FFWN CLEAN ENERGY POWER PLANT

Abstract

Gravity and hydrostatic pressure are natural forces that have considerable force generating capabilities which can make significant contributions during the operation of a FFWN 24/7/365, baseload, 100% clean energy power plant. When these natural forces are combined with compressed air in the upper part of an elevated storage tank containing a liquid and the partial vacuum created by powerful pumps to produce a targeted water flow rate velocity of about 31.3 m/s through the entire length of a coiled section of pipe containing one or more helical turbines in each coil that are connected to an external generator, the electricity produced during a power producing cycle by all the turbines/generators when combined will be considerably more than the power ultimately consumed by the pumps to return the highly pressurized water in a ground level tank back to the storage tank utilizing a return tank and simple water displacement.

Claims

1. An electric power plant that produces surplus electric power, comprising: a storage tank for holding a volume of liquid, wherein pressure is applied to the volume of liquid within the storage tank by atmospheric air pressure, pressure provided by a compressed gas, or pressure produced through mechanical means; a coiled section of pipe including a plurality of coils; at least one turbine mounted within the coiled section of pipe, the at least one turbine being coupled to an external electric generator; wherein the liquid enters into the coiled section of pipe and flows through the coils of the coiled section of pipe, and wherein the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe is driven by the liquid to operate the electric generator and thereby produce electric power; at least one conduit coupled to an end of the coiled section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank; and at least one pump coupled to the at least one conduit for returning the liquid to the storage tank.

2. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the coiled section of pipe includes a plurality of turbines and generators; and wherein the at least one turbine is a helical vertical axis turbine or a helical horizontal axis turbine, and wherein the at least one generator is adapted to control the rotations-per-minute of the at least one turbine.

3. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank includes: at least one ground level section of pipe coupled between the coiled section of pipe and at least one return pipe; the at least one ground level section of pipe coupled between the coiled section of pipe and the at least one return pipe, the at least one ground level section of pipe including at least one turbine and generator; at least one substantially straight, vertical section of pipe coupled between the coiled section of pipe and the at least one ground level section of pipe; and the at least one substantially straight, vertical section of pipe including at least one turbine and generator.

4. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the storage tank is supported by at least one support column, and wherein a plurality of support arms are coupled to the at least one support column, and further wherein the support arms are used to provide structural support to the coils in the coiled section of pipe and connected components.

5. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the storage tank is at or near ground level and supported by an outer support wall, and wherein a plurality of support arms are coupled to the outer support wall, and further wherein the support arms are used to provide structural support to the coils in the coiled section of pipe and connected components.

6. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump returning the liquid to the storage tank consumes less electric power than is produced by the at least one turbine and generator during a power producing cycle; wherein the power producing cycle comprises an amount of liquid the at least one pump will return to the storage tank in a minute; and wherein the storage tank is filled with liquid using an external pump and power source or the storage tank is filled with liquid with power generated by the power plant.

7. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the storage tank is vented, and wherein the liquid in an upper part inside the storage tank is in communication with atmospheric air, and further wherein a release valve and a down-pipe are coupled to the storage tank between the storage tank and a beginning of the coiled section of pipe.

8. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank includes at least one ground level section of pipe coupled between the coiled section of pipe and at least one return pipe, and wherein at least one smaller liquid receptacle is positioned adjacent or below the storage tank for pressurized liquid to flow freely into after being pushed up and out an open end of the at least one return pipe by hydrostatic pressure and atmospheric air pressure; wherein gravity, hydrostatic pressure and atmospheric air pressure produce a steady flow of liquid through the coiled section of pipe such that the at least one turbine and generator are driven at a rate determined by a flow rate velocity of the pressurized liquid flowing freely out of the open end of the at least one return pipe and into the at least one smaller water receptacle, and wherein the flow rate velocity of the pressurized liquid flowing freely out of the open end of the at least one return pipe is determined by a vertical distance between the surface of the liquid in the storage tank and the open end of the at least one return pipe, and further wherein at least one pump having a pumping capacity at least equaling the volume of liquid entering the at least one smaller liquid receptacle returns the liquid from the at least one smaller liquid receptacle to the storage tank; and wherein the at least one turbine and generator in the coiled section of pipe produce more electric power than the at least one pump consumes in returning the liquid to the storage tank during a power producing cycle.

9. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump controls a rate the liquid moves throughout the system, thereby controlling an amount of electric power produced by the electric power plant; wherein a flow rate velocity of the liquid controlled by the at least one pump through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe begins at a suction inlet of the at least one pump and, with the assistance of a siphoning effect made possible by a partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the at least one pump, extends back through the at least one conduit coupled between the at least one pump and the end of the coiled section of pipe and into the coiled section of pipe; and wherein the at least one pump uses the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the at least one pump and the pressure applied to the volume of liquid in the storage tank to increase the flow rate velocity of the liquid controlled by the at least one pump through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe, and wherein the increased flow rate velocity of the liquid through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe increases an amount of kinetic energy possessed by the liquid, and further wherein the increased flow rate velocity of the liquid through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe increases an amount of liquid interacting with the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe per minute, thereby increasing the amount of electric power produced by the electric power plant per minute.

10. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the storage tank is airtight and watertight, and wherein an airtight upper part of the storage tank is filled with compressed gas; wherein the pressure of the liquid below the compressed gas in the upper part of the storage tank, which includes the liquid in a remainder of the storage tank, a down-pipe, the coiled section of pipe, and the at least one conduit coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank, is increased by the compressed gas in the upper part of the storage tank; wherein a flow rate velocity of the liquid controlled by the at least one pump through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe is increased by the pressure provided by the compressed gas in the upper part of the storage tank, and wherein the increased flow rate velocity of the liquid through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe increases an amount of kinetic energy possessed by the liquid, and further wherein the increased flow rate velocity of the liquid through the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe increases an amount of liquid interacting with the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe per minute, thereby increasing an amount of electric power produced by the electric power plant per minute; and wherein the compressed gas is produced using an external power source or by power produced by the electric power plant.

11. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank includes: at least one ground level section of pipe coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe, the at least one ground level section of pipe coupled with an airtight and watertight connection to the at least one pump, wherein a return pipe is coupled to a discharge outlet of the at least one pump with an airtight and watertight connection, and wherein an opposite end of the return pipe is coupled to the storage tank with an airtight and watertight connection; the at least one ground level section of pipe coupled between the coiled section of pipe and at least one return pipe, an opposite end of the at least one return pipe coupled with an airtight and watertight connection to the at least one pump at any location between a bottom of the power plant and the storage tank, wherein an upper return pipe is coupled to the discharge outlet of the at least one pump with an airtight and watertight connection, and wherein an opposite end of the upper return pipe is coupled to the storage tank with an airtight and watertight connection; the at least one ground level section of pipe having an inside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the pipe in the coiled section of pipe, the at least one larger inside diameter ground level section of pipe forming an airtight and watertight enclosed loop, wherein the at least one larger inside diameter ground level section of pipe is in communication with the at least one pump, and wherein a discharge outlet of the at least one pump is coupled to the return pipe, the opposite end of the return pipe coupled to the storage tank; and at least one airtight and watertight ground level tank, the at least one ground level tank coupled to the at least one pump, wherein the discharge outlet of the at least one pump is coupled to the return pipe, the opposite end of the return pipe coupled to the storage tank.

12. The electric power plant of claim 1, further comprising at least one return tank for returning the liquid to the storage tank, the at least one return tank in communication with the at least one pump which is coupled to the at least one conduit coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank, and wherein the at least one return tank uses liquid displacement to return an incoming liquid to the storage tank.

13. The electric power plant of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of main sections of pipe coupled to the storage tank to increase the capacity of the power plant, wherein the main section of pipe includes at least the coiled section of pipe, the at least one turbine coupled to the generator and the at least one conduit coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe and the at least one pump for returning the liquid to the storage tank.

14. The electric power plant of claim 1, wherein the storage tank is airtight and watertight, and wherein the liquid in the storage tank is pressurized by compressed gas, and further wherein there is an airtight and watertight elastomer barrier or membrane between the compressed gas in the storage tank and the liquid on an opposite side of the elastomer barrier or membrane; and wherein the storage tank is airtight and watertight, and wherein the liquid in the storage tank is pressurized by a mechanical device including a hydraulic piston coupled to the storage tank or the liquid in the storage tank is pressurized by an external force applying pressure to an elastomer diaphragm coupled to the storage tank.

15. The electric power plant of claim 14, wherein the coiled section of pipe is oriented horizontally.

16. An electric power plant that produces surplus electric power, comprising: a storage tank for holding a volume of liquid, wherein pressure is applied to the volume of liquid within the storage tank by atmospheric air pressure, pressure provided by a compressed gas, or pressure produced through mechanical means; a substantially straight, vertical section of pipe; at least one turbine mounted within the substantially straight, vertical section of pipe, the at least one turbine being coupled by a sealed connector to an external electric generator; wherein the liquid enters into the substantially straight, vertical section of pipe and flows through the substantially straight, vertical section of pipe, and wherein the at least one turbine in the substantially straight, vertical section of pipe is driven by the liquid to operate the electric generator and thereby produce electric power; at least one conduit coupled to an end of the substantially straight, vertical section of pipe for returning the liquid to the storage tank; and at least one pump coupled to the at least one conduit for returning the liquid to the storage tank.

