Buoyant gas activated hydroelectric generator

A self contained hydroelectric generator which includes two fluid tanks mutually connected to a turbine generator. A volume of fluid is transferred between the tanks by either an elevator or a weight positioned within the first fluid tank. The elevator or weight is raised and lowered by inflating and deflating low density gas balloons connected thereto. As the elevator or weight is lifted by the inflated balloons, fluid is transferred from the first tank into the second tank. As the fluid moves from one tank to the other through the turbine generator, the turbines impellers rotate to cause the generator's armature to rotate within a magnetic field to produce electricity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to hydroelectric generators, and has special 
application to a generator which is activated by a fluid flowing through a 
conduit. 
Heretofore, hydroelectric generators have required a continuously renewing 
source of water or other fluids to rotate the impellers of the turbines 
used to generate electricity. Such requirement has caused industry and the 
government to build huge dams to store water for subsequent release in 
controlled amounts through the turbines. One obvious problem associated 
with such generation methods is the enormous cost associated with building 
a hydroelectric dam. A further problem is that this method is impractical 
in areas removed from a flowing water source. 
This invention eliminates the above problems by providing for a totally 
self contained hydroelectric generator. The fluid source (usually water) 
is contained within a large tank. Water flow through the generator turbine 
is established either by elevating a volume of water and releasing it in a 
controlled amount through the turbine or, by transferring the water 
between two horizontally aligned tanks via a conduit which is in flow 
communication with the turbine. 
The elevation of water is accomplished by connecting a platform to a 
balloon which is filled with a low density or buoyant gas, such as helium 
or the like. Upon inflation of the balloon the platform is lifted to 
elevate a volume of water to a holding tank which is in flow communication 
with the turbine generator. 
In a similar fashion, water may be transferred between the two horizontally 
aligned tanks by raising or lowering a weighted plunger housed within one 
tank responsive to inflation and deflation of one or more balloons. 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for a 
self-contained hydroelectric generator. 
Another object of this invention is to provide for a selfcontained 
hydroelectric generator which uses balloons filled with buoyant gas to 
transfer volumes of fluids through a turbine generator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The preferred embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive 
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen 
and described to explain the principles of the invention and its 
application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to 
utilize the invention. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, apparatus 10 having a main water storage reservoir 
12 is illustrated. Reservoir 12 is positioned substantially beneath ground 
level 14 and includes a water inlet 16 and water outlet 18. 
A water elevator 20 extends upwardly of outlet 18 of reservoir 12 to above 
ground level 14. Elevator 20 includes cylindrical shaft 22 having open 
ends 24 and 26. End 26 includes outlet 30 from which spout 32 extends. 
Spout 32 of elevator 20 is positioned over elevated tank 62. A platform 34 
is positioned within shaft 22 and slidably engages the shafts inner wall 
25. Seal means (not shown) are positioned along the outer edge of platform 
34 to guard against leakage. Platform 34 defines a central opening 36 
preferably having a downwardly tapered side wall 37. A buoyant valve or 
plunger 38 with stem 39 is positioned within opening 36 of platform 34 and 
has a converging peripheral wall which corresponds with opening 36. 
Elevator 20 further includes a balloon 40 connected via cable 42 to 
platform 34. Cable 34 is threaded through pulley 44 which is supported by 
pulley support 46, and is further threaded through pulley 48 which is 
supported by elevated pulley support 50. Balloon 40 includes an 
inlet/outlet 52 to which one end of a flexible hose 54 is connected. The 
other end of hose 54 is connected to a pump 56 which is connected via tube 
58 to a buoyant gas (preferably helium) storage tank 60. 
Elevated tank 62 is supported above ground level 14 by a stand or tower 
structure 68 and includes an outlet 66. A conduit 70 is connected between 
outlet 66 and a turbine generator 72. Turbine generator 72 is a type as is 
typical in the industry and does not constitute a point of novelty of this 
invention. Generator 72 typically includes inlet 74, outlet 76, internal 
impellers (not shown) in flow communication with ports 74 and 76 and 
connected to a rotating armature (not shown). Generator 72 also includes 
electrical output terminals 78. A conduit 80 is connected in flow 
communication between outlet 76 of generator 72 and inlet 16 of storage 
tank 12. 
