초록 ▼

The invention, which provides a system for harnessing power from current flow or tidal movement in a body of water, comprises first and second hydro-pneumatic chambers each having ingress and egress below the water surface near the river or ocean floor and water gates operative to open or seal the p

The invention, which provides a system for harnessing power from current flow or tidal movement in a body of water, comprises first and second hydro-pneumatic chambers each having ingress and egress below the water surface near the river or ocean floor and water gates operative to open or seal the ports to the passage of water. In an exemplary embodiment, the gates are sychronized by shafts so that the ingress ports of each chamber are connected to the egress ports of each other chamber. Thus, one set of gates is closed, while the other is open, thereby allowing water to flow into one chamber and build air pressure therein and allowing water to flow out of the other chamber and create a partial vacuum therein. A pipe connects the chambers, and an air turbine harnesses the air movement within the pipe. When water levels are equilibrated, the open set of gates is closed by a counterweight, and the other set is allowed to open by natural force of the water differential. The water gates may be comprised of a plurality of louvers which are ganged for simultaneous opening and closing. The system is designed to operate with air turbines or other pneumatic devices. Its design minimizes construction cost and environmental impact, yet provides a clean renewable energy source.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for harnessing the energy of current flow or tidal motion of a water body, comprising: two hydro-pneumatic chambers each having an inlet port for the ingress of water into the chamber below the water surface and an outlet port for the egress of water out of the chamber below the water surfa

A system for harnessing the energy of current flow or tidal motion of a water body, comprising: two hydro-pneumatic chambers each having an inlet port for the ingress of water into the chamber below the water surface and an outlet port for the egress of water out of the chamber below the water surface; a water gate disposed at each of said ports and rotatable between open and closed positions along a horizontal axis; a linkage between said inlet port water gate of each one of said chambers and said outlet port water gate of the other of said chambers, such that one set of water gates is in an open position and the other set of water gates is in a closed position, and water is permitted to flow into an inlet port of one chamber while water is permitted to flow out of the outlet port of the other chamber, thereby allowing air pressure to build up in one chamber while allowing a partial vacuum to be created in the other; a channel connecting said chambers above the water surface and operative to permit air to move between said chambers; and means for harnessing the energy of the air moving within said channel.