The present application relates generally to power generation and, more specifically, to a system for producing power by capturing in a complimentary fashion the opposing forces of gravity and buoyancy, which can be further enhanced by water/fluid seeking its own level, water taking the path of least resistance, and inertia.
Throughout history, numerous methods to generate electrical power to yield work have been conceived, and even fewer developed. The success, or efficacy of a particular technology depends largely on the ability to overcome forces of nature, such as heat and friction, or to mitigate one or the other of forces tending toward equilibrium, so that ample power production can take place. More recently, environmental concerns have been thrust into the mix so that less effective technologies are becoming serious alternatives.
Thermal engines are the most common source of power generation today. The two primary types are nuclear and fossil-fuel-driven engines that produce power by burning a fuel or using fusion to heat steam to drive a turbine. Fossil-fuel-driven engines can also provide power by burning the fuel resulting in a controlled explosion, such as used in a vehicle. Either way, a thermal heat engine requires a continuous supply of expendable fuel (i.e. coal, oil, gas, wood, uranium, etc.) that must be produced, processed, and transported to the point of use, and finally, the numerous effluents properly disposed of. Regardless of the specific generation method, enormous volumes of water are consumed, and subsequently, vast quantities of residual heat are released into the atmosphere. In the case of fossil-fuels, CO2, GHG's (greenhouse gases), and effluents are also a by-product. These residues and effluents must also be controlled and properly disposed of since they are often hazardous.
Other types of engines are known. Limited resources may restrict the type of engines for use in different areas. Additionally, for each type of engine, various energy losses are experienced, contributing to varied, but significant generation inefficiencies.
Although great strides have been made over the years in power generation, an improved method of generating power that is independent of fuel or water constraints, has full cycle generation capacity, and can feasibly operate independently.
The novel features believed characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the application to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the devices, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms, such as above and below, to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the device described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.
The method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with existing power generation. Specifically, the system of the present application is configured to effectively produce a continuous power source by capturing both the gravitational forces and the buoyancy forces acting together on a body, and enhancing the lift in the buoyancy domain by capitalizing on the fact that “water will seek the same level.” This novel approach markedly increases efficiency as it utilizes the entire generation cycle. These and other unique features of the system are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The system will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless otherwise described.
Referring now to the Figures wherein the rotary aided conjunctive energy system of the present application is illustrated. The system of the present application includes a rotating drum body 103 having a plurality of enclosed chambers 105 spaced around a central axis or shaft 113. The rotation of the drum results from a combination of the effects of gravitational forces and buoyancy forces stemming from the phenomenon of water seeking its own level and water taking the path of least resistance. These forces act upon a number of individually spaced chambers 105 (cylindrical in this embodiment) within the drum body 103. It is preferred that there is an odd number of chambers 105 to assist in maintaining rotation. This avoids situations where each chamber 105 has an equal and opposite mass (chamber) opposite itself in the drum. Approximately half of the total mass of the odd-numbered bodies within the drum body are subjected to gravitational forces, while the other half are subjected at any one time to buoyancy forces or forces from water seeking its own level. Gravitational forces act to pull “down” the chambers 105 while buoyancy forces and forces from water seeking its own level act to elevate the other chambers 105 resulting in a continuous energy producing cycle.
In
For reference purposes, the following terms are herein defined:
Referring now to
The RCE system 101 provides a continual direct source of power by utilizing gravitational force in conjunction with an opposite anti gravitational buoyant force. The mechanism described consists of a number of chambers 105 arranged along the periphery and bonded at either end to two parallel circular plates 106 to create a drum 103a. Bonding of these chambers to each other along their peripheral contact points creates an enclosed positively buoyant sealed air volume. Each chamber 105 contains a sufficient amount of a substance fluid (generally water) such that the chambers 105 achieve a slight positive buoyancy. Buoyancy of the individual chamber is further enhanced by the attachment of self-inflating buoyancy covers (SIBCs) 108, open rearward facing air chambers created by curvilinear plates bonded at both ends to the outer drum plates 106 and at the forward edge to the outermost periphery of each chamber 105 and may utilize permanent foam in place of the water normally captured. SIBCs 108 also serve to provide a close interface with the “shoe” 104 (or seal) to further restrict the entrance of unwanted water into the gravitational domain.
Drum 103 is coupled to a horizontal central axle 113 with a one way CCW ratchet 109 used for both structural and drum/system support and to facilitate for the extraction of power from the rotating drum. The axle 113 is positioned in the chamber at a level equal to the radius of the rotating drum below the buoyancy domain surface, and longitudinally along the interface between two separate chambers one containing air, the other a liquid (water). A one-way CCW ratchet 109 is affixed to the central axle 113 to ensure no undesired reverse movement of the revolving drum occurs. The fluid in the buoyant chamber is prevented from escaping by close-fitting/high tolerance interfaces parallel to the drum end plates with wipers 107 lightly contacting said drum, and in conjunction with capillary force and the sweeping rotary action of the drum. Similarly, a close-fitting curved plate “shoe” 104 that extends from the lower chamber interface past the TPOE and mates closely with the perimeter of the drum and SIBC covers and contains openings as required for the controlled ingress and egress of water into and out of the SIBC's.
