Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention generally relates to an energy system using
gravity as the source of energy for operation of the systems which includes
the gravity flow of large quantities of water to generate large amounts of
electrical energy thereby facilitating the electrolysis separation of large
volumes of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water and at the same time provid-
ing electrical energy for any desired use and large quantities of fresh
unpolluted water which can be used for various purposes and stored in under-
ground aquifers or other storage areas between wet mountainous regions and
coastal regions at a substantially lower elevation than the mountainous
regions.
The use of impounded water at a high elevation to generate electrical
energy as the water is released from impoundment has been successfully used in
many hydroelectrical energy systems. Ln such systems, it is conventionafl for
a dam to be provided on a flowing river, stream, or the like, to impound the
water and form an artiEicial lake, reservoir, or the like. At the base of the
dam or adjacent thereto, hydroelectric turbines are driven by water passing
through spillways or other passageways and then discharging back into the
flowing river below the dam. ~hile relatively large quantities of water can
be impounded and used to drive electrical generators, the difference in
elevation and pressure differential is relatively small in view of the limited
vertical height of the hydrostatic water head. In addition, evaporation
losses occur throughout this system since the water is contained in a pipeline
or passageway for only a short distance from the inlet on the upstream side of
the dam to the generator turbines located at the downstream side of the dam.
Also, in view of the location of such dams in remote areas, it is usually
necessary to transmit the electrical energy over high voltage power lines for
relatively long distances and the water follows its natural course downstream
for discharge into the ocean at sea level.
The hydrostatic pressure of water when confined will exert 433 psi
3C for each 1,000 feet of vertical height when such columns of water are linearly
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contained reasonably near sea level and in a direction parallel with a
straight line extending from the center of the earth to any point in space so
that any column of water contained in a pipeline with an elevation drop of
1,000 feet at one end, regardless of the length, will exert 433 psi at the
interface between the contained water and the inside walls of the pipeline.
At sea level, atmospheric pressure exerted against the interface between the
outside surface of the pipeline walls and the sea level atmosphere is 14.7 psi
thereby providing a pressure differential between the inside water and the
outside atmosphere of 413.3 psi for each 1,000 feet of water column and such
pressure differential will perpetually maintain itself so long as the condi-
tions are maintained, due to the gravity constant of the earth and, of course,
any variation in the atmospheric pressure or earth's gravity wouLd create a
similar small variance upon the pressure difference.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
closed loop, self-perpetuating energy system in which solar energy, whether
direct or indirect, vaporizes water in substantially a pure form from oceanic
and continental water sources with the vapor rising in the atmosphere of the
earth to form vapor clouds. These clouds are swirled by the coriolis effect
and pressure differentials within the atmosphere to form the general weather
system with water being condensed from the vapor clouds to form rain which
drops back to earth in the form of various types of precipitation in substan-
tially its pure form.
~ hen rain or other forms of precipitation falls at high continental
elevation, the runoff of water is stopped or retarded in its attempt to get to
the center of the earth due to gravity pull by the use of dams and at the dam
sites, the water is filtered, purified or otherwise treated and then introduced
to adequately sized and pressure rated pipelines which will Elow and direct
the water to larger main pipelines lying parallel with and at or near the base
line of the mountains. From the base line, pipeline wate-r will be flowed and
directed to areas of lower terminal elevation for storage in underground
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aquifers or for any direct or indirect human or industrial
need.
During the flow of water from high elevations to
lower elevations, the water will generate pressure
differentials between the water inside the pipeline and
the atmosphere outside the pipeline. The pipeline wall
interface and flow rate can be used to generate very large
quantities of hydroelectric current by methods well under-
stood by those in this field. Hydroelectric curren-t energy
can be used in various industrial processes by directing
the pipeline directly into or near such industrial
operations rather than utilize transmission lines for
electrical energ~. Step generation of electric current
can be accomplished at various locations along the pipelines
where sufficient elevation drop occurs. Large generation
of electrical current can be used for the electrolysis
separation of large volumes of hydrogen and oxygen gas
from water which can be tapped from the pipeline. The
separation, purification and compression and/or liquefaction
of hydrogen and oxygen can be accomplished by use of
available continuous electric current. Parallel separate
pipelines for hydrogen and/or oxygen can be accomplished
downstream from such separating facilities by compression
flow and gravity fall.
The pipeline for the water can be directed into
areas of low elevation, such as mountain valleys, then
back to high elevation so long as the head at the pipeline
beginning is maintained at capacity and the terminal end
is at a lower elevation.
Another ob~ect of the present invention is to
provide a closed loop, self-perpetuating energy system in
accordance with the above description which is versatile in
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installation, efficient in use and capable of solving or
alleviating energy shortages in many geographical areas.
