Abstract:
A method and apparatus utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum force to generate electricity by pushing water in a water tank through an upward pipeline to a first vacuum tank and letting the water flow down to strike against the vanes of a hydraulic power generator installed in a second vacuum tank to generate electricity. Intermediate vacuum tanks may be added between the water tank and the first vacuum tank to raise the altitude of the first vacuum tank to increase the impact of the down-flowing water. The method and the device used is not affected by local climate. The device can be installed in the backyard of a house or in a factory, operating around the clock in all seasons. The apparatus may be used to deliver water to a high altitude for water distribution.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 101150087, filed on Dec. 26, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a method and apparatus of generating power. More particularly, this invention uses atmospheric pressure and vacuum to push water inside a pipeline to a maximum of about 10.33 meter and let the water flow downwards to strike against the vanes of a hydraulic power generator (i.e. a turbine) to rotate the vanes for generation of electricity. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Power mostly comes from burning of petroleum. It has led to a greenhouse effect and El Niño phenomenon, thereby threatening life on earth. As a result, using green energy, such as solar energy, wind power, terrestrial heat, tides, etc., is a goal to pursue for the inventor of the present invention. 
         [0006]    Solar power energy is of very limited usefulness at nighttime and during cloudy days; wind power energy is limited during windless days or in faint breezes; reservoir power energy is limited during dry seasons; tidal current power energy and wave power energy are required to operate in the seaside and are adversely affected by direct/reversed tides and stand of tide. Moreover, these methods require transmission and distribution facilities, which are costly. 
         [0007]    In view of the above-mentioned disadvantage, the inventor undertook an in-depth analysis and research and, having endeavored for a long time and experimented repeatedly, finally completed the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The purpose of this invention is to produce electricity by atmospheric pressure and vacuum. Atmospheric pressure and vacuum are utilized to push water column inside a pipeline to reach a maximum height of about 10.33 meters in any diameter of pipeline due to Pascal&#39;s Law. Once the water reach a needed height, a sufficient amount of water is allowed to flow downwards to strike on the turbine of a hydraulic power generator to produce electricity. 
         [0009]    The apparatus according to the present invention includes a main water tank containing water in communication with the atmosphere; an upward pipeline connecting the main water tank to a first vacuum tank, which is positioned at a desired height above the main water tank and is connected to a second vacuum tank below by a downward pipeline and a nozzle. A power generation device including a water wheel, an accelerator and a generator is installed inside the second vacuum tank. In addition, a cylinder including an upper module and a lower module is connected to the second vacuum tank and the main water tank to control and direct the water out of the second vacuum tank and to the main water tank. When a vacuum is created in the first vacuum tank, the water in the main water tank follows through the upward pipeline to the first vacuum tank; when a vacuum is created in the second vacuum tank and the water in the first vacuum tank is allowed to flow down through the downward pipeline, the water strikes at and rotates the water wheel to cause the generator to generate electricity. The water in the second vacuum tank is controlled and directed by the cylinder to flow out into the upper module of the cylinder then back to the main water tank. 
         [0010]    By adding intermediate sets of vacuum tank, cylinder and water tank to the apparatus between the main water tank and the first vacuum tank, the first vacuum tank can be raised to essentially any desired altitude, thereby increasing the impact force of the down-flowing water on the water wheel for higher power generation. 
         [0011]    Lastly, repeating sets of water tank, vacuum tank and cylinder may be connected sequentially to deliver water to a high altitude for water distribution in tall buildings. 
         [0012]    Such apparatus can run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can be directly installed in the backyard of a house or in a factory, regardless of whether it is in a frigid zone, temperate zone, or torrid zone. It generates electricity at zero-carbon, at low cost, and reduces the use of fossil fuel. 
         [0013]    In order to make the purpose, effects and characteristics of this invention understood more specifically, preferred embodiments are illustrated below, accompanied by figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a sketch of the apparatus utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum to produce energy according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  illustrates the operations of the cylinder in directing water out of the second vacuum tank into the upper module according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  illustrates the operations of the cylinder in directing water out of the upper module back to the main water tank according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates the apparatus with one or more intermediate sets of vacuum tank, cylinder and water tank according to the present invention to increase the altitude of the water for more power generation. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates the apparatus with repeating sets of water tank, vacuum tank and cylinder according to the present invention for delivering water to a high altitude for water distribution in tall buildings or other high locations. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The apparatus and the method for generating electricity utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum is illustrated by the preferred embodiments described below. 
       Embodiment I 
       [0020]    A first embodiment of the apparatus for generating power using atmospheric pressure and vacuum according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . The apparatus includes: a main water tank  29  containing water in communication with the atmosphere; a first vacuum tank  1  positioned at a desired height (of no more than 10.33 meter) above the main water tank  29 ; an upward pipeline  31  connecting the main water tank  29  to the first vacuum tank  1 ; a second vacuum tank  11  positioned below the first vacuum tank  1 ; and a downward pipeline  6  connecting the first vacuum tank  1  to the second vacuum tank  11 . 
