US20030039512A1

US20030039512A1 - Method & apparatus for recycling hydro power

Info

Publication number: US20030039512A1
Application number: US09/940,161
Authority: US
Inventors: James Bethune
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-27
Filing date: 2001-08-27
Publication date: 2003-02-27

Abstract

A method of siphoning water over dams by means of a siphon. The siphon is started by closing both ends, by means of a ball valve, gate valves, check valves or other means to seal off the ends.

The siphon would have a vacuum tank on the top. Water could be pumped into the siphon at any point or filled through the top of the vacuum tank. Some models need not have the vacuum tank. To start the flow the vacuum tank would be sealed and the ends opened.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Dams to store water for the hydro electric plants are an excellent way to store power for the long haul. However all the good dam sights have been used and some are being removed because of obstructing the passage of fish.

Hydro electric power does not pollute the air or water.

The purpose of this invention is to get as much use out of this clean non-fossil power as possible. This power is available where acquaducts take water from a higher elevation to a lower elevation.

As described in FIG. 3, water from the power plant can be sucked up like a giant straw and taken into the siphon system and recycled into the water motors to generate more power.

These siphon systems can be made of any size pipes. The strength of these pipes need not be as strong as the pipes from the bottom of a dam because water would be going down the pipe.

These siphon systems could be put into a river or lake and with adequate elevation difference and suck the water out like a giant straw. Or it could be used on a pond where the power could be used as needed and the pond allowed to refill.

There are many reservoir where no means have been provided to generate electrical power. These siphon systems and water driven generators could be made off-sight and lifted in by helicopter.

Another use for this siphon system is to clean polluted or other things that cause the water to be less clear. The siphon can be installed in the area where the river or stream leaves the lake. The lower portion of the siphon could produce power and the upper point extended using clear or transparent piping like a vacuum pipe that can be moved to trouble areas of the lake or reservoir. Lakes such as Lake Tahoe can benefit greatly by using this system.

A description of the drawings in FIG. 1 is the basic layout for the siphon. 1.) Is the siphon tube that can be of any desired size. 2.) The vacuum tank to provide additional left on the water and to maintain the integrity of the vacuum siphon tube in #[0009] 1. 3.) Is the vacuum tank cap to seal it. 4.) Is the connection to the siphon tube. 5.) are the supports to keep the siphon in place on a dam. 6.) is the valve at the upper part of the siphon and is designed to swing in when valve # 9 is opened. 7.) are the propellers or other means for the water to rotate shaft # 10 that is equipped with proper support and bearing to stand the pressure of the flowing water. 8.) are the gears and shaft to take the generated power out to the generator # 8.
These siphon and water motors are used in all the drawings. FIG. 2 is for rivers and FIG. 3 is to recycle the water from a dam below the power house. FIG. 4 are the pipes that take water into the large generators. The number of propellers for each shaft and generator is to be determined by R and D. [0010]
FIG. 5 shows how the siphon system could be used at a lake such as Lake Tahoe and other places that need to have pollution or other things taken out of the lake. Number !! shows the vacuum tube that can be moved as needed. #[0011] 12 are weights and cables to keep the tube below the surface.
FIG. 9 could be eliminated and the syphon then would be filled by installing a Vacuum Pump onto the Vacuum Tank and operated until the tank is half full. [0012]
FIG. 3, a pipe would be installed half way up in the tank with a limit switch or other means to open and close the valve. The pipe would be put into the syphon some distance down the down leg of the syphon to maintain the vacuum in the tank. [0013]

Claims

1. The disclosure of a means to start a siphon by closing both ends, by means of a valve doors gates, ball valves, or any means to hold the water in the siphon.

2. A vacuum tank attached to the apex of the siphon tube.

3. A closed cap on top of the tank for filling the siphon.

4. Supports to hold the tube in place.

5. Water driven motors to turn the generators.