The hydroelectric generator of FIG. 1 operates in the following manner. 
Initially, balloon 40 is deflated, reservoir 12 contains water 13, 
platform 34 is submersed in the water and is suspended above reservoir 
bottom wall 17 atop an inwardly extending lip 25 of shaft 22. Stem 39 of 
valve 38 contacts bottom wall 17 with valve 38 floating above opening 36. 
Tank 62 is initially empty, so that no water flows through generator 72 to 
allow production of electricity. 
A two-way valve (not shown) associated with pump 56 is opened to allow 
buoyant gas from storage tank 60 to flow under pressure into balloon 40 
via flexible tube 54. As balloon 40 inflates, platform 34 is lifted via 
cable 42 drawn over pulleys 44, 48. As platform 34 is lifted, water 13 
pushes downward on valve 38 which lowers into opening 36 to seal the 
opening. As balloon 40 continues to fill with gas it continues to rise and 
lift platform 34 and the column of water. When the column of water reaches 
outlet port 30 of shaft 22, it empties into tank 62 via spout 32. The 
water in tank 62 flows via outlet 66 and conduit 70 to inlet 74 of 
generator 72 to turn the impeller blades (not shown) which subsequently 
turn the armature (not shown) of generator 72 to produce electricity. 
Water exits the generator via outlet port 76 and flows through conduit 80 
through inlet port 16 and into tank 12. Thus, the water in the system 
operates in a closed loop with little or no loss. 
In order for apparatus 10 to continue to produce electricity, platform 34 
must be lowered to collect another column of water. After the initial 
volume of water empties into tank 62 and generator 72 begins to generate 
electricity, pump 56, which is connected to generator cables 78 by leads 
79, and is powered by a portion of the electricity from generator 72, is 
activated and begins to draw helium from balloon 40 back into storage tank 
60. The deflating of balloon 40 allows platform 34 and valve 38 to descend 
into tank 12. Upon valve stem 39 contacting reservoir bottom wall 17, 
valve 38 is urged above platform opening 36 thus allowing water to enter 
the shaft above the platform through the opening. As platform contacts the 
lip 25, pump 56 is deactivated and its valve (not shown) is reopened to 
again allow gas to flow into balloon 40. Apparatus 10 is therefore 
cyclical in nature, continually inflating and deflating balloon 40 to lift 
columns of water for generation of electricity as the water flows through 
turbine generator 72. Conventional control means, such as limit switches 
(not shown), positioned in cylinder 22 control the inflation and deflation 
of balloon 40. 
A second embodiment of this invention is depicted in FIG. 2. 
The helium hydroelectric generator 110 depicted in FIG. 2 includes a 
turbine generator 172 connected in flow communication between storage tank 
182 and storage tank 184 via conduit 186. Tank 182 includes inlet/outlet 
188 connected to pipe 186. 
Tank 184 includes an inlet/outlet 190. Tank 184 further includes an opening 
199 defined by inwardly extending lip 198. A weighted plunger 192 is 
slidably positioned within tank 184 and bears upon tank inner walls 185. 
Seal means (not shown) may be connected to plunger 192 to insure that no 
leakage occurs. 
Plunger 192 is connected to balloons 140 by cables 142. Cables 142 extend 
over pulleys 144 which are supported by pulley supports 146. Each balloon 
140 includes an inlet/outlet 152 for connection to one end of a flexible 
hose 154. The other end of hose 154 is connected to pump 156. A pipe 196 
is connected between gas storage tank 160 and pump 156. Pump 156 includes 
a two-way valve (not shown) for directing the flow of gas between balloons 
140 and tank 160. 