Specifically, the invention relates to an energy
system comprising water stored in means at a high elevation
under low pressure, pipeline means for conveying the water
to a lower elevation under hiah pressure, the pipeline
means serving to ~aintain the water fresh and unpolluted
and to reduce evaporative losses~ at least one hydroelectric
generating station in the pipeline means utilizing pressure
differentials between the interior of the pipeline means
and atmosphere to generate electrical energy, at least one
electrolysis separation unit operably associated with the
pipeline means, the electrolysis separation units serving
to convert a portlon of the water into hydrogen and oxygen
gas, the electrolysis separation units utilizing and being
operable by electrical energy supplied by the hydroelectric
generating stations, compressor means for collecting and
delivering the oxygen and hydrogen gas for a desired use,
the compressor means also being operable by electrical
energy supplied by the hydroelectric generating stations,
whereby khe water is used to create the electrical energy
necessary for its own hydrolysis lnto oxygen and hydrogen
gas..
In its method aspect, the invention relates to a
method of providing a closed loop, self-perpetuating energy
system utilizing gravity flow of water and a natural
wheather cycle consisting of the steps of confining fresh
unpolluted water at a high elevation source such as in a
wet mountainous region, connecting a pipeline to the hi~h
elevation source o~ water with the pipeline extending to a
substantially lower elevation for gravity flow of the water
from the hlgh elevation source at low pressure to the lower
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elevation at high pressure while maintaining the water in
a fresh and unpolluted condition and eliminating evaporative
losses during such gravity flow, discharging the fresh
unpolluted water at the lower elevation such as a coastal
plain for various uses or storage in underground aquifers
and the like, providing a plurality of hydroelectric
generating stations at different elevations in the pipeline
for producing electrical energy by 'utilizing the pressure
differential between an interior of the pipeline and the
atmosphere at the plurality of elevations, and providing a
plurality of electrolysis separation units operably associa.ted
with the hydroelectric generating stations and utilizing a
portion of the water to separate the same into hydrogen and
oxygen gas, the electrolysis separation units being operated
by electrical power supplied hy the hydroelectric generating
stations, whereby the water creates the electrical energy
required for its own hydrolysis into oxygen and hydrogen
gas.
' Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the
energy system of the.present invention~
Figure 2 is a more detailed schematic view
illustrating one of the generating stations in this system.
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Figure 3 is another schematic view illustrating a generating station
adjacent sea level.
Referring now specifically to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates
schematically a high elevation lake or lakes 10 and an ocean basin 12 at sea
level 14. The natural weather cycle 16 vaporizes water from the ocean basin
and deposits it in the high elevation lakes in a conventional and well-known
manner. This water in the high elevation lakes will return to sea level by
gravity flow as indicated by numeral 18 with such flow occurring along natural-
ly established flow paths such as rivers, streams, and the like. In the
present invention, a pipeline system 20 is provided for gravity flow of water
from the high elevation lakes 10 to the ocean basin 12 at sea level 14 with
the pipelines maintaining the water fresh and unpolluted so that it can be
discharged into aquifers, underground res~ervoirs, or other storage means, at
or adjacent sea level for various uses as may be necessary. In addition, the
pipeline 20 includes a plurality of generating stations 22 at desired and con-
venient elevations with one of these stations being schematically illustrated
in Fig. 2.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, one of the stations 22 includes hydroelec-
tric generators 24 associated with the pipeline 20 through which fresh unpol-
luted water is flowing from a high elevation low pressure to a low elevationhigh pressure in order to provide a high pressure gradient in the pipeline for
efficiently driving the hydroelectric generators. Each station 22 may also
include branch lines 26 from the pipeline 20 on the downstream side of the
generators 24 to provide water for various purposes including water flow into
electrolysis separation units 28 which are provided with electrical current
from the hydroelectric generators which produces hydrogen gas for discharge
through a pipeline 30 and oxygen gas for discharge through a pipeline 32 into
compressor units 34 to compress and/or liquefy the oxygen and hydrogen for
flow through lines 36 and 38 to a desired point of use. The hydroelectric
generators may also produce electrical energy for any desired use which may be
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transmitted to the desired site by conventional transmission lines or the like
with the gravity flow of water continuing down the pipeline 20 to the next
station 22.
Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a typical generator in which the
water in the pipeline 20 has a hydrostatic head of approximately 8,000 feet
with the water entering turbine 40 with a differential pressure across tbe
turbine of approximately 2,400 psi and a discharge pressure of approximately
1,000 psi. In such an installation, the generator 42 may be quite large, on
the order of 800 feet in length and 200 feet in diameter. The generator would
turn at a fairly slow RPM with the flow rate of water through the turbine
being relatively slow due to the high differential pressure and the speed of
the armature across the fields. ~ bank of generators of this size would supply
considerable current and the discharge from the turbines may be into an
underground aquifer or any storage area or directly into the ocean basin or
the like.