17. An electric power plant that produces surplus electric power, comprising: a body of liquid; at least one buoyant device for maintaining a substantially vertical orientation; a coiled section of pipe including a plurality of coils; at least one turbine mounted within the coiled section of pipe, the at least one turbine being coupled by a sealed connector to an external electric generator; wherein the liquid enters into the coiled section of pipe and flows down through the coiled section of pipe, and further wherein the at least one turbine in the coiled section of pipe is driven by the liquid to operate the electric generator thereby generating electric power; a bottom tank or conduit coupled to an end of the coiled section of pipe; at least one pump for returning the liquid from the bottom tank or conduit to the body of liquid to complete a power producing cycle; and wherein the at least one buoyant device is secured to a bottom of the body of liquid.

18. The electric power plant of claim 17, wherein the at least one buoyant device comprises a support structure floating on the body of liquid, a down-pipe being coupled to the support structure; wherein the liquid enters a release valve which is adapted to allow the liquid to flow into the down-pipe at or near the surface of the surrounding body of liquid, and wherein hydrostatic pressure within and outside a main section of pipe is substantially equal at the same measured depth below the surface as the liquid flows downward through submerged parts of the main section of pipe, and further wherein hydrostatic pressure within and outside the bottom tank or conduit is substantially equal at the same measured depth below the surface of the surrounding body of liquid; and wherein the main section of pipe includes at least the down-pipe and the coiled section of pipe.

19. The electric power plant of claim 17, wherein the at least one pump provides a flow rate velocity down the coiled section of pipe that is at least equal to that achieved by gravity, and wherein the at least one pump coupled to the bottom tank or conduit returns the pressurized liquid in the bottom tank or conduit to the surrounding body of liquid.

20. The electric power plant of claim 17, wherein the at least one buoyant device comprises a balloon or air bag positioned below the surface of the body of liquid, and wherein a down-pipe and the coiled section of pipe are below the surface of the body of liquid, and further wherein the balloon or air bag is anchored to the bottom of the body of liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0093] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the elevated storage tank with the tank release valve below the storage tank and the top of the down-pipe below the tank release valve.

[0094] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the down-pipe with the short initial top piece of the coiled section of pipe extending out from the bottom of the down-pipe and leading to several coils of the coiled section of pipe.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a turbine/generator oriented vertically within and atop the first coil of a coiled section of pipe.

[0096] FIG. 4 shows a large side view of the turbine, connector and generator.

[0097] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the ground level section of pipe.

[0098] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the main section of pipe, which includes the downpipe, coiled section of pipe and the ground level section of pipe, as well as a single turbine/generator in the ground level section of pipe.

[0099] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the storage tank supported underneath by the support column and the angled top piece.

[0100] FIG. 8 shows an overhead view of the support column with four support arms attached to it and a coil of the coiled section of pipe.

[0101] FIG. 9 shows an overhead view of five circular outer support walls.

[0102] FIG. 10 shows an overhead view of a circular outer support wall with four support arms.

[0103] FIG. 11 shows an overhead view of five circular outer support wall and one large storage tank on top of the five circular outer support walls.

[0104] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a unit of the invention with a smaller water receptacle below the main storage tank for the pressurized water from the return pipe to flow freely into due to hydrostatic pressure and atmospheric air pressure. A second return pipe extends up from the smaller water receptacle to the main storage tank.

[0105] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a small capacity unit of the invention with two return pipes, each with an elevated pump attached to the return pipe at a height near the top of the coiled section of pipe.

[0106] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a pair of sister pumps attached to the tops of a pair of sister pipes that branch off a larger diameter return pipe.

[0107] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a large volume ground level pipe.

[0108] FIG. 16 shows a side view of a large volume ground level tank.

[0109] FIG. 17 shows a side view of a unit with a ground level tank and a return tank.

[0110] FIG. 18 shows a side view of a top of a unit of the invention that is located in a body of water, including the floating surface level structure, the down-pipe, and the top of the coiled section of pipe.

[0111] FIG. 19 shows a side view of unit of the invention that is located in a body of water with guide wires or cables that extend from the floating surface level structure down to concrete anchors.

[0112] FIG. 20 shows a chart of the hydrostatic pressure at certain depths from 1 meter to 10 meters.

[0113] FIG. 21 shows a chart of the hydrostatic pressure at certain depths from 10 meters to 5000 meters.

[0114] FIG. 22 shows a side view of a unit of the invention that is located below the surface in a body of water and held vertical by an balloon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0115] None of the parts in the drawings are to scale or are necessarily in proportion to those that may be found in an operational unit of the present invention. In some instances, certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. All the parts shown are only intended to clearly convey the concepts and basic principles involved. Also, for clarity and simplicity's sake, some connections and structural supports and other components, as well as mechanical and electrical components and controls, are not shown. Furthermore, in the case of commonly known or generally understood parts that may be used in the successful operation of the invention, simple geometric shapes may be used at times to help depict them. The drawings are numbered consecutively beginning with 1 (example FIG. 1), as are the corresponding parts within the different views (examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . ).

