Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system for generating electrical power using hydraulic supports on which a building structure is mounted. A pump injects fluid into the supports to raise the building structure and thereby store energy in the elevated structure. A valve can be opened to deliver fluid under pressure to a turbine or hydraulic motor driven generator to generate electricity.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/891,879, filed Jun. 26, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,068. The entire contents of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Existing methods of electrical power generation used to provide alternative or backup power sources to established energy grid systems have various difficulties associated with them. These existing systems are often expensive, inefficient, have a limited lifetime and/or generation capacity. 
   A continuing need exists for improvements in power generation, particularly to offset electrical power demands during peak loads. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a power conversion system that supplies electrical power to buildings or other facilities. The system can be used to meet the load demand for a designated building during the daily peak load hours. In a preferred embodiment, the system can be located in the basement of the building, and includes a plurality of single-acting hydraulic support cylinders or chambers arranged vertically below the building support columns and mounted on the foundation. Each cylinder is fitted with an inlet/outlet pipe at the bottom of the cylinder which is connected to a header which acts to equalize the level or pressure of the fluid medium within the system. The header connects to a reversible pump/turbine unit which generates electricity when the fluid is allowed to discharge from the hydraulic support cylinders, through the hydraulic turbine generator and into an atmospheric fluid reservoir/tank. 
   In off-peak hours, when external electrical energy is less expensive and in larger supply or if an internal storage battery system source is available, the generator is operated as a motor which runs the turbine as a pump. In this mode of operation, the fluid is drawn from the reservoir and pumped into the header system which delivers fluid at equal pressure to all the hydraulic support chambers. In one embodiment where the hydraulic fluid is water, slip sealed pressure plates accordingly rise in elevation carrying the bearing pads, vertical connecting links, and the entire building support steel structure with them. In another embodiment where the hydraulic fluid is hydraulic oil, cylinder pistons accordingly rise in elevation carrying the rods and the entire building support steel structure with them. The new elevation of the building and its weight thus provide potential energy on demand via the pressurized fluid which again can be fed to the inlet of the turbine generator. 
   In an embodiment, an external “Limited-Displacement Lateral Restraint System” is included to maintain vertical stability, as well as minimize or limit relative lateral movement of the building in relation to its foundation, especially during any seismic disturbances. The restraint system as well as other system components can be controlled by a computer or system controller programmed to provide automatic operation to optimize efficiency and power generation. 
   It is recognized that the system can be located in other structures such as a parking deck structure. The power can be used with the deck and associated structures, such as commercial buildings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a building structure with portions broken away and having a hydraulic power system according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view at building incorporating an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of a large diameter, low pressure hydraulic support chamber in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates in partial perspective view a limited displacement lateral restraint system used in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the power system according to the invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a side view with a portion broke away of a small diameter, high pressure hydraulic support cylinder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Various public utilities have used the “pumped storage” system which elevates large volumes of water several hundreds of feet to an upper reservoir, during off-peak hours when electrical power supplies are more available and less expensive. This stored energy, in the form of the potential energy of the elevated water, is then available on demand during peak periods. When required, the water is released, fed through large penstocks, into the inlet side of a large water-wheel-type turbine which is connected to a generator to produce electrical power. The prime-mover system used for this application is a reversible pump and turbine system which allows the generator to be run as a motor to drive the turbine in the reverse direction, thus operating as a pump to return the water again to the upper reservoir from the lower reservoir at the turbine discharge. 
   The current electric power market is focused on the need for addressing shortages of generation supply during peak-demand hours. New “distributed power” (e.g., small generators) has advantages such as capacity close to the demand load centers, reduction of load on main transmission and distribution lines by installation of more small generators closer to the load centers which are typically urban and suburban areas, and reduced emissions from fossil-fueled plants. 
   Prior systems for pumped storage hydroelectric generation have been based upon an upper and lower reservoir of water with the height difference being the key to creating the pressure head at the inlet to the turbine. Thus a practical system requires hundreds of feet of “head,” as well as large volumes of water in order to generate power throughout the peak hours of a typical day. These requirements and the structures required to support the system are not practical for small plants distributed throughout urban and other densely settled areas. 
