Method of Generating Electricity

Abstract

A system and process for generating hydroelectric power within a body of water uses head pressure existing between two depths of the water. A vertically arranged conduit has an upper water intake and is in fluid communication with a reservoir situated at a lower depth. In a first cycle, water flow is established in the conduit between the water intake and lower reservoir when the reservoir is substantially full of air but at a hydrostatic pressure less than the hydrostatic pressure at the top of the water conduit. A turbine mounted adjacent the reservoir and at a lower depth than the water intake drives an electric generator. As water is introduced into the reservoir, air is scavenged by a compressor and used to drive water from a second reservoir. After the first reservoir is generally full of water, valves are provided to cease the flow of water through the water intake and flow of air out the exhaust tube. An air pump thereafter introduces air scavenged from the first reservoir into the second reservoir to force water out of a second reservoir water outlet port. The generating cycle is then repeated.

1 . A method of generating electricity comprising the steps of:
 driving water from an internal chamber of a reservoir submerged in a body of water having a bottom and a surface, the reservoir being submerged at a first depth below the water body surface, the internal chamber at least partially devoid of water;   evacuating the internal chamber to achieve a first hydrostatic pressure inside the internal chamber;   obtaining from the body of water, water at a second hydrostatic pressure that is greater than the first pressure;   routing water obtained at said second pressure to said internal chamber through a water-driven turbine coupled to an electricity generator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of driving water from an internal chamber includes the step of driving water from an internal chamber of a reservoir attached to the bottom of the body of water using compressed air. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of obtaining water at a second hydrostatic pressure includes receiving water from the body of water at an intake port of a water conduit coupled to said generator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the reservoir is at a depth whereat the reservoir is subjected to a third hydrostatic pressure greater than the first and greater than the second hydrostatic pressures, and wherein the step of driving water from an internal chamber is comprised of:
 providing high pressure air into the internal chamber, the high pressure air being at a pressure greater than the third hydrostatic pressure;   recovering the high pressure air from the internal chamber to drive water from a second internal chamber; and   at least partially evacuating the internal chamber to a pressure less than the second hydrostatic pressure.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the amount of water in the internal chamber; and   recovering the high pressure air from the internal chamber to drive water from a second internal chamber and at least partially evacuating the second internal chamber to a pressure less than the second hydrostatic pressure, responsive to the step of detecting the amount of water in the internal chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including the step of providing compressed air to the internal chamber from a compressor above the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including the step of providing the compressed air from an air compressor powered by a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including the step of floating the air compressor and the renewable energy source on the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of driving the generator and generating electricity includes the step of generating alternating current from said generator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of driving the generator and generating electricity includes the step of generating direct current from said generator.