[0116] As described previously, storage tank will relate in general to the elevated or upper water receptacle; tank release valve will relate in general to the mechanized valve system used to release water or stop the flow of water from the bottom of the tank; down-pipe will relate in general to the original section of pipe heading vertically straight down from the bottom of the tank; coiled section of pipe will relate in general to the coiled section of pipe between the down-pipe and the ground level section of pipe or the ground level tank at the bottom of the unit; return pipe or upper return pipe will relate in general to the pipe or pipes that will be used to return the water back up into the storage tank.

[0117] Water will be used to describe the liquid that will be used by the present invention unless a more descriptive term is deemed more appropriate. Turbine will be used to describe the device that will be used to harvest the kinetic energy of flowing water. Generator will be used to describe the device that will be used to convert the harvested kinetic energy that was turned into mechanical energy by the turbine into electrical energy. Connector or water-tight connector will be used to describe the device that will be used to connect the separate shafts of the turbine and the generator.

[0118] A unit of the present invention includes all the different parts that may be used for the invention to operate properly as a fully functioning power plant. The use of the term unit may also be used to describe any fully functioning embodiment of the present invention that may be combined with other units of the invention to produce a larger capacity power plant.

[0119] A cycle will be determined and correlate directly to the amount of water one or more pumps return over the course of a minute back into the storage tank or other source of the water. The capacity of a unit of the present invention will be described in megawatts (MW) of electric power produced per hour. The flow rate velocity of water through parts of the system will be described in meters-per-second (mps or m/s). The size and capacity of the pumps will be described in gallons-per-minute (gpm).

[0120] Gravity, hydrostatic pressure and atmospheric air pressure are natural forces that will continue to be beneficial and/or essential for the successful operation of different embodiments of the present invention described herein. The partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the pumps will continue to be used when describing how the pumps, when combined with the beneficial effects from gravity, air pressure (atmospheric or compressed) or mechanically produced pressure, and hydrostatic pressure, will be able to produce a steady (siphon-like) flow of water between the pumps and the water in the storage tank or other water source, with the flow rate velocity of the water controlled by the number of gallons-per-minute being pumped by the pumps that are coupled to suitable conduits that are used to return the pressurized water back to the storage tank or other water source.

[0121] And the coiled section of pipe, the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank used to apply constant pressure to the surface of the water in the storage tank, using the pumps to return the water to the storage tank to produce a continuous flow of water through the system, attaching the pumps to the ground level tank or other conduit to create a watertight and airtight closed part of the system that extends from the pumps all the way back up to the surface of the water within the storage tank, using the pumps to increase and control the flow of water throughout the system, using the pumps to control the amount of electricity produced by the power plant, using the pumps to increase the flow rate velocity of water through all the turbines in the coiled section of pipe, using the compressed air to increase the flow rate velocity of water through all the turbines in the coiled section of pipe, using the compressed air and the pumps to increase the kinetic energy possessed by the water and the amount of energized water interacting with the turbines per minute, using the hydrostatic pressure of the water to increase the efficiency of the pumps and reduce the amount of electric power used to return the pressurized water to the storage tank, using the return tank and simple water displacement to efficiently return the water to the storage tank regardless of how high it is, and using gravity, momentum, the compressed air and the pumps to produce a flow rate velocity of water through the turbines at the top targeted flow rate velocity of approximately 31.3 meters-per-second (although higher flow rate velocities are certainly possible), will continue to be some of the important elements and innovative new concepts that are at the heart of the FFWN Clean Energy Power Plant.

[0122] An embodiment of an invention is a particular instance of the invention, an example of one of the various ways in which the invention may be realized or implemented. Embodiments are also used in the specification and claims to maximize the scope of protection claimed in the patent.

[0123] There are many different potential embodiments of the present invention. They include embodiments of the present invention that are land-based, as well as embodiments of the present invention that operate within bodies of water. Other embodiments of the present invention may even be used as a power source for spacecraft in space.

[0124] Starting with embodiments of the present invention that are located on land, they will preferably make use of an elevated water source such as a well-constructed water storage tank 1 (see FIG. 1). The elevated storage tank 1 will provide both a source for the downward flowing water that will be used to generate electricity by the invention and, by taking advantage of the natural force of gravity, use the water in the elevated storage tank 1 to produce hydrostatic pressure in the airtight and watertight portions of a unit below the surface of the water in the storage tank 1. In addition, proper venting of the storage tank 1 to the outside atmosphere will also make it possible for the water within the storage tank 1 to facilitate the beneficial effects of atmospheric air pressure throughout the system. Similarly, by making the inside of the storage tank 1 airtight and watertight, the pressure being applied to the water within the storage tank 1 can be increased by introducing a compressed gas (preferably compressed air) or by using mechanical means, with the pressure applied to the surface of the water in the storage tank 1 also increasing the hydrostatic pressure of the water within the system by a commensurate amount.

