Patent ID: 6831373
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
Hydropower generation apparatus comprising:a first chamber having at least one inlet for introducing water therein and at least one outlet for evacuating water therefrom; a first buoyant object located in said first chamber, said first buoyant object communicating with a power extraction mechanism for extracting generated power; a second chamber having at least one inlet for introducing water therein and at least one outlet for evacuating water therefrom; a second buoyant object located in said second chamber, said second buoyant object communicating with said power extraction mechanism; said first chamber having at least one inlet selectively fluidly connected to an outlet of said second chamber; said second chamber having at least one inlet selectively fluidly connected to an outlet of said first chamber; wherein introducing water into said first chamber causes said first buoyant object to rise in said first chamber thereby causing an upstroke to generate power; wherein evacuating water from said second chamber causes said second buoyant object to fall in said second chamber thereby causing a downstroke to generate power; wherein introducing water into said second chamber causes said second buoyant object to rise in said second chamber thereby causing an upstroke to generate power; wherein evacuating water from said first chamber causes said first buoyant object to fall in said first chamber thereby causing a downstroke to generate power; wherein said first chamber is capable of selectively evacuating water to said second chamber to assist in an upstroke of said second buoyant object in said second chamber, and said first chamber is capable of selectively evacuating water from said first chamber to a lower water body; and wherein said second chamber is capable of selectively evacuating water to said first chamber to assist in an upstroke of said first buoyant object in said first chamber, and said second chamber is capable of selectively evacuating water from said second chamber to a lower water body.