Invention defines a method and apparatus for storing energy where a power source is used to reposition a mass in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy where the stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss, where the force of gravity may be allowed to accelerates the mass, where the resulting kinetic energy is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. A variation defines a method where a power source is used to submerge a buoyant object in a fluid, where the submerged object represents a potential energy, where the force of gravity displaces the submerged buoyant object, where the kinetic energy resulting from the displacement is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be similarly converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. Invention defines a process where available energy can be used to do work to raise a massive object against a planetary gravitational field, to a position of high potential energy which can be maintained indefinitely. On demand the mass can be accelerated by the gravitational field and converted to kinetic energy, which is harnessed and converted to shaft horsepower, allowing the desired energy recovery from the energy storage system.

Device for storing energy using a physical object, such as a mass of greater than 10,000 kg, or buoyant object, floating in fluid, capable of displacing 10,000 kg. A mass is repositioned to greater altitude in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy. A buoyant object is forcibly submerged into a fluid, displacing greater than 10,000 kg of fluid, to a position of higher potential energy. The stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, or length of time of the storage.

A new power plant cycle that does not condense the vapor leaving the turbine facilitated by an innovative vapor compression apparatus to repressurize the vapor with heat input to the cycle from a new renewable energy or other heat source. The new cycle can be used in place of the conventional low efficiency Rankine cycle to provide economical production of electricity. Using the cycle with heat input from a fossil fuel would reduce air pollution from this source to a fraction of current emissions.

A drive system for driving a piece of equipment includes a pendulum mechanism. The pendulum mechanism has a bob member, a connector member, and a pivot member, wherein the bob member is connected to the pivot member by the connector member in a manner that allows the bob member to swing about the pivot member. An equipment connecting mechanism is adapted to operatively connect the drive system to a piece of equipment so that the piece of equipment can be driven by the drive system. The bob member comprises a carriage that has a platform that supports a mass transfer mechanism, the mass transfer mechanism including a translating mass and a linear actuator adapted to translate the translating mass relative to the platform. Selective translation of the translating mass causes the bob member to swing in a pendulum motion or maintain a pendulum motion.

An engine system includes three communicating fluid vessels that each contain a fluid. A first interconnecting fluid conduit containing the fluid rotatably couples the second fluid vessel to the first fluid vessel and acts as a lever. A second interconnecting fluid conduit containing the fluid rotatably couples the third fluid vessel to the first fluid vessel and acts as another lever. By increasing the fluid column heights in the communicating fluid vessels, torque is applied to the levers to cause the second and third fluid vessels to revolve around the first fluid vessel.

A methodology for designing a machine to generate electricity using the forces of gravity and buoyancy is provided which generates an output sufficient to sustain the machine's operation and provide a remainder amount of electricity for commercial purposes. The machine has two independent electricity generating units. Output work, U.sub.o, for each generating unit is based on the kinetic energy of a buoyant shuttle falling under the influence of gravity, and each unit's input requirement, U.sub.i is based on the work required to manipulate a volume of water during shuttle transit through water tanks of the machine. The methodology is based on a pre-selected output power P.sub.o which is used to establish machine component configurations. The shuttle's kinetic energy is then compared to U.sub.i to evaluate the machine's operational efficiency.

A compact, low footprint energy recovery module for a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system comprises a vertical stack of horizontal conduits, at least one energy recovery device (ERD), and an axial integral motor pump (IMP). The horizontal conduits are configured to carry low-pressure brackish water, pressurized brackish water, high pressure brine, and low-pressure brine. The ERDs, which are substantially cylindrical and vertically oriented, are interconnected with the horizontal conduits and entirely supported thereby. The IMP is substantially cylindrical and extends horizontally and coaxially from an outlet end of the pressurized water conduit, the IMP being configured to further pressurize the pressurized water for input to a membrane osmosis device. The IMP can have a diameter that exceeds a largest horizontal conduit diameter by no more than 25%. The IMP can be driven by a variable frequency controller, being thereby continuously variable in pumping speed.

The engine system with communicating fluid vessels has an interconnecting lever conduit configured to rotate about an axis. A first fluid container is fluidically connected to the interconnecting lever conduit and positioned at or near the axis. A second fluid container is fluidically connected to the interconnecting lever conduit and positioned at or near an end of the interconnecting lever conduit. Liquid fluid is movable between the first and second fluid containers through the interconnecting lever conduit. The interconnecting lever conduit with the first and second fluid containers is rotationally balanced about the axis. A shift of fluid mass between the first and second fluid containers rotates the lever about the axis, thereby generating an energy output.

The engine system with communicating fluid vessels has first, second, and third fluid containers each containing a fluid. At least one interconnecting lever conduit contains the fluid and is rotatably coupled to the first, second, and third fluid containers. The interconnecting lever conduit is pivotal about an axis and defines a fluid passageway by which the first, second, and third fluid containers are in fluid communication. At least one buoyant member and at least one holding tank are positioned in each of the first and third fluid containers. A tether is physically linking together the holding tank of each of the first and third fluid containers. Supplying the gas to the interior of the holding tank displaces at least some of the fluid from the interior of the holding tank to increase a column height of the fluid in each of the first, second, and third fluid containers.