초록 ▼

A system and process for generating hydroelectric power within a body of water uses head pressure existing between two depths of the water. A vertically arranged conduit has an upper water intake and is in fluid communication with a reservoir situated at a lower depth. In a first cycle, water flow i

A system and process for generating hydroelectric power within a body of water uses head pressure existing between two depths of the water. A vertically arranged conduit has an upper water intake and is in fluid communication with a reservoir situated at a lower depth. In a first cycle, water flow is established in the conduit between the water intake and lower reservoir when the reservoir is substantially full of air but at a hydrostatic pressure less than the hydrostatic pressure at the top of the water conduit. A turbine mounted adjacent the reservoir and at a lower depth than the water intake drives an electric generator. As water is introduced into the reservoir, air is scavenged by a compressor and used to drive water from a second reservoir. After the first reservoir is generally full of water, valves are provided to cease the flow of water through the water intake and flow of air out the exhaust tube. An air pump thereafter introduces air scavenged from the first reservoir into the second reservoir to force water out of a second reservoir water outlet port. The generating cycle is then repeated.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for generating electric energy comprising: a reservoir submerged in a body of water at first depth below the water body surface, said reservoir having at least one internal chamber at least partially devoid of water and configured to have a first internal pressure; a

What is claimed is: 1. A system for generating electric energy comprising: a reservoir submerged in a body of water at first depth below the water body surface, said reservoir having at least one internal chamber at least partially devoid of water and configured to have a first internal pressure; an electric generator at a second depth above the first depth, said electric generator being connected to and capable of being driven by a water-driven turbine having a water input port proximate to the second depth and having a waste water outlet coupled to the at least one internal chamber; said reservoir being configured such that the first internal pressure is less than hydrostatic pressure at the second depth; whereby water entering the at least one internal chamber flows through the water input port, through the turbine, driving the electric generator; and at least one water conduit having a first intake opening at a third depth below the water body surface and above the second depth, said at least one water conduit having a second opening coupled to the water input port, the at least one water conduit being configured to be located in the body of water such that hydrostatic pressure at the first intake is greater than the first internal pressure; and a turbine waste water exhaust manifold coupled between the water outlet and the first internal chamber: whereby water enters the first intake opening and flows into the at least one internal chamber by flowing through the turbine and driving the electric generator. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water level detector is an ultrasonic water depth detector. 3. A system for generating electric energy comprising: a reservoir submerged in a body of water at first depth below the water body surface, said reservoir having at least one internal chamber at least partially devoid of water and configured to have a first internal pressure; an electric generator at a second depth above the first depth, said electric generator being connected to and capable of being driven by a water-driven turbine having a water input port proximate to the second depth and having a waste water outlet coupled to the at least one internal chamber; said reservoir being configured such that the first internal pressure is less than hydrostatic pressure at the second depth; whereby water entering the at least one internal chamber flows through the water input port, through the turbine, driving the electric generator; a reservoir having first and second internal chambers, each chamber capable of being alternately filled with water, emptied of water by compressed air and at least partially evacuated relative to hydrostatic pressure at the first intake opening; a water level detector in at least one of the first and second detectors; an air scavenging compressor, operatively coupled to the first and second internal chambers, the air scavenging compressor configured to pump air from the first chamber into the second chamber, and thereafter, pump air from the second chamber back to the first chamber, responsive to water levels detected by the water level detector; and a controller, operatively coupled to the water level detector and the air scavenging compressor, the controller being configured to direct the air scavenging compressor to pump air into the first chamber from the second chamber when the first chamber is substantially full of water, and to direct the air scavenging compressor to pump air from the first chamber to the second chamber when the second chamber is substantially full of water. 4. The system of claim 3, further including an air pump, operatively coupled the first chamber, the air pump providing compressed air to drive water from the first chamber. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the air pump is located on at least one of: a floating platform; a boat; land. 6. The system of claim 5, further including a renewable energy source coupled to and controlled by the controller, the renewable energy source being configured to provide power to the air pump. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the renewable energy source is at least one of: a wind-driven turbine and a solar panel. 8. The system of claim 7, further including a battery coupled to the renewable energy source, the controller and the air pump. 9. The system of claim 4, further including a platform configured to float on the body of water, said platform supporting the air pump, the controlling computer and renewable energy source. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the air scavenging compressor is located on the platform. 11. A method of generating electricity comprising the steps of: driving water from an internal chamber of a reservoir submerged in a body of water having a bottom and a surface, the reservoir being submerged at a first depth below the water body surface, the internal chamber at least partially devoid of water; evacuating the internal chamber to achieve a first hydrostatic pressure inside the internal chamber; obtaining from the body of water, water at a second hydrostatic pressure that is greater than the first pressure; and routing water obtained at said second pressure to said internal chamber through a water-driven turbine coupled to an electricity generator; wherein the step of driving water from an internal chamber includes the step of driving water from an internal chamber of a reservoir attached to the bottom of the body of water using compressed air; wherein the reservoir is at a depth whereat the reservoir is subjected to a third hydrostatic pressure greater than the first and greater than the second hydrostatic pressures, and wherein the step of driving water from an internal chamber is comprised of: providing high pressure air into the internal chamber, the high pressure air being at a pressure greater than the third hydrostatic pressure; recovering the high pressure air from the internal chamber to drive water from a second internal chamber; and at least partially evacuating the internal chamber to a pressure less than the second hydrostatic pressure. 12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of providing compressed air to the internal chamber from a compressor above the surface of the body of water. 13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of floating the air compressor and the renewable energy source on the surface of the body of water. 14. A method of generating electricity comprising the steps of: driving water from an internal chamber of a reservoir submerged in a body of water having a bottom and a surface, the reservoir being submerged at a first depth below the water body surface, the internal chamber at least partially devoid of water; evacuating the internal chamber to achieve a first hydrostatic pressure inside the internal chamber; obtaining from the body of water, water at a second hydrostatic pressure that is greater than the first pressure; routing water obtained at said second pressure to said internal chamber through a water-driven turbine coupled to an electricity generator; wherein the step of obtaining water at a second hydrostatic pressure includes receiving water from the body of water at an intake port of a water conduit coupled to said generator; detecting the amount of water in the internal chamber; and recovering the high pressure air from the internal chamber to drive water from a second internal chamber and at least partially evacuating the second internal chamber to a pressure less than the second hydrostatic pressure, responsive to the step of detecting the amount of water in the internal chamber. 15. The method of claim 14, further including the step of providing the compressed air from an air compressor powered by a renewable energy source.