         [0021]    The first vacuum tank  1  is equipped with a ball valve  3  (for drawing air to create vacuum), a vacuum pressure gauge  2 , and a liquid-level probe  4 . The first vacuum tank  1  is connected to the top of the main water tank  29  by an upward pipeline  31  so that there is a proper height differential (10.33 meters at most) between the main water tank  29  and the first vacuum tank  1 . The upper pipeline  31  is equipped with a normal-open solenoid valve  30  and a ball valve  32  for liquid. 
         [0022]    The second vacuum tank  11  is equipped with a ball valve  9  (for drawing air to create vacuum), a vacuum pressure gauge  8 , and a liquid-level probe  10 . As mentioned above, the second vacuum tank  11  is positioned below the first vacuum tank  1  and connected thereto by a downward pipeline  6  so that there is a proper height differential between the first vacuum tank  1  and the second vacuum tank  11 . The downward pipeline  6  is equipped with ball valves  5  and  7  for liquid, and the lower end of the downward pipeline  6  is fitted with a nozzle  13 . Inside the second vacuum tank  11  is installed a power generation device, which includes a water wheel  12  placed in a position corresponding to the nozzle  13 , an accelerator  14  connected to the water wheel  12 , and a generator  15  connected to the accelerator  14 . 
         [0023]    In addition, a cylinder  25  is connected to the second vacuum tank  11  and the main water tank  29  to control and direct the water out of the second vacuum tank  11  and back to the main water tank  29 . The cylinder  25  comprises an upper module  250  and a lower module  251  separated by a cylinder piston component. The upper module  250  is connected to the second vacuum tank  11  and the main water tank  29  via a check valves  16  and  27 , respectively. The lower module  251  is connected to an accessory water tank  28  via a normal-open solenoid valve  22  and to a pump  21  for the accessory water tank  28  via a check valve  26 . The cylinder piston component comprises a spring  23  connected to the lower module  251 , and a cylinder piston  20  connected to the spring  23 . On the cylinder piston  20  is mounted a ferrogum  19  (rubber magnet). The outside of upper module  250  and the lower module  251  are equipped with a normal-close upper-limit reed switch  17  and a normal-open lower-limit reed switch  18 , respectively. 
         [0024]    With the above-described apparatus, the method according to the present invention to produce energy using atmospheric pressure and vacuum proceeds as follows: air is drawn out through the ball valve  3  of the first vacuum tank  1  and the ball valve  9  of the second vacuum tank  11 , respectively, to create a vacuum inside the first vacuum tank  1  and the second vacuum tank  11 . At this point, the water in the main water tank  29  in communication with the atmosphere is pushed up into the first vacuum tank  1  through the upward pipeline  31  due to the pressure of the atmosphere. The water then runs along the downward pipeline  6  and through the nozzle  13  to form a jet stream, which strikes onto and rotate the water wheel  12  and thereby causes the accelerator  14  and the generator  15  to generate electricity. The electricity generated by the generator  15  can be transmitted to the main power switch  33  through a cable line and then distributed to each of the sub-power switches  34 ,  35 ,  36  for supplying the power system and for use by end users. In this embodiment, one of the sub-power switches  35  controls the operations of the liquid-level probes  4 , 10  and the normal-open solenoid valve  30 . 
         [0025]    Subsequently, the water that strikes on the water wheel  12  flows into the upper module  250  of the cylinder  25  through a check valve  16  which connects the bottom of the second vacuum tank  11  to the upper module  250 . The cylinder  25  operates by sensing the rubber magnet  19  inside the cylinder  25  with the normal-close upper-limit reed switch  17  and the normal-open lower-limit reed switch  18  separately from outside the cylinder piston  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , when the cylinder piston  20  comes near the normal-open reed switch  18  due to the pull of the spring  23 , the loop of the sub-power switch  34  is closed and connected instantly, which activates the pump  21 . At the same time, the normal-open solenoid valve  22  is closed so that the pump  21  delivers the water from the accessory water tank  28  into the lower module  251  through the check valve  26 . This raises the liquid level inside the lower module  251  while bringing the cylinder piston  20  to move toward the upper module  250 . This makes the cylinder piston  20  to press the water inside the upper module  250 , and the water returns to the main water tank  29  through the check valve  27 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2B , when the cylinder piston  20  gradually reaches the position of the normal-close upper-limit reed switch  17 , the magnetic of the ferrogum  19  on the cylinder piston  20  actuates the normal-close upper-limit reed switch  17  to disconnect the power to the pump  21  and the pump  21  stops. At the same time, the normal-open solenoid valve  22  is opened, and the spring  23  pulls the cylinder piston  20  to its original position and the cylinder piston  20  presses the water to return to the accessory water tank  28 . Therefore, the liquid pressure inside the lower module  251  is zero and another cycle starts accordingly. 
