Method and apparatus for generating clean renewable energy through the application of hydrostatic pressure gradients associated with liquid reservoirs

摘要

An apparatus is claimed to generate or store energy using a submersible vessel 1 which includes a compressible medium. The vessel 1 is lowered within a liquid reservoir, and then liquid is admitted through a turbine 16, to generate energy as the compressible medium is compressed. The vessel is them moved to a higher level, and liquid is then expelled through a turbine 16 as the compressible medium expands. The invention claims to minimise the energy required to move the vessel by using a counterbalance mechanism which may include a beam 62 with movable weights 71, 73, and a counterweight 68 which is submerged for part of each cycle, connected to the vessel via a pulley mechanism 65, 66, 67 on the beam 62. The compressible medium may comprise a gas, a vapour or a spring biased piston 6 or bellows. As an alternative to using a turbine for energy generation, the compressed gas may be stored in a compressed gas or vapour storage container external to said vessel for later use, see figures 13-15.