# US 9,039,326 B1 · Tidal power system and methods

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- Number: US 9,039,326 B1
- Document ID: US9039326B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/474,654
- Filed: 2014-09-02
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02
- Applicants: Ethan Novek
- Inventors: Ethan Novek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039326B1

## CPC

- E02B 9/08: Tide or wave power plants (water-pressure machines, tide or wave motors F03B)
- F03B 13/268: {making use of a dam}
- E02B 9/06: Pressure galleries or pressure conduits; Galleries specially adapted to house pressure conduits; Means specially adapted for use therewith, e.g. housings, valves, gates (driving inclined galleries E21D9/02; valves in general F16K; conduits in general F16L)
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
- E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention pertains to a new method and system for producing electricity from tidal energy. In one embodiment the system employs at least one underground region for collecting water percolating at a higher tide level and at least another underground region capable of fluid communication with the first underground region. The system is configured to release water at separate times from the underground regions to operate hydro turbines and generators to produce electricity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydropower generation method utilizing changing water levels, the method comprising:
collecting water percolating through a permeable substance into a first underground region as a water level is increased;
releasing water from the first underground region into a second underground region, and thereby operating a first hydro turbine and generator operatively coupled therebetween to generate power; and
releasing water from the second underground region as a water level is decreased, and thereby operating a second hydro turbine and generator operatively coupled therebetween to generate power; wherein the method is characterized by (1) wherein the permeable substance comprises a beach; or (2) wherein the changing water levels are due to a tide; or (3) both.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the permeable substance comprises sand, gravel, rock, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the permeable substance comprises a beach.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the changing water levels are due to a tide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the first underground region is located at substantially the same elevation as the second underground region and wherein water is collected in the first underground region to a level up to about a high tide level.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the first underground region is located at substantially the same elevation as the second underground region and wherein water is released from the second underground region at or about low tide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing water from the first underground region into the second underground region through an inflow pipe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising opening one or more pipe valves in the inflow pipe at an increased water level.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing water from the second underground region to a decreased water level through an outflow pipe.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising opening one or more pipe valves in the outflow pipe at the lower water level.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising closing one or more pipe valves in the inflow and outflow pipes while collecting percolating water in the first underground region.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising storing or transmitting at least a portion of any power generated.

### Claim 13

A tidal power system comprising:
a first underground region for collecting water percolating through a coastal area medium at a higher tide level;
a second underground region capable of fluid communication with the first underground region;
an inflow pipe through which water is released from the first underground region to the second underground region, the inflow pipe further comprising a first hydro turbine and generator operatively coupled thereto to generate power; and
an outflow pipe through which water is released from the second underground region, the outflow pipe further comprising a second hydro turbine and generator operatively coupled thereto to generate power;
wherein the system is configured to release water at separate times from the first underground region and the second underground regions to operate the hydro turbines and generators and thereby produce electricity and wherein the system is characterized by (1) the first underground region comprising a mesh or screen for filtering water percolating through the coastal area medium; or (2) the second underground region being insulated from water infiltration through the coastal area medium; or (3) both.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first underground region further comprises a mesh or screen for filtering water percolating through the coastal area medium.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising one or more pipe valves in the inflow pipe configured to allow release of water from the first underground region to the second underground region.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising one or more pipe valves in the outflow pipe configured to allow release of water from the second underground region.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the second underground region is insulated from water infiltration through the coastal area medium.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising an operable connection to an apparatus configured to use produced electricity.

### Claim 19

A hydropower generation method utilizing changing water levels, the method comprising:
collecting water percolating through a permeable substance into a first underground region as a water level is increased;
releasing water from the first underground region into a second underground region, and thereby operating a first hydro turbine and generator operatively coupled therebetween to generate power; and
releasing water from the second underground region as a water level is decreased, and thereby operating a second hydro turbine and generator operatively coupled therebetween to generate power which method comprises providing a filter around at least a portion of the first underground region for filtering water.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the filter comprises a material selected from a mesh, screen, net, or combination thereof.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the permeable substance comprises a beach.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the changing water levels are due to a tide.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 wherein the first underground region is located at substantially the same elevation as the second underground region and wherein water is collected in the first underground region to a level up to about a high tide level.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 wherein the first underground region is located at substantially the same elevation as the second underground region and wherein water is released from the second underground region at or about low tide.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising releasing water from the first underground region into the second underground region through an inflow pipe.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising opening one or more pipe valves in the inflow pipe at an increased water level.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising releasing water from the second underground region to a decreased water level through an outflow pipe.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, further comprising opening one or more pipe valves in the outflow pipe at the lower water level.