Patent Publication Number: US-2015076826-A1

Title: Method and system for generating green energy from a tidal body of water

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for producing green energy using the weight of water from a tidal body of water by the fast filling and emptying of a plurality of containers to pressurize the fluid in the plurality of cylinders, to thereby rotate a crank shaft of engines to generate green energy. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The notion of harnessing the power of ocean waves to produce energy has held mankind&#39;s fascination for quite some time, especially in light of the cost and pollution derived from the use of fossil fuels. This has resulted in several inventions directed towards converting the kinetic energy of waves into electrical energy. 
     A large amount of electricity is generated from fossil fuels but these fuels are not renewable and the generation process causes significant environmental pollution. Environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity include harnessing the power of the wind, using solar energy, and harnessing the power of the sea. The energy of the sun can be captured by solar panels. However generating electricity from solar panels generally requires many small-scale power generators to produce a significant amount of electricity entailing high costs. Solar energy cells are very unreliable because of night stops and the efficiency drops significantly when the sun is not shining on them. The glass covers of the cells can require continuous cleaning to ensure the efficient collection of solar rays. Replacing the panels due to breakage caused by high winds, hail, etc. adds to the cost of using solar power. 
     One way of generating power from the sea is to use the waves to oscillate floating buoys wherein the oscillation of the buoys is used to drive generators. Another way involves using waves to drive hydraulic rams in floating cylinders. The rams pump oil through hydraulic motors which drive generators inside the cylinders. An additional way involves having oscillating seawater in a column. When the sea rises, it pushes air or another fluid in the column above it and this movement of fluid drives an electrical generator at the top of the column. 
     These existing systems are small scale, requiring large numbers of them to produce a significant amount of electricity. Another way of generating power from the sea uses a wave-focusing system and hydroelectric power dams wherein waves breaking on the shore are channeled through a plurality of channels into a reservoir. As the water flows back out of the reservoir, the water drives generators connected within the channels. All of the above systems generate power in real time and not necessarily when the power is required. 
     Another apparatus for harnessing wave energy comprises a floating frame, a base portion connected to the floating frame and at least two linkage units. The two linkage units are a basic linkage unit and a medium linkage unit. The apparatus includes a plurality of floating flaps and at least one power extraction means. A connecting pivot is provided in the linkage units and the base portion. The floating flaps are pivoted vertically on the basic linkage unit and the base portion. The flaps associated with the floating flaps are placed under water against prevailing waves and floats associated with the floating flaps are placed on surface of the water, for absorbing the wave energy from projected portions present at edges and middle portion of the flaps. 
     In still another method and device for generating electric power from ocean waves, the device includes at least one magnetostrictive element and at least one buoy. When the buoy is deployed in a body of liquid subject to wave motion, the buoy remains partially submerged during normal wave motion. The buoy is coupled to the magnetostrictive element to continuously exert a varying force on the magnetostrictive element during the normal wave motion. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus that can overcome the above mentioned problems such as pollution of environment, availability of resource and cost/efficiency of production. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides system for generating green energy from a tidal body of water. The system comprises a tank located at approximately a high tide level and configured to receive and be filled with sea water when the tide is high; first and second normally-closed tank valves in the bottom of the tank; a reservoir located at approximately a low tide level; first and second cantilever arms located below the tank and above the reservoir, each cantilever arms connected at an inner end to a crankshaft configured to power a device, the first and second cantilever arms are pivotal between a raised position and a lowered position such that when the first cantilever arm is in the raised position, the second cantilever arm is in the lowered position; a first container secured to an outer end of the first cantilever arm and a second container secured to an outer end of the second cantilever arm, the first and second containers positioned under the first and second tank valves, respectively; and first and second normally-closed container valves in the bottom of the first and second containers, respectively. When the first cantilever arm is in the raised position, the first tank valve is opened and allows water to flow out of the tank into the first container and simultaneously the second cantilever arm is in the lowered position, the second container valve is opened and allows water to flow out of the second container into the reservoir. When the first container is filled to a predetermined level and the second container is empty, the first cantilever arm moves to the lowered position and the second cantilever arm moves to the raised position. When the second cantilever arm is in the raised position, the second tank valve is opened and allows water to flow out of the tank into the second container and simultaneously the first cantilever arm is in the lowered position, the first container valve is opened and allows water to flow out of the first container into the reservoir. And, when the second container is filled to a predetermined level and the first container is empty, the second cantilever arm moves to the lowered position and the first cantilever arm moves to the raised position. The raising and lowering of the first and second cantilever arms drives the crankshaft, thereby powering the device. 
