초록 ▼

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 fl

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 a

1. 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 andat 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. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a turbine; andmeans for delivering said motive fluid pressurized by said pressurization assembly to said turbine. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet is a flow gate. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said impoundment area is afirst impoundment area and said apparatus further comprises:a second impoundment area positioned with respect to said first impoundment area to receive said lifting fluid removed from said first impoundment area via said outlet to provide a rising level of said lifting fluid in said second impoundment area, said second impoundment area also including an outlet for removing said lifting fluid to provide a decreasing level of said lifting fluid in said second impoundment area andat least one second pressurization assembly having a buoyancy device positioned in said second impoundment area such that said buoyancy device of said second pressurization assembly will rise with said rising level in said second impoundment area and cause said motive fluid to flow into said second pressurization assembly and said buoyancy device of said second pressurization assembly will move downwardly with said decreasing level in said second impoundment area to cause said motive fluid to be pressurized in said second pressurization assembly. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:a turbine; andmeans for delivering said motive fluid pressurized in each of said first and said second pressurization assemblies to said turbine. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said turbine is a Pelton turbine. 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:said inlet of said first impoundment area is a flow gate andsaid outlet of said first impoundment area is a flow gate. 8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:a turbine assembly including a rotatable shaft having a plurality of rotors thereon andconduits extending from said first and said second pressurization assemblies for delivering pressurized motive fluid to said rotors. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rotatable shaft is mounted within a fluid reservoir. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fluid reservoir is located at an elevation above said first and said second pressurization assemblies. 11. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:a containment area positioned with respect to said second impoundment area to receive said lifting fluid removed from said second impoundment area via said outlet of said second impoundment area anda drainage conduit extending from said containment area. 12. 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. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of(d) delivering said motive fluid pressurized in said pressurization assembly to a fluid turbine. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein:said impoundment area is a first impoundment area and said pressurization assembly is a first pressurization assembly;step (a) further includes positioning a second impoundment area with respect to said first impoundment area such that, when said outlet is opened in step (c), water will flow from said first impoundment area into said second impoundment area, said second impoundment area having a second impoundment area outlet and said second impoundment area also having at least one buoyancy device positioned therein and extending from a second pressurization assembly in a manner so that a rising water level in said second impoundment area will cause said motive fluid to be received in said second pressurization assembly and a decreasing water level in said second impoundment area will cause said motive fluid to be pressurized in said second pressurization assembly; andsaid method further comprises the steps of:(e) closing said second impoundment area outlet in step (c) to cause said increasing water level in said second impoundment area and to cause said motive fluid to be received in said second pressurization assembly and then,(f) opening said second impoundment area outlet to cause said decreasing water level in said second impoundment area and to cause said motive fluid to be pressurized in said second pressurization assembly, and(g) delivering said motive fluid pressurized in said second pressurization assembly to said fluid turbine. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said inlet, said outlet of said first impoundment area, and said second impoundment area outlet comprise flow gates. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein:said fluid turbine comprises a rotatable shaft having a plurality of rotors thereon,said motive fluid pressurized in said first pressurization assembly is delivered in step (d) to a first one of said rotors, andsaid motive fluid pressurized in said second pressurization assembly is delivered in step (g) to a second one of said rotors different from said first one of said rotors. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein:said rotatable shaft having said rotors thereon is rotatably mounted in a reservoir which receives said motive fluid delivered to said power turbine in steps (d) and (g);said motive fluid is received in said first pressurization assembly in step (d) from said reservoir; andsaid motive fluid is received in said second pressurization assembly in step (e) from said reservoir. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said reservoir is positioned at an elevation above said first and said second pressurization assemblies. 19. The method of claim 12 wherein said inlet and said outlet comprise flow gates. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said water source is a waterway.