Title of Invention

A DEVICE FOR AUGMENTING HYDROELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Abstract

A DEVICE FOR AUGMENTING HYDROELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND FOR SAVING ENERGY A B S T R A^ C T The invented machine is based on the following two principles: 1. HYDROSTATIC BUOYANCY When a chamber which is fully or partly empty is submerged (fully or partly) in a liquid, it becomes capable of lifting a quantity of liquid or solid sub-stance from a lower level to a higher level. 2. A WEIGHT CAN LIFT ANOTHER WEIGHT PIACED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A FULCRUM OR A LEVER OR A PULLEY I have invented and designed a machine based on these principles. The method of construction, installation, operation and the applications, i.e., the uses of the machine are indicated in this specification with the help of nine sheets of illustrations.

Full Text

THE_OBJECTIVE The twin objectives of the present invention are: (a) To provide for a device which can increase the electrical energy output at all hydroelectric power projects, including tidal power projects. (b) To provide for a device which can decrease the consumption of electrical energy while lifting liquids or solids from a lower level to a higher level. THE_ INVENTED DEVICE See fig. 1 and fig. 2. The invented device consists of an empty chamber made of light material having two portions: the upper 1 and the lower 2. The upper portion l is open mouthed. The bottoms of both portions have closeable openings 3 and 4 respectively. Inside the upper portion 1, at about its middle, is hung a trough-like open mouthed container 5 whose height is the same as that of the remaining portion below it (container 5). Likewise, inside c3nd near the top of the lower portion 2 of the empty chamber, there is hung another trough-like, open mouthed container 6 whose height is the same as that of the remaining portion below it (container 6). Both containers have closeable openings 7 and 8 at their bottom. Just above the mouth of the container 5, and inside the open mouthed upper portion 1 of the empty chamber hangs a solid, heavy block 9 with the help of a holder 10. Blokes 9 is slightly smaller in capacity, i.e., in dimensions than the upper portion 1, so that can slip into it without touching the walls. The upper end of block 9 is rigidly fixed to one end of the holder 10, whose other end 11 can be rigidly fixed either into the ground or any firm structure. Two thirds of the empty chamber which comprises half of the upper portion 1 and all of the lower portion 2 along with containers 5 and 6, is placed in an outer enclosure 12. The entire empty chamber can slide up and down inside the outer enclosure 12 without its walls. INSTALLATION A. At micro, mini, low head hydel projects; See fig.2 and fig. 3. Pig. 2 is the side view of the project and Fig. 3 is the front view of the same project. The invented device is installed just behind the low dam 13. At least two units of the device are to be installed and operated in tandem. Water released from the lower portion 2 of the device flows to the generator 14 through the pipe 15. The water released from the collector 16 of the device flows to the generator 14 through the pipe 17. The device can also be inst¬alled and operated in front of the dam also. With the help of this device even small streams, which are now considered too low for turbine generators, will become viable for generating electricity. B. At tidal power projects: See fig. 4A and Fig. 4B. The device can be installed adjacent to the barrage 18 on either side of it. It is preferrable install the device on the basin side of the barrage for obvious reasons. The pipes 19, 20, 21, 22 carry water to the device as the flood tide arrives. As the invented device increases the head on the turbine 23, the tidal power project can start generating electricity much earlier than at present, that is,soon after the commencement of the flood tide and go on generating elect¬ricity for a longer period of time than at present, i.e., during the ebb tide. Pumped storage tidal power projects will benefit enormously from this invention. C. At large Hydel power projects: See Fig, 5 The device is installed inside a stand 24 erected in front of the dam 25. The stand 24 has several stoppers 26, 27 etc., at regular intervals to facilitate the operation of the device. As the water level behind the dam 25 goes on decreasing or in¬creasing, the device inside the stand 24 is fixed at any one of the appropriate stopper level inside the stand 24. Pipe 28 carries water from lower portion 2 of the device to the power house 29. Pipes 30, 31 etc./ carry water to the device from the reservoir behind the dam 25. Pipe 32 carries water from the collector 16 to the power house 29. LIST OF_ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 : The invented device. Fig. 2 : Lateral view of the setting for the device at a mini hydel project. FIG. 3 : Frontal view of the setting for two devices in tandem at the mini hydel project. Pig. 4A : Setting for the device at a tidal power project; ebb tide. Fig. 4B : Setting for the device at the tidal project : flood tide. Fig. 6 : Operation stage 1. Fig. 7 : Operation stage 2. Fig. 8 : Operation stage 3. Fig. 9 : Operation stage 4. Fig. 10 : Operation stage 5. Fig. 11 : Operation stage 1. Fig. 12 : Application of the device to save energy at town and city water supply schemes. 