| US4282444A | 1981-08-04 | |||
| CZ2007591A3 | 2009-03-11 | |||
| DE102008007169A1 | 2009-08-06 |
| CLAIMS: The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows. 1) A method of storing electrical power, through the use of stored potential energy in the form of water. The electrical energy to be stored will be converted to potential energy, by using the energy to (pump, transport, steam/evaporate) water back to the beginning of the closed circuit water system. Reservoirs, open pits and multiple large open underground voids (stopes and drift infrastructure, when a mine is used) to contain water of the closed circuit system. 2) A method of regenerating electrical power in a closed circuit potential energy system. Through the use of multiple turbine generators, multiple penstocks, on multiple levels over hundreds and thousands of shaft and or ramp vertical feet. 3) A method of increasing nuclear power plant output, by using heat exchangers from nuclear power plant to heat water (pump, transport, steam/evaporate) according to claim 10 4) Nuclear power plant can store power according to claim 1, where in electrical power generated can be used to heat water to evaporate according to claim 8 or be used to run water pumps according to claim 9 5) Solar panels can store power according to claim 1, where in electrical power generated can be used to heat water to evaporate according to claim 8 or be used to run water pumps according to claim 9 6) Wind turbines can store power according to claim 1, where in electrical power generated can be used to heat water to evaporate according to claim 8 or be used to run water pumps according to claim 9 7) Incinerators can store power according to claim 1, where in electrical power generated through exhaust turbines to run water pumps according to claim 9, heat exchangers can be used to return water to surface or other levels in the closed circuit, by using steam/evaporation according to claim 8 and 10 8) Boilers can be used to steam/evaporate water back to surface or other levels in the closed circuit, by using steam/evaporation 9) Pumps can be used to return water to surface or other levels in the closed circuit 10) Heat exchangers can be used to return water to surface or other levels in the closed circuit, by using steam/evaporation 11) Waste water treatment plant can add water to system to replace percentage lost during operation, solid waste can be used as fuel for boilers and store power according to claim 8 12) Any other means of generating electrical power can store power according to claim 1. 13) Fresh water supplies will be created by stiffening off small percentage from evaporated water for clean drinking water systems and supplies 14) This gives the mining industry a second use for its infrastructure and a lot of its technology, the mining sector is just the starting point of the industry, because of the in place existing infrastructure. 15) The intention is to build these facilities in regular cities also to accommodate the growing wind and solar and any other clean electrical producer. 16) Design allows for, a power storage and regenerating facility to use very little real estate, because of its vertical and multi level design. 17) This is a new piece of infrastructure I would like to call a (power storage and regenerating facility), a new industry in Canada, according to claim 1 and claim 2. 18) Will give a community a self sustaining power grid 19) Will allow a community to isolate from the main power grid, due to main power grid disruption 20) Effective way to regulate power grid, during high and low demand times, this is a key factor in supporting the new solar and wind power grid to come on line in the near future. 21) Effective way to create a self sustaining power grid in remote locations |
POWER STORAGE AND REGENERATION FACILITY
The base of this patent is to built on a facility that will store potential energy and regenerate power on demand using a flow controlled multiple level facility, with multiple penstock and turbine network.
The starting point of these facilities will be using existing old mining sights and eventually working on costing models for complete infrastructure this type of power plant from the ground up for cities other than mining towns.
The starting goal is to use existing mining infrastructure stopes, drift infrastructure will be used to store and channel water supplies on each level of a mine or new infrastructure project. Each level will have a specific known volume of water reserves. This will allow for proper flow control of system, using flow control gates and valves and proper overall system control.
Shafts and ramps will provide access and the elevation drops needed to move water through system, provide discharge for return water supplies to surface or other parts of the closed circuit system. This includes pumping, evaporation/steam, transportation, heat exchangers, hot air turbine pumps, jet pump propulsion, and man-made geyser. These are just some possibilities.
Penstocks will be created out of existing raises, ore passes and ventilation raises through out the mine infrastructure. Generating power using turbine generators and flow control valves, this will allow for multiple output on multiple levels at the same time. This will also allow for the operation of only those turbines necessary for the load at that point in time. If a higher load demand is needed, then all that is needed is to opening up valves to turn on more turbines. The more turbines running will naturally increase the discharge needed.