[0125] In regard to the location of the storage tank 1, numerous embodiments of the present invention are possible. They include configurations in which the storage tank 1 is raised at different heights above ground level in order to maximize the amount of hydrostatic pressure and electric power that can be produced. Other configurations will have the storage tank 1 located at or below ground level.

[0126] At the bottom of the storage tank is a mechanized tank release valve 2. The preferably electric-powered tank release valve 2, will be capable of being used to release and stop the flow of water out of and down from the bottom of the tank 1. This will be especially useful in potential embodiments of the invention that rely primarily on the beneficial effects of the natural forces of gravity, hydrostatic pressure and atmospheric air pressure to produce surplus electric power.

[0127] After passing through the release valve 2, the initial downward flow of water will be straight down through the down-pipe 3. The down-pipe 3, which may be coupled to the bottom of the tank 1 in addition to being coupled to the release valve 2, will preferably extend vertically straight down approximately 20% of the total distance between the bottom of the storage tank 1 and the bottom of the unit. This will continue to be the case until the length of the down-pipe 3 becomes sufficient for the height of the unit, including in instances when the bottom of the unit is at or below the surrounding ground level.

[0128] One reason why the down-pipe 3 will extend straight down vertically at first is so the downward flowing water will have an opportunity to accelerate as fast as possible due to the force of gravity after it exits the storage tank 1. Another reason the down-pipe will preferably extend straight down vertically at first is because it will give the invention a chance to mechanically accelerate the water to the desired or targeted flow rate velocity before it is used to start generating electricity. Having the down-pipe 3 have a larger inside diameter at the top than at the bottom will also help to increase the velocity of the downward flowing water.

[0129] The down-pipe 3 ends its vertical path straight down by turning horizontally and connecting to the top of the coiled section of pipe 4 with a short piece of pipe that begins the coiled section of pipe's gradual advance downward (see FIG. 2).

[0130] In embodiments of the present invention that rely primarily on the natural forces of gravity, atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressure to produce a steady flow of water through the coiled section of pipe 4, the down-pipe 3 and the coiled section of pipe 4 will preferably both be made of the same material and have the same inside diameter pipe. The down-pipe 3 and the coiled section of pipe 4 will also preferably be made in one continuous piece with no seams or connectors. This could potentially be done by being constructed using the most advanced and cost-effective 3D printing technology available.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 2 and in a larger view in FIG. 3, each coil of the coiled section of pipe 4 will preferably include at least one combined turbine/generator 5 unit for harvesting the kinetic energy of the flowing water and converting it into electrical energy.

[0132] In smaller capacity units of the present invention each turbine/generator 5 will primarily and preferably be comprised of a helical vertical axis turbine 6, a watertight and airtight central connector 7, and a shaft-driven rotary generator 8 (see FIG. 4). In addition to preferably having a female end (not shown) on either side of the central connector 7 for the opposing shafts of the turbine 6 and the generator 8 to be connected in a watertight and airtight manner, the central connector 7 will preferably have braking and locking capabilities (also not shown).

[0133] By using the coiled section of pipe 4, the overall length of the three main sections of pipe extending down from the bottom of the tank 1 (see FIG. 5) can easily be increased by ten times when compared to the total allotted distance between the bottom of the tank 1 and the bottom of the ground level section of pipe 9.

[0134] For brevity and simplicity's sake, any combination of the three main sections of pipe (which include the down-pipe 3, the coiled section of pipe 4, and the ground level section of pipe 9) will be described at times as the main section of pipe 10 (see FIG. 6).

[0135] In less powerful embodiments of the present invention that rely primarily on natural forces to produce electric power, as with how the municipal water lines that branch out from a water tower can extend for miles and still provide pressurized water to homes and businesses, if a single section of pipe is coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe, it will contain pressurized water that can be used to do more than just increase how efficiently the water is returned to the original source. That includes having the ground level section of pipe 9 run horizontally along various paths in order to extend the overall length of the main section of pipe 10 and the number of turbines/generators 5 that can be used to generate electricity. One such configuration (as also shown in FIG. 6), includes adding at least one turbine/generator 5 for generating electricity to the ground level section of pipe 9. Another configuration (or embodiment) that could be used to add one or more turbine/generators 5 would be to add a straight, vertical section of pipe (not shown) to the end of the coiled section of pipe.

[0136] The weight of the water within the coils of the coiled section of pipe 4—especially in larger embodiments of the present invention—will require the use of external structural supports in many instances. Determining how the coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 will be supported by the external structural supports will depend primarily on whether the coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 are elevated above the surrounding ground level or located below the surrounding ground level.

[0137] In instances when the coils of the coiled section of pipe 4 are located above the surrounding ground level, because the storage tank 1 will preferably be supported by a centrally located support column 11 (as shown in FIG. 7), the pipe-like steel support column 11—which will have an angled top piece 12 to help better balance the weight of the tank 1 and provide more room for the tank release valve 2 and for a wider diameter top of the down-pipe 3 in instances when a wider diameter top than the bottom of the down-pipe 3 is utilized—will also be able to be used to support the individual coils of the coiled section of pipe 4.

