluidly connected to the reservoir, the recirculating passageway including a first end connected to and located near or below the bottom surface of the reservoir and a second end connected to the reservoir above the bottom surface of the reservoir;
- a fluid-driven energy generating device fluidly connected to the recirculating passageway, at least a portion of fluid directed through the energy generating device being directed through the recirculating passageway;
- a pump located in the recirculating passageway;
- a sensor configured to monitor water quality in the reservoir;
- a control system configured to adjust a flow of fluid through the recirculating passageway based on the sensed water quality;
- and
- a fluid treatment device located in the recirculating passageway, wherein the fluid treatment device includes at least one of a water aeration system, a water filtering system, or a water purification system.
A power generation system comprising:
- a control system;
- a plurality of reservoirs located at different geographic locations, the plurality of reservoirs including a first reservoir configured to store fluid, the first reservoir including a bottom surface, the plurality of reservoirs being connected to the control system and an electric grid;
- a recirculating passageway fluidly connected to the first reservoir, the recirculating passageway including a first end connected to and located near or below the bottom surface of the first reservoir and a second end connected to the first reservoir above the bottom surface of the first reservoir;
- a fluid-driven energy generating device fluidly connected to the recirculating passageway, at least a portion of fluid directed through the energy generating device being directed through the recirculating passageway;
- a pump located in the recirculating passageway;
- and
- a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a power condition associated with each reservoir,
- wherein the control system is connected to the plurality of sensors and is configured to:
- determine a price of at least one of power sold to the electric grid or power purchased from the electric grid, and
- determine whether to purchase power from the electric grid, sell power to the electric grid, or use power from the power generation system based on the determined price and the monitored power conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.