A pumped hydro energy storage system and method are disclosed. The system employs a high-density fluid, such as a slurry, to improve power output. In some cases, the fluid is a binary fluid system, with a high-density fluid and a lower-density fluid, such as water. The lower-density fluid flows through the turbine unit of the system, avoiding the need to modify the system to handle the high-density fluid, while achieving improved power output. The system can be configured with one atmospheric reservoir for a higher-density fluid and another one for a lighter-density fluid. Each of them is connected to a pressurized cavity which is filled with the higher-density or lighter-density fluid. The atmospheric tanks may be at the same elevation, or the tank with high density fluid might be higher for increased energy output. For example, the system may be placed on a topographical elevation.

A system for desalinating water is disclosed. The system comprises a subsea reverse osmosis unit located beneath the surface of a body of water, a first liquid column comprising seawater, a second liquid column comprising desalinated water with a salinity less than seawater, and a brine discharge outlet. Due to the difference in density between the seawater and the desalinated water, the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the first liquid column may be greater than the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the second liquid column. At least a portion of the pressure difference for reverse osmosis desalination may be provided by the difference in gravitational hydrostatic pressure between the first liquid column and the second liquid column. A significant reduction in desalination energy consumption may be enabled by discharging the brine at an elevation lower than the maximum elevation of the first liquid column or the second liquid column.

A pumped hydro energy storage system and method are disclosed. The system employs a high-density fluid, such as a slurry, to improve power output. In some cases, the fluid is a binary fluid system, with a high-density fluid and a lower-density fluid, such as water. The lower-density fluid flows through the turbine unit of the system, avoiding the need to modify the system to handle the high-density fluid, while achieving improved power output. The system can be configured with one atmospheric reservoir for a higher-density fluid and another one for a lighter-density fluid. Each of them is connected to a pressurized cavity which is filled with the higher-density or lighter-density fluid. The atmospheric tanks may be at the same elevation, or the tank with high density fluid might be higher for increased energy output. For example, the system may be placed on a topographical elevation.

A specially designed rotary actuator comprising a sealed container and a piston rotor located in the sealed container. The piston rotor divides the sealed container into a first space and a second space having different pressures. The first end of the piston rotor faces the first space and includes a plurality of first bores, and the second end of the piston rotor faces the second space and includes a plurality of second bores. The depth of the first and second bores is less than the thickness of the piston rotor. Each of the first and second bores comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the surface area of the first portion is greater than the surface area of the second portion.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating electric power from an exhaust wind expelled by an exhaust system having an exhaust outlet. Such systems may comprise, and methods may utilize, a conical framework, a Newtonian turbine, and an electric generator. The conical framework and the Newtonian turbine may be disposed substantially downstream of the exhaust outlet. The Newtonian turbine may be positioned at a first distance from the exhaust outlet, may be substantially concentric with the conical framework, and may be disposed partially or completely within the conical framework. The conical framework may enhance the capture of wind energy by the Newtonian turbine. Thus, a portion of the unused energy from unnatural wind sources can be captured, such as those described herein, and returned to the power grid to enable higher efficiency of machinery operation.

A specially designed rotary actuator comprising a sealed container and a piston rotor located in the sealed container. The piston rotor divides the sealed container into a first space and a second space having different pressures. The first end of the piston rotor faces the first space and includes a plurality of first bores, and the second end of the piston rotor faces the second space and includes a plurality of second bores. The depth of the first and second bores is less than the thickness of the piston rotor. Each of the first and second bores comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the surface area of the first portion is greater than the surface area of the second portion.

Underground facilities built for storing electric energy in the form of gravity and buoyant energy are described herein. In one embodiment, the facility is disposed in a thixotropic fluid beneath the ground surface and houses water to maintain a positive buoyancy and a piston having a bulk density greater than the water. In another embodiment, the underground facility is configured as a buoyant capsule arranged in a cylinder filled with water, where the cylinder is sealed except for openings in a bottom half of the cylinder to allow near unimpeded water flow from a location inside to a location outside of the cylinder. In another embodiment, the underground facility is configured as a negatively buoyant capsule.

A system for desalinating water is disclosed. The system comprises a subsea reverse osmosis unit located beneath the surface of a body of water, a first liquid column comprising seawater, a second liquid column comprising desalinated water with a salinity less than seawater, and a brine discharge outlet. Due to the difference in density between the seawater and the desalinated water, the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the first liquid column may be greater than the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the second liquid column. At least a portion of the pressure difference for reverse osmosis desalination may be provided by the difference in gravitational hydrostatic pressure between the first liquid column and the second liquid column. A significant reduction in desalination energy consumption may be enabled by discharging the brine at an elevation lower than the maximum elevation of the first liquid column or the second liquid column.

The present application pertains to systems and methods for desalination. In one embodiment the system employs a first storage reservoir configured to be near the surface of a body of water and configured to store a low density fluid. A second storage reservoir is configured to be located below the surface of the body of water. A desalination system is operably connected to the second reservoir. Desalinated water is produced by allowing desalination permeate to displace low density fluid in the second reservoir and transfer the low density fluid from the second reservoir to the first reservoir. Desalinated water is exported by transferring low density fluid from the first reservoir into the second reservoir to displace desalinated water from the second reservoir into a water export pipeline.

In a described example, an automated fluid pumping system (AFPS) includes a fluid pump coupled to a pump controller, an electronic sensor that detects air, oil, or water coupled to a sensor controller, and the sensor controller coupled to the pump controller. The pump controller is configured to control the operation of the fluid pump based on a detected fluid in the well as determined by the electronic sensor.