[0138] By preferably connecting four rows of steel support arms 13 (although more are certainly possible) to the side of the steel support column 11 to support each coil of the coiled section of pipe 4 in four equally spaced locations (see FIG. 8), the weight of the water in each of the coils will be adequately supported. Naturally, the larger the inside diameter of the pipe and the circumference of the coils in the coiled section of pipe 4, the larger and more robust the support arms 13 will be made.

[0139] In instances when the coils of the coiled section of pipe 4 are located above and below the surrounding ground level, because the storage tank 1 will still be elevated and need to be supported, the centrally located steel support column 11 will preferably be used once again to perform the dual role of supporting the storage tank 1 and providing a strong structure from which to connect the steel support arms 13, which will preferably be used to support the remainder of the coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 below ground level.

[0140] In instances when the coils of the coiled section of pipe 4 are all located below the surrounding ground level, since the preferably circular outer support walls 14 (see FIG. 9), which will preferably be made of recycled plastic that was repurposed to form building blocks (kind of like giant Legos) to hold back the surrounding dirt, will also be able to be used to support the storage tank 1, which will preferably rest on top of the circular outer support walls 14 and have a similar circumference, as well as provide a strong structure to connect the steel support arms 13 to. The main difference in this instance (see FIG. 10), will be that, in addition to being much shorter because they won't have to extend as far if they are not also used to support the weight of the large generators used with larger capacity units using helical horizontal axis turbines, the four rows of steel support arms 13, which will still be supporting each coil, will extend in from the circular outer support walls 14 and preferably be vertically attached, one above the other, to a preferably steel shaft that will also be used to help align and hold the preferably layered building blocks of the circular outer support walls 14 in place and also provide additional structural support.

[0141] In instances when the storage tank 1 is located on top of a roof or is part of the roof system of a building or other structure, either walls of some sort, or a centrally located steel support column 11, or other steel or steel-like structures, or a combination of any of them or other similar structures may be used to perform the roles of supporting the storage tank 1 and supporting the coils of the coiled section of pipe 4 using steel support arms 13 or other means. The same will also hold true (see FIG. 11) in instances when more than one unit of the invention is sharing and being supplied with water by a single, large overhead storage tank 1 or similar structure.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 12, a relatively easy way to return the water to the storage tank 1 using an embodiment of the present invention that uses a single ground level pipe 9 and a single return pipe 16, will be to set up a support structure in the form of a platform that will preferably be located below the storage tank 1 in the open space next to the down-pipe 3 and be used to hold a smaller water receptacle 15 for the pressurized water from the return pipe 16 to flow freely up and into due to atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressure at a flow rate velocity that preferably exceeds two meters-per-second. Once in the much smaller water receptacle 15 than the storage tank 1 still higher above, a submersible pump (not shown) that is preferably located in the smaller water receptacle 15, will efficiently pump the water vertically back up the remainder of the distance into the storage tank 1 at a rate that at least keeps pace with the amount of pressurized water flowing freely through the main section of pipe 10 and out the top of the return pipe 16 into the smaller water receptacle 15.

[0143] During testing by researchers, Gorlov helical vertical axis turbines (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,451,137 and 5,642,984), even with the flow rate being as low as two meters-per-second (4.474 mph), have been able to extract up to 35% of the kinetic energy of moving water and up to 70% of the kinetic energy of moving water when appropriately curved inserts are placed within a conduit to channel fluid flow to the blades of the turbine, thereby increasing efficiency and power output. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 12 and in similar embodiments, the flow rate velocity of the water into the smaller water receptacle 15 will be determined by the difference in height between the open end of the return pipe 15 and the height of the water within the storage tank 1, with the resulting flow rate velocity that atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressure can push the steady flow of water up and into the smaller water receptacle 15 increasing with the increased distance between the two heights. So, if the flow rate velocity of the water interacting with each turbine 6 is at least two meters-per-second (which may include increasing the inside diameter of the pipe in the coiled section of pipe 4, or increasing the height of the storage tank 1 and the height of the water within it, or extending the length of the down-pipe 3, or placing the smaller water receptacle 15 down alongside the coiled section of pipe 4), meaning up to 35% of the kinetic energy of the moving water can be extracted, and because the volume of water interacting with each turbine 6 per minute will be the same as that entering the smaller water receptacle 15 per minute, simple math tells us that if there are enough turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4 to produce more electric power when combined per minute than the set amount consumed by the pump per minute, the system will produce surplus electric power.