0__P E_R_A_T l_0 N The invented device together wxth the outer enclosure 12 is installed behind the dam 13 in such a way that the maximum level of water behind the dam 13 is just above the rim of the container 5 situated inside the upper portion 1 of the device. See fig. 6. Water from the reservoir is allowed to flow into the con¬tainer 5. When the container 5 is completely filled with water, water flow from the reservoir is stopped. The stoppers 33 and 34, holding the container 5 from below, are withdrawn into the outer enclosure 12. The container 5 descends to the bottom of the upper portion 1. As it descends/ it lifts up the water scoop 35 well over the water surface of the reservoir. The chain 36 connects the water scoop 35 with the container 5. See fig. 7. Now the water from the reservoir is allowed to flow into the upper portion 1. Water level 37 inside the upper portion 1 will be at par with the reservoir water level. Water from the reservoir is now allowed to flow into the outer enclosure 12. The stoppers 38 and 39 holding the entire chamber, comprising of upper portion 1 and lower portion 2, rises. When it has risen to its maximum, water flow from the reservoir is stopped and the stoppers 4 0 and 41 are pushed out of enclosure 12 so that they support the chamber from below. See fig. 8. Now, it should be noted carefully that the solid block 9 is completelysubmerged in water inside the upper portion 1 and the height of water above the block 9 is almost equal to the height of the block 9. That is, block 9 occupies lower half of the upper portion 1 while upper half of the upper portion 1 is occupied by water. Container 5 inside the upper portion 1 now encloses block 9. See fig. 8. Water from the reservoir is now allowed to flow into the container 6 whose rim is now just below the water level of the reservoir. When the container 6 is completely filled with water the water flow from the reservoir is stopped and the stoppers 42 and 43,holding the container 6 from below, are withdrawn. The container 6 descends to the bottom of the lower portion."2. As it descends it lifts up water scoop 35 further up. See fig. 9. Water from the lower part of the enclosure 12 is allowed to flow to the generator through the pipe 44. Closeable ope¬ning 8 of the container 6 is opened and the closeable opening 4 at the bottom of the lower portion 2 is opened to allow water flow onto the lower portion of the outer enclosure 12. See fig. 10. Water from collector 16 is also allowed to flow to the generator 14 through the pipe 17. See fig. 3 also. See fig. 8. The water from the upper portion 1 is allowed to flow into the trough-like container 44 inside the water co¬llector 16 whose rim is below the top of the upper portion 1 in such a way that about one third of the water in upper portion 1 flows into the container 44. When the container is completely filled with water, water flow from upper portion 1 is stopped. Container 44 is now allowed to descend onto the bottom of the water collector 16 by withdrawing stoppers 45 and 46. See fig. 9. Asit descends, it lifts up water scoop 35 still higher. Water from the scoop 35 is allowed to flow into water collector 16. The entire water in the collector 16 is allowed to flow into upper portion 1 at a level which is above block 9. From there it is allowed to flow into the generator 14 through pipe 17. See figures 8, 9 and 10. The entire water in the lower portion of the outer enclosure 12 is allowed to flow into generator 14. Containers 5, 6 and 44 are lifted to their original position by the slightly heavier water scoop 35 as it descends to reservoir. This completes one cycle of operations. The next cycle of operations can begin when the chamber inside the outer enclosure 12 is allowed to descend to the bottom of the enclosure 12 and is held by stoppers 38 and 39. See fig. 11. E NE RG Y SAVING APPLIC AT IONS A. At irrigation canals and rivers: The device can be used for lifting water from a lower level to a higher level with energy input next to nothing. If the water is required to be lifted to a great height more than one set of the device, located one above the other, should be employed. B. At water supply systems in towns and cities; See fig.12 When the invented device is installed agjacent to a water tank 47 which supplies water to the town or city, water can be lifted upto a greater height than the water tank 47 with energy input which is next to nothing. The water thus lifted can be supplied to higher buildings 48. This means that water supply authorities can save electrical energy by building lower water tanks• Two separate systems of pipes 49 and 50 may be used: one for supplying water to the higher buildings another for lower buildings 51. Alternatively, concentric pipes could be used. That is, smaller pipes, meant for supplying water to higher buildings, may be incorporated inside the existing system of pipes. IMPORTA NT 1. When more than one unit of the device are employed, their Operation should so syncronise that a constant head is maintained all the time. 2. More and more uses for the device may be thought of in future. 3. It is possible to further increase the efficiency of the device. 4. Engineering genius should go hand in hand with this challenging and useful invention. (a) an empty chamber divided into two portions ; the upper one at the top and portion having closeable openings at the top and also at the bottom, and a lower portion having closeable openings at the top and also at the bottom, (b) a trough - like container hung inside each of the two portions of the chamber having closeable openings at their bottom and connected to a lifting mechanism, ( c) an outer enclosure to the chamber, which has openings for water flow, * (d ) a stationary solid heavy block kept suspended inside the upper portion of the chamber in such a way that the upper portion can move up and down around it, (e) a water collector located adjacent to the upper portion and below the top of the upper portion of the chamber with closeable openings for receving and letting out water; which has a trough - like containers inside the upper and the lower portions of the chamber.

Documents:

0818-mas-2001 abstract-duplicate.pdf

0818-mas-2001 abstract.pdf

0818-mas-2001 claims-duplicate.pdf

0818-mas-2001 claims.pdf

0818-mas-2001 description(complete)- duplicate.pdf

0818-mas-2001 description(complete).pdf

0818-mas-2001 drawings-duplciate.pdf

0818-mas-2001 drawings.pdf

0818-mas-2001 form-1.pdf

0818-mas-2001 form-19.pdf

0818-mas-2001correspondence-others.pdf

0818-mas-2001correspondence-po.pdf