     The present invention also provides a method for generating green energy by pressurizing fluid from a tidal body of water. The method comprises providing a system comprising a tank located at approximately a high tide level and configured to receive and be filled with sea water when the tide is high; first and second normally-closed tank valves in the bottom of the tank; a reservoir located at approximately a low tide level; first and second cantilever arms located below the tank and above the reservoir, each cantilever arms connected at an inner end to a crankshaft configured to power a device, the first and second cantilever arms are pivotal between a raised position and a lowered position such that when the first cantilever arm is in the raised position, the second cantilever arm is in the lowered position; a first container secured to an outer end of the first cantilever arm and a second container secured to an outer end of the second cantilever arm, the first and second containers positioned under the first and second tank valves, respectively; and first and second normally-closed container valves in the bottom of the first and second containers, respectively. The method further comprises opening the first tank valve when the first cantilever arm is in the raised position to allow water to flow out of the tank into the first container and simultaneously opening the second container valve to allow water to flow out of the second container into the reservoir the second cantilever arm is in the lowered position; allowing the first cantilever arm to move to the lowered position and the second cantilever arm to move to the raised position when the first container is filled to a predetermined level and the second container is empty; opening the second tank valve to allow water to flow out of the tank into the second container when the second cantilever arm is in the raised position and simultaneously opening the first container valve when the first cantilever arm is in the lowered position to allow water to flow out of the first container into the reservoir; and moving the second cantilever arm to the lowered position and the moving first cantilever arm to the raised position when the second container is filled to a predetermined level and the first container is empty. The raising and lowering of the first and second cantilever arms drives the crankshaft, thereby powering the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry may not be depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention; thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a system for generating green energy from a tidal body of water of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an end perspective view of the system for generating green energy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of reservoirs that may be used in the system for generating green energy of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate a flow chart of a method of operation of the system for generating green energy of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. While particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is schematic view of a system  10  for generating green energy from a tidal body of water. The system  10  includes a frame  8  having a vertical section  8 A and a horizontal section  8 B, one end of which (the inner end) is connected to the vertical section  8 A near the top of the vertical section  8 A at approximately a high tide level T1. A tank  12  is secured to the outer end of the horizontal section  8 B (that is, the end of the horizontal section  8 B opposite the inner end). Two or more horizontally spaced-apart cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the vertical section  8 A of the frame  8  at an intermediary height T3. A container  16 A,  16 B is secured to an outer end of each cantilever arm  16 A,  16 B. The length of each cantilever arm  14  is such that the containers  16 A,  16 B are positioned beneath the tank  12 . A normally-closed, spring-loaded or piston-driven, one-way valve  18 A is located in the bottom of the container  16 A (a similar valve is located in the bottom of the other container  16 B but not shown in the FIGs.). A reservoir  20 A,  20 B (see also  FIG. 3 ) is located beneath each container  16 A,  16 B at approximately a low tide level T2. (Alternatively, a single reservoir may be located under both containers  16 A,  16 B.) As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tank  12 , containers  16 A,  16 B, and reservoirs  20 A,  20 B are vertically aligned with each other. The containers  16 A,  16 B may be fabricated from any of a number of water resistant materials, including fiberglass and stainless steel. 
       FIG. 2  is an end perspective view illustrating further details of the system  10 . The cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B are supported on a shaft and connected through appropriate linkages to a crankshaft  22  in such a way that when one of the cantilever arms is in a raised position (the left cantilever arm  14 A in  FIG. 2 ) with its container  16 A against the bottom of the tank  12 , the other is in a lowered position (the right cantilever arm  14 B in  FIG. 2 ) with its container  16 B in the corresponding reservoir  20 B. 
     When a cantilever arm, such as the left arm  14 B, is in the raised position, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a normally-closed, spring-loaded or piston-driven valve (not shown) in the bottom of the tank  12  is pushed into an open position. Similarly, when the other cantilever arm  14 A, is in the raised position, another spring-loaded or piston-driven, one-way valve  24 A ( FIG. 2 ) in the bottom of the tank  12  is pushed into an open position. When a cantilever arm, such as the right arm  14 A, is in the lowered position, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the valve (not shown) in the bottom of the container  16 A is pushed into an open position. Similarly, when the other cantilever arm  14 B, is in the lowered position, the valve  18 B ( FIG. 1 ) in the bottom of the container  16 B is pushed into an open position. 
     In operation, at high tide (level T1) a one-way valve  26  in the tank  12  opens to the sea and fills with sea water. With one of the cantilever arms, such as the left arm  14 B, in the raised position, the corresponding valve in the bottom of the tank  12  is open and allows water to flow from the tank  12  into the container  16 B on the end of the cantilever arm  14 B. A counter-weight (not shown) may be used to keep the arm  14 B in the raised position until it has filled with water to a predetermined level. The other cantilever arm  14 A is in its lowered position and the container  16 A on the end of the arm  14 A is empty. The full container  16 B outweighs the empty container  16 A; gravity causes the full container  16 B to overcome the counterweight and fall to its lowered position and the empty container  16 A to rise to its raised position. When the full container  16 B is in its lowered position, the valve  18 B in its bottom is pressed open against its spring, allowing water to flow out through the valve into the reservoir  20 B. Simultaneously, when the empty container  16 A has risen to its raised position, the valve  24 A in the bottom of the tank  12  is pressed open against its spring, allowing water to flow out through the valve  24 A into the previously empty container  16 A. 