   The present invention relates to a hydraulic power system, designated generally as  10 , and involves generation of electric power within a structure, such as a dedicated building structure  12  such as seen in  FIG. 1 . Since the size and weight of buildings is quite often proportional to their electricity supply needs, the weight of the building structure  12  is utilized to create the equivalent “head” of several hundreds of feet at the inlet of an hydraulic turbine or motor. 
   The hydraulic power system has a plurality of connection links or piston rods  14  that carry the structural steel  16  of the building structure  12 . Each of the piston rods  14  is guided by a support chamber or cylinder  18 . At the end of the lower connection link or piston rod  14  is a pressure plate or a piston. The pistons place a hydraulic fluid  20  such as hydraulic oil or water, under pressure. A reversible pump/turbine  22  and at least one header  24  move the hydraulic fluid between the cylinders  18  and a reservoir  26  at atmospheric pressure. All the hydraulic fluid  20  such as hydraulic oil or water required is located within the plurality of hydraulic support cylinders or chambers  18  and the atmospheric reservoir  26  at the basement level of the building structure  12 . Thus, the basic “pumped storage” hydroelectric concept can be employed without moving large volumes of fluids to large heights. This is accomplished by allowing the structure itself to rise and fall during the pumping and generation cycles. In one embodiment, the structure, a building structure, has the capability of rising and falling in a range of 10–20 feet. 
   The present invention does not limit itself to windmill power, nuclear power or even its own captive storage battery system for its power source during the pumping part of the cycle. However, depending on the local supply and demand situation during the “off-peak” hours, the probability of “green” power being available (as opposed to fossil-fuel power) for pumping will be higher than during peak demand periods. 
   An added benefit of the present invention is its foundation design which is inherently earthquake resistant. Thus, a potential energy storage system is a desirable structural approach for new buildings in areas in which there is a shortage of electric generating capacity and there is a risk for seismic activity. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the building structure  12  has a guide system  30  at the building corner surfaces  32  of the building structure  12 . The guide system  30  has bracing  34  with guides that roll along the building corner surfaces  32 . Extending between the bracing  34  at the corners  32  is a tension link  36 . 
   The building structure  12  has a movable ramp  38 . The ramp  38  allows access to the building structure  12  regardless of the building&#39;s  12  elevation. This is similar to a gangway for a ship. 
   A plan view of a schematic of the hydraulic power system  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The hydraulic fluid  20 , such as hydraulic fluid or water, discharges from each of the hydraulic chambers or cylinders  18  through an automated chamber valve  42  into the supply and discharge header  24  which transports the fluid through a main valve  44  and into a main automatic flow control valve  46 . This automatic flow control valve  46  regulates fluid flow to the reversible pump/turbine/generator unit  22  according to the electrical demand from the generator which is being driven by the hydraulic turbine  22 . The turbine discharges the hydraulic fluid through a reservoir valve  48  at the reservoir  26  where it is stored until the pumping cycle begins. During pumping, the reversible pump/turbine/generator unit  22  is rotated in the opposite direction, driven by the generator acting as a motor and driving the turbine  22  as a pump. During this part of the cycle, the fluid follows the same path from the reservoir  26  back to the hydraulic support chambers or cylinders  18 . 
   The chambers or cylinders  18  are in fluid communication with a drain or overflow pipe  52 , which is connected to the reservoir  26  and a further makeup fluid supply  54 , if needed. The drain/overflow pipe  52  in addition connects to the atmospheric reservoir  26 . A check valve  56  prevents fluid from flowing from the reservoir  26  into the drain/overflow pipe  52 . The drain/overflow pipe  52  system is used with a water system. In a hydraulic oil system, no drain/overflow pipe  52  is needed because typically the small diameter cylinders experience minimal leakage, as explained with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
   The power system  10  has an electrical distribution center  60  which receives and distributes the power to the building during the generation cycle and delivers electrical power (from optional sources) to the motor during the pumping cycle. The distribution center  60  can be connected to an external power source  62  and a battery storage system  64 . 
     FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of a typical water-based hydraulic support chamber or cylinder  18 . During the pumping cycle, the hydraulic (water) fluid  20  enters at the bottom of the chamber through a conduit  66  from the supply/discharge header  24 . The conduit  66  has the automated chamber valve  24  for the chamber/cylinder  18 . The hydraulic fluid  20  pressurizes the chamber volume  68  below a pressure plate  70  which is sealed to an internal wall  72  of the chamber  18  by at least one packing seal ring  74 . As the pressure builds up, the pressure plate  70  rises thereby lifting off a plurality of the blocks  76  on the floor of the chamber  18 . The pressure plate  70  carries a bearing pad  78  and a vertical connecting link  80  which is rigidly secured at its upper end to the underside of the lower building steel  16 . The vertical connecting link  80  is secured to the bearing pad  78  by a bolted flange  82  at is lower end. The hydraulic support chamber  18  has a grease groove  84  that allows slight horizontal movement between the bearing pad  78  and the cylinder pressure plate  76 . 
   Since all the connecting links  80  rise equally due to the equal pressures supplied by the supply and discharge header  24 , the entire building structure  12  rises evenly according to the pressure and volume delivered by the fluid pump  22 . Each connecting link  80  can be coupled to the structural steel  16  of building structure  12  with an alignment sleeve  86 . A bypass line  88  can also connect the chamber to drain line  52  with a normally closed automated valve. The bypass line  88  is used to drain the chamber or cylinder for maintenance or can be used as a backup system for building leveling by reducing pressure in certain cylinders. 
   In one embodiment, the chambers  18  are open at the top, as seen in  FIG. 1 . Any fluid that may flow by the packing seal rings  74  flows out the drain line  52 . It is recognized that the chamber  18  can be closed on top, similar to the cylinder  118 . In one embodiment, the hydraulic fluid is water in a 100–500 PSIG range. 
     FIG. 4  shows a side elevation of the guide system  30 , also referred to as a limited displacement lateral restraint system. The key components of the guide system  30  are a plurality of vertical guide channels or corner guides  90  which hold at least two sets of guide roller assemblies  92  which are adjusted to ride on the outer external corner surfaces  32  of the building structure  12 . The roller assemblies  92  are equipped with spring-loaded mounts to allow for some preset horizontal displacement while still maintaining the vertical and level orientation of the building. The rigidity of the vertical guide channels  90  is maintained through appropriate bracing  34  and tension links  36  between corners  32 . Each corner guide  90  is equipped with an electronic proximity or position sensor  96  that detects any vertical displacement differences between corners. 
   The potential energy system  10  includes a PLC-based level control system  98 , as schematically shown in  FIG. 2 , to maintain the horizontal (level) orientation of the building within pre-set limits. This system  98  receives input signals from the proximity sensors  96  at each corner of the building structure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , in order to detect differences in vertical position. If a pre-set difference allowance is exceeded the control system signals the appropriate automated chamber valves  42 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , to close or “throttle” in order to create a pressure imbalance between certain chambers until the “out-of-level” condition is corrected. Fluid pressure levels inside the chambers are also input to the level control system via a pressure sensor  100  on the cylinder  18 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , and these signals are utilized to control the positioning of the automated chamber valves. 
   It is recognized that structure  12  can be other structures that can rise and lower such as a parking deck structure. 
   The pressure signals also allow the level control system to act as a safety system to isolate a specific chamber upon significant decrease in pressure level by fully closing the associated chamber automated valve. Likewise, the system can isolate all the cylinders or chambers  18  by closing their respective automatic chamber valves  24  upon any sudden decrease or low pressure indication from a supply/discharge header pressure sensor  102 . 
