GB2512908A

GB2512908A - Power Generation Device

Info

Publication number: GB2512908A
Application number: GB1306572.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-11
Filing date: 2013-04-11
Publication date: 2014-10-15
Also published as: GB201306572D0

Abstract

A device 1 claimed to produce power comprises two substantially vertical tubes 10, 30 immersed in a water supply such as the sea X. The tubes have a water inlet 11, 31 at an upper end of each tube 10, 30 and a water outlet 12, 32 at the bottom with pumps 13, 33 to pump water back into the water supply. Each tube has a container 20, 40 able to slide up and down inside the tube. In use, the containers 20, 40 are alternately filled with water, descend under gravity to the bottom of the tube, and are then emptied of water. The containers are interconnected by a cable 50 and pulley 51 so that the descending full container lifts the other empty container. The pulley 51 drives an electrical generator.

Description

Title: Power Generation Device The present invention relates to a power generation device.

According to the present invention there is provided a power generation device comprising: a) a first substantially vertical tube immersed in a water supply having a first water inlet adjacent an upper end of the tube to receive water from the water supply and a first water outlet adjacent the bottom end of the tube to pump water into the water supply, b) a first container adapted to slide up and down the first tube, said first container being adapted to be filled with water from the first water inlet and to be emptied of water by the first water outlet, c) a second substantially vertical tube immersed in a water supply having a second water inlet adjacent an upper end of the tube to receive water from the water supply and a second water outlet adjacent the bottom end of the tube to pump water into the water supply, d) a second container adapted to slide up and down the second tube, said second container being adapted to be filled with water from the second water inlet and to be emptied of water by the second water outlet, e) link means connecting the first and second containers whereby movement of one container down a tube to a water outlet causes the other container to rise up a tube to a water inlet, and 1) power means to derive power from the link means, in use the first container is filled with water from the water inlet so increasing its weight which then falls to the first water outlet whilst raising the empty second container to the second water inlet so causing the power means to derive power from the link means, and the second container is then filled with water from the water inlet increasing its weight whilst the first container is emptied of water by the first outlet, and the second container falls to the second water outlet whilst raising the empty first container back to the first water inlet so causing the power means to derive power from the link means.

Preferably the link means is a cable between the first and second containers, The cable may pass over a pulley wheel.

Preferably the containers are first and second cylindrical containers which slide in cylindrical first and second tubes.

The device may be formed of a plurality of first and second containers connected by link means in first. and second tubes delivering power.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view with the first container being filled and the second container being emptied.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view with a water-filled first container moving down the first tube and an empty second container being raised, Figure 3 shows a schematic view with the first container being emptied and the second container being filled, and Figure 4 shows a schematic view with a water-filled second container moving down the second tube and an empty first container being raised.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a power generation device 1.

A first substantially vertical cylindrical tube 10 is provided immersed in a water supply such as the sea X. Tube 10 has a first water inlet 11 adjacent an upper end of the tube to receive water from the water supply, and a first water outlet 12 adjacent the bottom end of the tube with a pump 13 to pump water into the water supply. Cylindrical tube lOis open to ambient air above seaX.

A first cylindrical container 20 is adapted to slide up and down the first tube 10. First container is adapted to be filled with water from the first water inlet 11 and to be emptied of water by the first water outlet 12 and pump 13.

A second substantially vertical cylindrical tube 30 is provided immersed in the water supply.

Tube 30 has a second water inlet 31 adjacent an upper end of the tube to receive water from the water supply, and a second water outlet 32 adjacent the bottom end of the tube to pump 33 to pump water into the water supply.

A second cylindrical container 40 is adapted to slide up and down the second tube 30. The second container 40 is adapted to be filled with water from the second water inlet 31 and to be emptied of water by the second water outlet 32 and pump 33. Cylindrical tube 10 is open to ambient air above sea X. Link means in the form of cable 50 connects the first and second containers 20,40 and passes over pulley block 51. Movement of one container 20 or 40 down a tube to a water outlet causes the other container 40 or 20 to rise up a tube to a water inlet.

Power means such as an electrical generator derives power from the cable 50 as it moves over the pulley block 51.

In use the first container 20 is filled with water (see Figure 1) from the first water inlet 11 so increasing its weight which then falls (see Figure 2) to the first water outlet 12 whilst raising the empty second container 40 to the second water inlet 31 so causing the power means to derive power from the link means in the form of cable 50 and pulley block 51.

The second container 40 is then filled with water from the second water inlet 31 (see Figure 3) increasing its weight whilst the first container is emptied of water by the first outlet 12 and pump 13. The second container 40 then falls to the second water outlet 31 (see Figure 4) whilst raising the empty first container back to the first water inlet so causing the power means to derive power from the link means. Second water container 40 is then emptied by second water outlet 31 and pump 32 (see Figure 1). This sequence is then repeated to provide continuous pOwer generation.

The device may be formed of a plurality of first and second containers connected by link means in first and second tubes delivering power.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMSA power generation device comprising: a) a first substantially vertical tube immersed in a water supply having a first water inlet adjacent an upper end of the tube to receive water from the water supply and a first water outlet adjacent the bottom end of the tube to pump water into the water supply, b) a first container adapted to slide up and down the first tube, said first container being adapted to be filled with water from the first water inlet and to be emptied of water by the first water outlet, c) a second substantially vertical tube immersed in a water supply having a second water inlet adjacent an upper end of the tube to receive water from the water supply and a second water outlet adjacent the bottom end of the tube to pump water into the water supply, d) a second container adapted to slide up and down the second tube, said second container being adapted to be filled with water from the second water inlet and to be emptied of water by the second water outlet, e) link means connecting the first and second containers whereby movement of one container down a tube to a water outlet causes the other container to rise up a tube to a water inlet, and o power means to derive power from the means, in use the first container is filled with water from the water inlet so increasing its weight which then falls to the first water outlet whilst raising the empty second container to the second water inlet so causing the power means to derive power from the link means, and the second container c is then filled with water from the water inlet increasing its weight whilst the first container is emptied of water by the first outlet, and the second container falls to the second water outlet whilst raising the empty first container back to the first water inlet so causing the power means to derive power from the link means.
2. A power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the link means is a cable between the first and second containers.
3. A power generation device according to claim 2, wherein the cable passes over a pulley wheel. 4* * * . * *

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4. A power generation device according to any preceding claim, wherein the containers are first * : * and second cylindrical containers which slide in cylindrical first and second tubes. *

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5. A power generation device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is formed of * : *. a plurality of first and second containers connected by link means in first and second tubes delivering power.
6. A power generation device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.