     Next, with the right cantilever arm  14 A in the raised position, the corresponding valve  24 A in the bottom of the tank  12  is open and allows water to flow from the tank  12  into the empty container  16 A on the end of the cantilever arm  14 A. A counter-weight (not shown) may be used to keep the arm  14 A in the raised position until it has filled with water to a predetermined level. The other cantilever arm  14 B is in its lowered position and the container  16 B on the end of the left arm  14 B has emptied. The newly filled container  16 A outweighs the now empty container  16 B; gravity causes the full container  16 A to overcome the counterweight and fall to its lowered position and the empty container  16 B to rise to its raised position. When the full container  16 A is in its lowered position, the valve in its bottom is pressed open, allowing water to flow out through the valve into the reservoir  20 A. Simultaneously, when the empty container  16 B has risen to its raised position, the valve  24 A in the bottom of the tank  12  is pressed open, allowing water to flow out through the valve  24 A into the previously empty container  16 B. When the reservoirs  20 A,  20 B are full, water is allowed to flow out of them through one-way output valves  28 A,  28 B. 
     In addition to installing the system  10  to take advantage of the rising and falling tides of the sea, the system  10  may be installed to take advantage of rising and falling of any other body of water or fluid. 
     As the cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B rise and fall as their corresponding containers  16 A,  16 B empty and fill, the attached crankshaft  22  is turned and is available to power any device connected to the crankshaft  22 , such as an electrical generator used to directly provide power or to charge batteries, pump, desalinator, and other mechanically or electrically powered device. In one embodiment, the cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B and crankshaft  22  are configured such that one complete cycle rising and falling of the right and left cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B causes the crankshaft  22  to make one complete rotation. 
     It will be appreciated that the cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B may be connected using means other than, or in addition to, the illustrated crankshaft  22 . For example, gears or pulleys and chains/ropes may be used to reduce the amount of water needed by providing a mechanical advantage. The cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B may also be on opposite sides of the vertical section  8 A of the frame  8 . The cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B may also be connected to hydraulic pistons which may use fluid, such as oil, to pressurize other pistons and, using the resulting mechanical advantage, drive other devices such as, for example, reverse osmosis desalinators, rotary engines, impulse turbines, hydrogen liquefiers, petroleum gas liquefiers, to name a few. Among other uses, the liquefied gas may be used in an air conditioning unit. 
     It will also be appreciated that, although the FIGs. show only a single set of cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B, containers  16 A,  16 B, and associated valves, the system  10  may be expanded to include more than one set connected through linkages to the crankshaft  22  for a greater mechanical power output. Accordingly, the flow chart of  FIGS. 4A-4B  is described in terms of multiple sets of cantilever arms, containers, and valves. However, the same element numbers will be used as were used in the description above of the individual components. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are a flow chart illustrating a method of the system  10  for generating green energy from a tidal body of water. In step  100 , a first set of containers  16 A and a second set of containers  16 B are positioned in a frame  8  at a low tide level T2 and at a high tide level T1, respectively. In step  102 , the containers  16 A,  16 B are being connected together utilizing at least one connecting means, such as linkages to a crankshaft  22 . In step  104 , pistons are attached to each of the containers  16 A,  16 B. In step  106 , a high tide tank  12  located near the high tide level T1 includes a one way input water valve. In step  108 , a low tide reservoir  20  located near the low tide level T2 includes a one way output water valve. In step  110 , the first set of containers  16 A is filled with the water from the high tide tank  12  while piston valves of the pistons connected to the containers  16 A remain closed. In step  112 , the piston valves are opened when the first set of containers  16 A has filled to a predetermined level of water. 
     In step  114 , the first set of containers  16 A will fall down from the high tide level T1 to the low tide level T2. In step  116 , the pistons in the cylinders are pushed up and down, thereby pressurizing the fluid contained the cylinders. In step  118 , the second set of containers  16 B is positioned at the low tide level T2. In step  120 , water is quickly discharge from the first set of containers  16 A through the container valve into the low tide reservoir  20 . In step  122 , the second set of containers  16 B is quickly filled with the water from the high tide tank  12  while the piston valve of the pistons remain closed. In step  124 , the pistons in the cylinders are pushed up and down, thereby pressurizing the water contained in the plurality of cylinders. In step  126 , the fast filling and emptying of the containers  16 A,  16 B pressurizes the fluid in the cylinders whereby the crankshaft  22  is rotated to generate green energy to be coupled to other devices. 
     As an alternative to the cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B being connected to the crankshaft  22 , they may be connected to hydraulic pistons and pressurize each piston on a down stroke of an arm. In either embodiment, the system  10  employs the weight of water or fluid in the containers  16 A,  16 B to generate a large mechanical force through leveraging or other force multipliers and drive other devices. The pistons may be connected to the cantilever arms  14 A,  14 B at any appropriate location along the arms  14 A,  14 B, depending on the force and the necessary vertical travel requirements. 
     For advanced control of the components, a computer controller  30  may be integrated into the system  10  to coordinate and monitor the operation of the valves  18 A,  18 B,  24 ,  26 ,  28 A,  28 B, and other components. 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.