Any water escaping form the fluid chamber will accumulate at the bottom of the gravity chamber and will be reintroduced into the fluid chamber aided by inertia and the capillary sweeping action of the drum. A one-way spring loaded ratchet prevents any counter rotation of the drum. If necessary, a spring action could be employed to assist in forcing the drum to rotate in the proper direction CCW. Other additional forces such as inertia (flywheel), a pulsed electromagnetic, or electrical booster can be utilized to ensure a smooth transition from the gravity (air) chamber to the base of the buoyancy (fluid) chamber known as the transitional point of entry (TPOE) or just past the point where the positively buoyant cylinders enter the fluid chamber (buoyancy domain).
Referring now also to
This modification from RCE 101 to RACE 201 introduces the concept of water level and forced differentials to drive the same rotary drum/axle assembly previously described, but replaces the two chambered container with a single totally encompassing, sealed close-fitting housing 202 that includes both a gravity and a buoyant domain with two openings (ports): a buoyant domain with a fluid/liquid input 215 near the base, and an output 217 for the same near the top of a contained fluid column.
Pure water has a constant weight of 62.4 pounds per cubic foot but will weigh much less when it contains a number of positively “buoyant intrusives” since they displace the heavier liquid and results in a lower overall density. This yields a volume of fluid that has a lighter weight for a given volume. For instance, a mass A of a 9 inch piece of schedule 20 PVC pipe with two end caps weighs 155 g but sealed with two end caps and containing approximately 10 ounces of water now weighs 422 g. Mass B, an identical empty pipe with caps also weighs 155 g. However, when six buoyant ping-pong balls are placed in a pipe and is filled to the same level with water as a Mass A, it only weighs 275 g. When these pipes are immersed in water Mass A immediately sinks to the bottom of the tank of water whereas Mass B floats vertically with approximately ⅓ of its length above water. This effectively demonstrates the weight difference between pure water and water with positively “buoyant intrusives.” The same principle provides the differential weight/force required to rotate drum 103/203 from the lower point of water entry (TPOE) to the upper point of water exit. In this case the positively buoyant cylinders in conjunction with the “SIBCs” continually provide the “buoyant intrusives” as the drum rotates.
Referring now also to
Masses 305 include an internal weight substance (i.e., liquid) that is also optimized so that the trade-off between maximum buoyancy is achieved when subjected to a liquid, but also so that its mass component contributes significantly to the rotational torque output. Masses 305 are distributed as seen in the previous figures. In operation, the masses 305 are configured to pass between a “dry” environment (gravitational domain) where they are subjected to ambient air and gravitational forces only and a “wet” environment (buoyancy domain) where they are subjected to buoyancy forces, being partially submerged in a fluid. At a lower right portion of drum body 303 is a transitional point of lower entry (TPOE) for liquid to enter a portion of drum body 303. This TPOE is an entrance port 306. At this location, masses 305 adjacent the TPOE are introduced to buoyancy forces. The buoyancy forces provide a force sufficient to raise the masses. At the upper portion of siphon tower 309, after raising the masses, the liquid is released into column A through an output and said liquid then recirculates back to column B. The masses then move past the vertical plane and enter a dry environment where gravity acts upon the masses forcing them down. By incorporating an unequal plurality of equally spaced masses 305 about central shaft 313, masses 305 produce a rotational force on shaft 313 and generate power. It is preferred that an odd number of masses 305 are utilized to avoid a situation where complete symmetry between the gravitational and buoyancy forces result in a net cancellation of forces and the cessation of rotation of drum body 303 as noted in the previous disclosure.
With respect to fluid housing 307, housing 307 is coupled to drum body 303 and is configured to provide a supply of fluid for the buoyancy force. In siphon tower 309, a filter 321 (entrance filter) is used at the lowest point, or the location where the liquid exits the drum body 303 through an outlet port 319. A second filter 323 (exit filter) is located at an upper portion of the siphon tower 309. Between the two filters is a first density fluid while tank 311 includes a second density liquid. The terminology related to what appears to be two separate liquids is not limiting. The two liquids may be different but is not necessary. The first density liquid may include one or more objects and/or “buoyant intrusives” to create a lower density than the second density liquid within tank 311. Therefore, such “buoyant intrusives” may alter the density of the liquid in the different areas despite that the same liquid is used. In such cases, the filters are used to retain the “buoyant intrusives” within a particular region. An example of the difference in densities can be that of a factor of two.
Referring now also to
Referring now also to
The system in
Referring now also to
This modification is accomplished by the utilization of an MPA drum within a magnetic field, and a fluid containment shell as shown in
In consideration of the previous information, it becomes self-evident that the RACE/RCE system concepts do not qualify as perpetual energy for the following reasons:
The current application has many advantages over the prior art including at least the following: (1) rotational energy created from rotating masses through a plurality of different domains; (2) inclusion of a siphon effect to increase buoyancy forces; (3) buoyant intrusives to affect the density of fluid and further enhance the buoyancy effect; and (4) inclusion of optional magnetic power amplification system.
It is evident by the foregoing description that the subject application has significant benefits and advantages. The disclosure of the present application is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The particular embodiments and/or methods disclosed above are illustrative only, as each may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident any alterations, modifications, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. It is apparent that an apparatus with significant advantages has been described and illustrated.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2016/029255 | 4/25/2016 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62151827 | Apr 2015 | US |