Patent ID: 8643204

Claim:
An apparatus for producing electricity, comprising: a plurality of hydraulic-to-electric converters with each hydraulic-to-electric converters including: a hydraulic motor coupled to a common high-pressure hydraulic line and a common low-pressure hydraulic line; a controllable hydraulic switch hydraulically coupled to each respective hydraulic motor, each controllable hydraulic switch being capable of controllably placing its respective hydraulic motor on-line by allowing flow of hydraulic fluid from the common high-pressure hydraulic line through its respective hydraulic motor or off-line by preventing flow of hydraulic fluid from the common high-pressure hydraulic line through its respective hydraulic motor; and an electric generator mechanically coupled to each respective hydraulic motor and configured to generate electricity when hydraulic fluid flows through the respective hydraulic motor; and a control system coupled to each controllable hydraulic switch configured to place individual hydraulic motors on-line or off-line as a function of available energy provided by the high-pressure line.