Apparatus 110 operates in the following manner. Initially cylinder 184 is 
void of water, with plunger 192 resting on bottom wall 194 of cylinder 
184, balloons 140 are deflated and turbine 172 is not producing 
electricity. As the pump valve (not shown) is opened, balloons 140 inflate 
with helium thereby lifting plunger 192. As plunger 192 is lifted, the 
suction force created by the displaced air in tank 184 as well as the 
weight of water 113 in tank 182 causes water from tank 182 to flow through 
conduit 186 and turbine generator 172 into tank 184. Upon the plunger 192 
reaching the top of tank 184 and abutting lip 198, pump 156 is activated 
by conventional means such as a limit switch (not shown) and begins to 
pump the helium gas contained in balloon 140 back into storage tank 160 to 
deflate the balloon. Upon deflation of balloon 140, plunger 192 descends 
and thus forces water beneath the plunger back through turbine generator 
172, conduit 186 and into tank 182. Plunger 192 continues its descent 
until it again rests upon the bottom of tank 184. Thus, as in the previous 
embodiment, apparatus 110 is cyclical in nature, continually inflating 
balloons 140 to raised plunger 192 and then deflating the balloons to 
lower the plunger. As plunger 192 is raised and lowered, water is forced 
between tanks 182 and through turbine generator 172 which produces 
electricity. 
An expanded version of the second embodiment is depicted in FIG. 3 which 
illustrates the possible staging of the hydroelectric generator depicted 
in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3 two cylinders 184, 184' with individual 
plungers 192, 192' are connected to a large main storage tank 198. The 
plungers would be oriented such that as one plunger 192 was raised, the 
other plunger 192' would be lower. Therefore, the staged generator would 
be capable of providing a greater electrical output from generators 172 
with only the addition of one cylinder 184' and its plunger assembly 192'. 
It should be understood that while only one balloon is illustrated in FIG. 
1 and two balloons in FIGS. 2 and 3, any number of balloons could be used 
to expand the lifting capabilities. 
To clarify and as proof of practical functionality and viability of the 
presented invention and for purposes of proper perspective, the following 
calculations are included with reference to FIG. #1 only: 
Choosing for the elevator lift four balloons of total 32,000 pounds, 453 
grams per pound, giving use +14,496,000 grams, which @4 grams/per mole, at 
atmospheric pressure @22.4 liters volume expands to 81,177,600 liters. 
This volume equals .times.2.2=1.7859.times.10.sup.8 pints volume; 62.4 
(pints/cu.ft.), =28,620,308 cubic foot, and as divided between four lift 
balloons, amounts to 715,507 cubic foot per balloon. This figure cubed 
would only amount to 89 ft..sup.3 or about 89 per side! 
The mass density of Helium is 0.17847 compared to air of 1.2929, so Helium 
will balance at ordinary atmospheric pressure in this comparable ratio 7 
times its own weight of mass, as in this instance is water. Choosing 
intermediate or average balloon lift force with 32,000 pounds of liquid 
weight of water of 1 to 6, or 1/6th of the force of gravity of 32 
pounds/per second. (buoyancy being the reverse of gravity proportionally); 
this would lift 192,000 pounds of water at @ about 9.375 feet per second, 
or to the top of 300 feet in about 10 seconds. Let us say that it takes 
about double, or 20 seconds for one up and down alternating cycle to 
perform. 
From 300 foot height of head waters we develop 57,600,000 foot pounds of 
work. Subtracting efficiency loss of turbine generator, we can use the 
amounts of 46,080,000 foot pounds, which translates into energy of 62,439 
Kw. seconds. Divided by the time cycle of 20 seconds, this gives us 3122 
Kw., seconds of energy output. The energy to pump in and out of the 
balloons of 32,000 pounds of work, or only 0.17-17% of the developed 
energy, which can be tapped off of the turbine generator output, of some 
1300 Kilowatts leave a grand total of 1822 kilowatts available for 
utilities of 1822 people or consumers. 
It should be further understood that the invention described will function 
so long as the balloons could be made less dense than the ambient 
surroundings.