The use of this system provides various advantages as compared with
existing systems. ~or example, as water becomes available at the source dam
sites, it would be moved down the pipelines to do work and go into underground
storage or for direct uses, thus eliminating massive evaporative losses that
occur in lake storage and with adequate management, water would be available
100~ of the time by controlIed flow and controlled lake storage. The genera-
tion of electrical current in this system would be non-polluting as opposed to
the high pollution factors in most of the currently used large power generation
systems for the generation oE electrical current. Step or repeat generation
of electrical current using gravity fall would far exceed the current producing
efficiency factors in the systems now in use. Gravity fall does not have
entropy losses as all other systems now in use have, thereby providing maximum
efficiency over long spans of time. The high volume separation of hydrogen
from water can be used for mobile energy used in internal combustion engines
thereby lowering or ultimately eliminating the use of hydrocarbons in internal
combustion engines. l`he use of hydrogen in internal combustion engines would
also substantially reduce or eliminate pollutant laden exhaust gases and
return the hydrogen and oxygen to the environment for reuse. The on-site
generation of electrical current would substantially reduce current losses in
mining, smelting and industrial uses from transmission of electrical current
over long distance. Also, turbine wheel replacement and overhaul cost would
be reduced due to lower temperature operation. The mass storage o underground
fresh water would vastly reduce the water contamination and availability
problem that could be a substantial problem in the event of the occurrence of
nuclear warfare of other similar possible contamination of surEace water.
Drought problems which occur frequently could be lowered by creating a fresh
water balance by storage of large volumes of water in aquifers in areas that
frequently suffer cyclic drought. This system also will stabilize various
continental areas that are now slowly returning to deserts and becoming
uninhabitable. The provision of fresh unpolluted water for human consumption
will result in substantial reduction in sickness and death from contaminated
water which occurs in many areas including large coastal cities. This system
will create a commerce and trade between wet and ar;d countries where topo-
graphical conditions are favorable and will lower or eliminate a balance of
trade problem in high fuel consumption countries and greatly lower worldwide
pollution problems in both the atmosphere and in continental waterways. This
system will create re economically operable industrial chemical complexes
that use large volumes of hydrogen, oxygen, water and electrical current.
This system will increase the overall standard of living in any country
using this system on a large scale by lowering the cost and increasing the
efficiency of those services and products by providing relatively inexpensive
hydroelectric power, water, hydrogen and oxygen. The system includes flexi-
bility by being fully extendible at either end of the system or by lateral
extension of the system at midpoints as may be required with the system
providing long term reliability and safety. This system will also make large
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scale fresh water controlled aquaculture more feasible thereby providing large
volumes of essential proteins for human consumption. This system would reduce
the use of materials as compared with expansion and maintenance of the systems
now in use and would substantially reduce atmospheric oxygen use and at the
same time reduce upper atmospheric pollution. This system, once installed and
properly engineered would provide a longer and more reliable life and would
not require high technological operational and maintenance cost which are
required by many of the present large systems now in use and would also elimi-
nate volume residue to dispose of, such as radioactive waste, coal ash, and
the like.
Installation of the system is relatively simple and requires the use
of conventional technology. After installation and previous ~o start-up of
the system, the pipelines would be cleaned and flushed and following this, the
entire system would be filled to capacity with water and all air would be bled
from the system at the high places along the pipeline. At the conclusion of
the cleaning, filling and de-airing of the system, it is ready to be put in
use to deliver water, electrical power, hydrogen, oxygen and associated
services. Control of the system is accomplished rather easily by providing
computer summation from meter stations in order to maintain an input to output
balance by computing total output of fluid and transmitting the values to the
source dam sites and balancing the input at each dam site in relation to the
availability of water at each site and the needs of the system. The entire
system would be maintained in a 100% full capacity at all times or as near
these values as possible in order to maintain constant pressure values through
out the system and to prevent the entry of air or gases. This provides a
continuous high pressure differential between the water pressure inside the
pipe and the atmospheric pressure outside the pipe thereby fulfilling a
definition of energy, as any high pressure or potential differential across a
controllable interface, in which the controllable interface is the walls of the
pipe which is maintained by proper and adequate flanging, valving or other
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manual or automatic means, as well understood by those in the hydraulic
engineering field, will establish controlled flow between the two pressure
areas.
There has been and will continue to be an intense and costly search
conducted for an economical, clean, reliable, safe and non-depletable source
or alternative source of usable energy. Many efforts, both governmental and
private, have been made to explore all possible energy sources since dep]etion
of current energy sources would drastically lower the standard of living of
all human beings~
In addition, water supply is also a continuing probLem and possibly
more critical than energy supply and many efforts have been made to provide
and maintain an adequate supply of fresh ~mpolluted water Eor human and an;mal
consumption and also for agricultural usç.
The present system, although quite simple and economical, will
greatly alleviate, if not solve, both the energy supply and water supply
problems. This system uses for its dynamic forces both gravity and electro-
magnetic radiation with both of these forces being stable and available.
Gravity works in one direction and electromagnetic force (solar) works in the
other direction with the system being a closed loop system. This system
overcomes problems which exist with the present and past systems of dam-reser-
voir-generator sequences in which the controllable gravity gradient is too
narrow to build large differential hydrostatic pressures for massive electrical
current generation, include too large of a feedback to the solar phase by
evaporative losses in the reservoir thereby reducing the availability of
additional water for power generation, a large increase over a period of time
of reservoir salinity and mineralization due to the evaporative losses and
continental evaporation entering the dynamic weather system which loses most
of its water as rain or other precipitation which flows into ocean basins
without being used either as an energy source or as a fresh water supply.