[0144] If the unit shown in FIG. 12 has a single turbine/generator 5 in each coil with each coil having an inside diameter of 10 feet and roughly 30 feet of pipe between each turbine/generator 5. By simply doubling the diameter of the coil from 10 feet to 20 feet an additional turbine/generator 5 can be added to each coil. This will result in the amount of electric power being produced per minute by all the turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4 being doubled, while the length of the pipe between each turbine/generator 5 will still be roughly 30 feet. Similarly, by tripling the diameter of the coil to 30 feet and adding a third turbine/generator 5 per coil, the amount of electricity produced by all the turbines/generators 5 will be tripled. The same pattern also holds true if the coil diameter is increased to 40 or 50 feet.

[0145] In addition to larger diameter coils and additional turbines/generators 5 per coil, increasing the inside diameter of the pipe in the coiled section of pipe 4 and the remainder of the main section of pipe 10 as the coil diameter increases will preferably also be done. Also, by having the flow rate velocity of the water entering the smaller water receptacle 15 and interacting with all the turbines/generators 5 determined by the difference in height between the open end of the return pipe 16 and the height of the water within the storage tank 1, having many tens of coils in the coiled section of pipe is clearly possible. And with the ability to add so many turbines/generators 5 to the unit with the volume of water simultaneously passing through all of the turbines 6 simultaneously being pumped up into the storage tank 1, there is no doubt that a unit with a reasonable number of coils can be built that can produce a steady supply of surplus electric power.

[0146] In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, albeit still one of the lower capacity embodiments possible, instead of using atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressure to move the water up into an intermediary water receptacle to create a water flow and shorten the distance the water needs to be returned to the storage tank 1, the storage tank 1 will no longer be vented and will instead be made airtight and watertight so the upper part of the storage tank 1 can be filled with a compressed gas, preferably compressed air. Because the hydrostatic pressure of the water at the bottom of a unit will be 14.7 psi (pounds-per-square-inch) for every 10 meters or approximately 33 feet of water depth from the surface of the water in the storage tank 1 to the lowest point in the system plus the pressure provided by the air pushing down on the surface of the water in the storage tank 1 (atmospheric air pressure is 14.7 psi at sea level), by filling the upper part of the storage tank 1 with compressed air above 14.7 psi the hydrostatic pressure of the water at the bottom of the unit will be increased commensurate with the increased pressure of the compressed air.

[0147] In addition to the potential to increase the hydrostatic pressure of the water at the bottom of the unit by introducing compressed air into the upper part of the storage tank 1 because the hydrostatic pressure, which increases in proportion to the measured depth from the surface because of the increasing weight of the water exerting downward force from above plus any pressure acting on the surface of the water, at least one pump 17 will also be coupled to the top of each return pipe 16 that is incorporated into the system (see FIG. 13). By being directly attached to the top of the return pipe 16, the pump 17 will be able to increase the flow rate of water up through the return pipe 16 instead of it gradually slowing down, even with all the additional pressure provided by the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1, as the operational pressure provided by hydrostatic pressure normally starts to diminish the higher it helps push the water up. This mechanically produced acceleration of the water in the return pipe 16 by the pump 17 will not only increase the overall rate of water flow throughout the system but, by directly attaching the pump 17 to the top of the return pipe 16 and having an upper return pipe 18 extend up from the top of the pump 17 to the storage tank 1, it will do so and still be able to take full advantage of the beneficial effects provided by hydrostatic pressure. This is because the pump 17 is going to produce a considerable amount of additional water flow velocity—especially as part of what is now a closed system that includes the portion from the inlet or suction side of the pumps 17 back down through the return pipes 16 and then back up through the main section of pipe 10 to the surface of the water in the storage tank 1—and be very effective at also increasing the flow rate velocity of the water flowing through the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4, which will already have the potential to be dramatically increased by the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 applying constant pressure to the surface of the water in the storage tank 1.

[0148] With an ample amount of compressed air trapped in the upper part of the storage tank 1, as well as the pumps 17 that are incorporated into the system coupled to the tops of the return pipes 16, and the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the pumps 17 during their normal operation put to good use to increase and control the flow rate velocity of the water through the watertight and airtight system, another benefit of attaching the pumps 17 to the return pipes 16 will be how they will also increase the overall efficiency and capacity of the power plant. In fact, if done properly, by directly attaching the pumps 17 to the return pipes 16—or even better yet, directly to a larger diameter and volume ground level section of pipe 9 or ground level tank at the bottom of the unit (which will also make it possible to incorporate larger, more powerful and an increased number of pumps 17 into the system)—using the pump or pumps 17 to create a closed system has the potential to dramatically increase the capacity of the power plant well beyond what is possible using only natural forces. That includes placing as many turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4 as is operationally possible beyond the point where the downward flowing water has had a chance to achieve the targeted flow rate velocity controlled by the pump(s) 17, with the turbines/generators 5 possessing the ability to operate normally at much faster flow rate velocities than what gravity, hydrostatic pressure and atmospheric pressure can produce through the coiled section of pipe 4.