         [0026]    The normal-close upper-limit reed switch  17  and the normal-open lower-limit reed switch  18  can be installed with a time controller (not shown) as needed. That way, both switches  17 , 18  may control the times when the pump  21  is turned on and off and when the normal-open solenoid switch  22  is opened and closed, and may also control the quantity of water stored inside the upper module  250 . 
         [0027]    According to the foregoing description, this method according to the present invention produces liquid&#39;s flow by raising the altitude of water and pressure difference. This enables the liquid to strike against the water wheel  12  of the generator  15  and rotate the water wheel  12  to generate power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The apparatus can be installed in the backyard of a house or in a factory, regardless of whether it is in a frigid zone, temperate zone, or torrid zone. It can generate power at zero-carbon at low cost and reduce the use of fossil fuel. 
       Embodiment II 
       [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. Because the atmospheric pressure pushes the water to a high altitude, the method and apparatus of the present invention are not limited by the size of pipeline diameter. Therefore, the size of the pipelines can be increased as needed. And as for the height of the rising level, a number of intermediate vacuum tanks  41 , intermediate water tanks  29 ′ and intermediate cylinders  43  can be connected between the main water tank  29  and the first vacuum tank  1  as shown in  FIG. 3  to increase the height of the first vacuum tank  1  so that more impact force can be produced against the water wheel  12  to produce more electricity by the generator  15  (for example, high horsepower hydraulic power generators used in a water dam). In  FIG. 3 , the intermediate vacuum tank  29 ′ is connected to the upward pipeline  31 ; the intermediate cylinder  43  has the same structure and operates in a similar way as the cylinder  25  described earlier, however, it is connected to the bottom of the intermediate vacuum tank  41  via a check valve  16 ′ and to the intermediate water tank  29 ′ via a check valve  27 ′. The intermediate water tank  29 ′ is then connected via an upward pipeline  31 ′ to another intermediate vacuum tank  41 , if any, or to the first vacuum tank  1 .  FIG. 3  in this invention illustrates only one set of intermediate vacuum tank  41 , water tank  29 ′ and cylinder  43  for the apparatuses. However, this invention is not limited to any particular number of the intermediate units to be connected. 
       Embodiment III 
       [0029]    Please refer to  FIG. 4 . There are a large number of high buildings in the world. Clean water needs to be delivered to the top of a building and then distributed to each floor for daily use of sanitary equipment, showers, washing, drinking . . . etc. Delivering clean water to high floors requires a pump with a high horsepower motor, which consumes a large amount of electricity. The apparatus comprises a number of repeating sets of water tank  29 , vacuum tank  41  and cylinder  43 , and a water distributing tank  50  connected to the cylinder  43  of the last repeating set. The water tank  29 , the vacuum tank  41  and the cylinder  43  in each repeating set have the same structure and function and are interconnected in the same way as in the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which is described under Embodiment II above. The water distributing tank  50  at the highest altitude can then distribute water to individual floors. (In  FIG. 4 ,  1 F stands for the first floor,  2 F for the second floor, etc.) 
         [0030]    The apparatus according to this invention uses little power to deliver clean water from the main water tank  29  to a high place, which is not limited to any height. Vacuum and the atmospheric pressure are employed to realize the energy-saving device.  FIG. 4  in this invention illustrates only two repeating sets of the units utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum. However, this invention is not limited to any particular number of repeating sets to be connected. 
       BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    From the foregoing, this invention has the following advantages: 
         [0000]    1. In the method described by this invention utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum force to produce energy, vacuum force and the atmospheric pressure are utilized to push water column inside a pipeline to maximum height of 10.33 meters and is not limited to any diameter of the pipeline due to Pascal&#39;s Law. Once these water columns rise to a needed height, water is allowed to strike against the turbine of a hydraulic generator to rotate the turbine to generate electricity.
 
2. In the method described by this invention utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum force to produce energy, the user can connect a number of devices as needed to push the liquid to a needed height for use. That way, more impact force can be generated against the water wheel or turbine of a generator. This will allow the power generator to produce more electricity.
 
3. The method consumes little electricity to deliver clean water from the main water tank at a low place to a high place for residential use in tall buildings. This saves energy and is convenient to utilize.
 
         [0032]    In the apparatus of the present application, water is used due to its great abundance and wide availability on earth. However, other liquids can certainly be used instead of water. 
         [0033]    A search throughout technical documents of such structure did not find any identical or similar structure existing prior to this application. Therefore, this invention meets patentability requirements and should be patentable. 
         [0034]    The foregoing are merely some preferred embodiments of this invention and should not limit the claims of the present application as a result. Changes of equivalent structures which apply this invention&#39;s instructions and claims are all included in the claims of this invention for the same reason.