   A plan view of a schematic of an alternative embodiment of the hydraulic power system  110  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the system  110  has a plurality of hydraulic chambers or cylinders  118 , a reversible pump/turbine/generator  22  and a reservoir  26 . In contrast to the first embodiment, the system  110  has a plurality of distinct supply and discharge headers  122  and  124 . Each header  122  and  124  has a main valve  126  and a main automatic flow control valve  128 . There is at least one header  122  or  124  for each side of the building structure  12 . The hydraulic fluid  20 , such as hydraulic oil fluid or water, discharges from each of the hydraulic chambers or cylinders  118  through an automated chamber valve  42  into its respective supply/discharge header  122  or  124 . The fluid is transported through the main valve  126  and the main automatic flow control valve  128  for the respective headers  122  and  124 . This automatic flow control valve  128  regulates fluid flow to the reversible pump/turbine/generator  22  according to the electrical demand from the generator which is being driven by the hydraulic turbine  22 . 
   Similar to the first embodiment, the turbine  22  discharges the hydraulic fluid  20  through a reservoir valve  48  at the reservoir  26  where it is stored until the pumping cycle begins. During pumping, the reversible pump/turbine/generator unit  22  is rotated in the opposite direction, driven by the generator acting as a motor and driving the turbine  22  as a pump. During this part of the cycle, the fluid follows the same path from the reservoir  26  back to the hydraulic support chambers or cylinders  18 . 
   The power system  110  has an electrical distribution center  60  which receives and distributes the power to the building during the generation cycle and delivers electrical power (from optional sources) to the motor during the pumping cycle. The distribution center  60  can be connected to an external power source  62  and a battery storage system  64 . 
   However, in contrast to the previous embodiment, the system  110  does not have a drain or overflow pipe  52  as seen in  FIG. 2 , which is connected to the reservoir  26 . But the system does have a makeup fluid supply  54  to provide hydraulic fluid, if needed. The lack of the drain/overflow pipe  52  relates to the hydraulic system being a smaller, high pressure system. The smaller diameter, standard design components experience minimal leakage, thus negating the need for an overflow pipe. The top end of the cylinder  118  is fully enclosed. The existence of a drain/overflow pipe system  52  does not relate to whether the system  110  has one or more supply/discharge header  24 . In a preferred embodiment, the hydraulic oil system operates in a range of 2,500 to 5,000 pounds per square inch. 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hydraulic support cylinder  118  with a portion broken away. During the pumping cycle the hydraulic fluid  20  enters at the bottom of the chamber through a conduit  66  from the supply/discharge header  122  and  124 . The conduit  66  has the automated chamber valve  42  for the cylinder  118 . The hydraulic fluid  20  pressurizes the cylinder volume  68  below a piston  132  that is sealed to an internal wall  72  of the cylinder  118  by at least one packing seal ring  134 . As the pressure builds up, the piston  132  rises thereby moves upward away from the floor of the cylinder  118 . The piston  132  is formed integral with a vertical rod  136 . The cylinder  118  has a top, with a sealed packing ring opening to allow up and down movement of the rod. 
   Since all the rods  136  rise equally due to the equal pressures supplied by the supply and discharge header  122  and  124 , the entire building structure  12  rises evenly according to the pressure and volume delivered by the fluid pump  22 . Similar to the first embodiment, the rods  136  are coupled to the structural steel  16  of building structure  12  with an alignment sleeve  86 . 
   A bypass line  88  is also connected to cylinder  118  to drain the cylinder for maintenance or can be used as a backup system for building leveling by reducing pressure (throttling) in certain cylinders. 
   It is recognized that the building structure  12  can be designed so that when the building structure  12  is at the lower position, the structural steel  16  is received in supports within the foundation of the building, such as “U” shaped opening in concrete walls. In this embodiment, the cylinders  118  can be removed for servicing. 
   While the hydraulic oil system as described above has a higher pressure and smaller diameter cylinder than that for systems in which the hydraulic fluid is water, it is recognized that a high pressure water or a low pressure hydraulic oil system that can be used depending upon the specific needs of the system. In addition, other fluids can be used for the hydraulic fluid. 
   While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.