This is the major benefit to this system is that the pumping volume must only be equivalent to the volume entering the last level in the complex. So with properly controlled flow rates, a true closed circuit water flow system is established.
Water volume is the key to these facilities, so the larger the water volume that can be stored at the last section of the facility or any other pumping or discharge chamber, the longer the output can be sustained.
An open pit next to an underground mine would be a key and ideal location for one of these facilities. An open pit allows for a large volume of water to be stored in a closed circuit system and not connected to rivers and lakes.
Due to the fact that mines come in all different shapes and sizes no specific model can be designed at this point in time all designs will be on a project to project basis. A model based on most efficacy practices will go into designing power storage and regeneration facility from scratch with out an existing mining infrastructure.
This will be a new class of industry and infrastructure for Canada, one I am calling a power storage and regeneration facility. These facilities will store and regenerate electrical power produced by multiple facilities so that, a energy on demand system with controlled and sustained power rates even at high and low demand times is available to all. This facility will give all people access to power storage if needed or wanted.
The plant will operate on a closed circuit, water drainage and pump, steam and transport system, and water being the catalyst for the regeneration of power.
The simple structure of this power generating plant will actually be a small portion of the total facility, the need to return water to the surface to complete the circuit, will be the largest challenge of them all.
The intent is to get community involvement in the production of power, by installing solar panels or wind generators on their property. Allowing them to generate power, and store as water (water pumped back to top of mine or facility). This is meant to be done on a community level and eliminates the use of batteries for solar and wind power storage, allows a customer to store power for a later time, sell power directly to the facility.
Companies will be more than welcome to store power (water) by producing power through environmental friendly practices. The options are limitless here...
The mining industry is already set-up and ready to tackle a project such as this. It is the other industries that will have to adapt to what is needed to build a facility such as this.
The use of an old mine or possible even a mine in production has great benefits to the business plan. Large open voids stopes, vertical shafts, ramps, raises, ventilation raise, and all have their uses in this type of facility so infrastructure costs can be cut. Levels in the mine, Old stopes and drifts will be used for water storage. This will be done on multiple levels with multiple generating plants, in a closed / controlled circuit system. Water will be pumped or made into steam to return it to beginning of circuit. The plan is to have multiple generating stations in the mine with know volumes of water. The basis of the plan will be to have the same volume of water being
transported to the surface or recycled to other levels, that's is being used to generate power.
This is where the solar, wind, and any other type of clean power generation comes in, also if needed the last turbine in the circuit will produce the power needed to run the pumps or boilers. Sources of power are needed to keep this system up and running but it gives us the ability to store electrical power another good source of on demand power.
Sources of power for pumping of water:
Nuclear power plant:
The nuclear power plant its self can be used to provide power for pumping of water to surface The cooling system needed for the nuclear power plant and the heat exchangers will be used to produce steam to transport large volumes of water to surface
This is actually a better location to build a nuclear power plant in the future, underground and containable in case of an emergency.
This should actually reduce the size of the standard size nuclear power plant when combined with this type of power storage facility.
Solar power
Provides power for pumps to pump water to surface
Provides power for boilers to produce steam and transport water to surface
Wind power
Provides power for pumps for pumping of water to surface
Provides power for boilers to produce steam and transport water to surface
Garbage incinerator at bottom of mine
Burning of trash provides heat for boilers
Exhaust Heat exchangers to produce steam and transport water to surface
Scrubbers can be in stalled underground to reduce pollution. This can be as simple as using stopes to reduce air velocity enough to allow large particles to settle out before hitting surface.
Sewer solids incinerator
Burning of waste provides heat for boilers
Exhaust heat exchangers to produce steam and transport water to surface
Scrubbers can be installed underground to reduce pollution. This can be as simple as using stopes to reduce air velocity enough to allow large particles to settle out before hitting surface. Pumps
There self-actuating type of pumps that use flow of water to generate pumping action, this is an option that needs to be looked at in more detail.
Energy recovery systems
This is a new up in coming technology that reuses waste energy from mining, manufacturing and production. Other sources of this may come from heat recovery systems, by product energy and waste scrape other multiple sources.