Patent ID: 9068560
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: E21F,F03G

Abstract:
1. A system for generating energy which comprises: (a) an energy storage or generating arrangement; (b) a controller; (c) a first pressure vessel assembly and a second pressure vessel assembly, wherein the first pressure vessel assembly and the second pressure vessel assembly each respectively include: (d) a compound water manifold including water manifold valves, wherein the compound water manifold is connected to the water port of the first pressure vessel assembly and the second pressure vessel assembly, (e) a water pump and pressure accumulator arrangement including pressurising and de-pressurising valves for providing water under pressure alternately to the flexible bladders of the respective first pressure vessel assembly and the second pressure vessel assembly, and (f) a compound slurry manifold including slurry manifold valves, wherein the compound slurry manifold is connected to the slurry port of the respective first pressure vessel assembly and to the slurry port of the second pressure vessel assembly and which is connectable to a pressurised source of slurry, wherein the controller regulates operation of at least the pressurising valves and the de-pressurising valves, the water manifold valves, and the slurry manifold valves during operation of the first pressure vessel assembly and operation of the second pressure vessel assembly so that: the operation of the first pressure vessel assembly occurs so that the slurry flows through the compound slurry manifold into at least the slurry volume of the first pressure vessel assembly to collapse the flexible bladder of the first pressure vessel assembly radially inwardly toward the elongate valve tube of the first pressure vessel assembly initially from the lower end of the flexible bladder and then upwardly to the upper end of the flexible bladder so that water is expelled from the interior of the flexible bladder of the first pressure vessel assembly through the plurality of flow apertures, wherein the flow apertures are sequentially closed by the flexible bladder as the slurry rises in the slurry manifold, and the passage of the elongate valve tube of the first pressure vessel assembly in to the compound water manifold of the first pressure vessel assembly via the water port of the first pressure vessel assembly to thereby produce a source of pressurised water which is directed to the energy storage or generating arrangement, the operation of the second pressure vessel assembly occurs so that water from a water source passes through the compound water manifold of the second pressure vessel assembly via the passage and the plurality of flow apertures of the elongate valve tube of the second pressure vessel assembly in to the interior of the flexible bladder of the second pressure vessel assembly to thereby expand the flexible bladder of the second pressure vessel assembly radially outward from the elongate valve tube of the second pressure vessel assembly so that the slurry disposed in the slurry volume of the flexible bladder of the second pressure vessel assembly flows through the compound slurry manifold of the second pressure vessel assembly to a slurry collection location, and wherein the regulating operation of the controller occurs in a manner such that the operation of the first pressure vessel assembly at least overlaps a portion of the operation of the second pressure assembly.