[0149] One a the most important ways the efficiency of the power plant will be increased by using the pumps 17 to create a closed system has to do with how the system's pumps 17 work and how the pressure of the water entering the pump 17 can be utilized. This is because, after being reduced by a comparatively small amount by the impeller while producing the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone needed for the pump 17 to operate, the pressure of the water entering the pump 17 will be able to be subtracted from the outlet discharge pressure needed to return the water back up and into the storage tank 1 at the desired flow rate. What this means is that whatever the water pressure is before it enters the pump 17 will typically be about 14.7 psi (or atmospheric pressure at sea level and typically about what the water pressure is reduced to create the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone) more than what it is after it enters the pump 17 and that the pump 17 will only need to make up the difference between the water pressure entering the pump 17 and the outlet discharge pressure needed to return the water into the storage tank 1 at the desired flow rate regardless, in this instance because of how the system is configured, of what the pressure of the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 is, What this also means is that as long as the pressure of the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 is high enough to drive a constant stream of water through the main section of pipe 10 and up into the pump(s) 17 to produce whatever flow rate velocity is being targeted by the Al-enabled control system, the pump(s) 17 will be able to be positioned at any location along the vertical length of the return pipe 16 with little difference in its efficiency, meaning the amount of electricity used to run the pump 17 will not vary very much.

[0150] This will also hold true if the pumps 17 that are incorporated into the system are connected or in communication with the ground level pipe 9 or the pump 17 is connected to the top of a return pipe 16 and the discharge outlet of the pump 1 is connected directly to the storage tank 1. This is because regardless of where the pump 17 is connected to the conduit or conduits that are used to return the water to the storage tank 1, the pump 17 will also only need to make up the difference between the water pressure entering the pump 17 and the outlet discharge pressure needed to return the water into the storage tank 1 at the desired flow rate. And because the hydrostatic pressure, which increases in proportion to the measured depth moving down from the surface because of the increasing weight of the water exerting downward force from above plus any pressure acting on the surface of the water, also decreases in proportion to the measured depth moving up from the bottom of the unit because of the decreasing weight of the water exerting downward force from above but still includes any pressure acting on the surface of the water in the storage tank 1, the loss or gain in hydrostatic pressure as the pump height is raised or lowered is essentially equal to the reduced or increased pressure needed to return the water to the storage tank 1, meaning the amount of electricity needed to run the pump 17 to return the pressurized water to the storage tank 1 will be about the same regardless of where the pump 17 is located.

[0151] To better understand how the addition of compressed air into the upper part of the storage tank 1 will affect the ability to return the water from the bottom of the unit back up and into the storage tank 1: If the top one foot of the upper part of the storage tank 1 was filled with 300 psi compressed air and there was 100 feet between the surface of the water in the storage tank 1 and the water at the bottom of the unit, a return pipe that was 800 feet high would be filled with over 770 feet of water. Put another way, if the top one foot of the upper part of the storage tank 1 was filled with 300 psi compressed air, the increased pressure would be like adding more than another 650 feet of height to the typically 20 feet tall storage tank 1 and filling it with water. And, of course, much higher than 300 psi compressed air could easily be used if needed to have the pump or pumps 17 reach and maintain the targeted flow rate velocity of water through all the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4.

[0152] The ability to use the overwhelming pressure provided by the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 will have several important benefits. First among them, will be the ability to maximize the flow rate velocity of the water flowing down through all the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4. This is because the overwhelming pressure applied to the surface of the water in the storage tank 1 will not only make it possible to dramatically increase the flow rate velocity of the water flowing down through all the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4, but it will also make it possible to dramatically increase the kinetic energy possessed by the water and also dramatically increase the amount of energized water interacting with the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 per minute. And with the kinetic energy of the water and the amount of energized water interacting with the turbines 6 dramatically increased, the amount of electric power produced by all the turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4 per minute will also be dramatically increased.

[0153] The objective of the invention to have a backup pump 17 for every pump 17 that is included in the system can be accomplished in units with elevated pumps 17 by having a pair of branch pipes—or sister pipes 19—branch off each larger diameter return pipe 16 (see FIG. 14) and extend up the distance needed to avoid any complications from the bend in the pipe. Each sister pipe 19 will then have their own (preferably vertical centrifugal pump, although suction pumps and other types of pumps may also be used) sister pump 17 securely attached to it that will be capable of returning the pressurized water—further enhanced by the capabilities of the pump 17 operating in the watertight and airtight system and benefitting from the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the pump—the remaining distance into the storage tank 1 using an airtight and watertight upper return pipe 18. The Al-enabled control system will ensure that each pump 17 is used and rested an equal amount of time, and predictive analytics will be able to detect any anomalies and irregularities and report them when found. And should one of the pumps 17 need to be repaired or replaced—or just undergo regular maintenance—its sister pump 17 will be able to fill in full time without any interruption in electricity production by the power plant.

[0154] Other small-scale capacity embodiments of the present invention (meaning those that preferably produce less than 1 MW of electricity per hour), may operate using one or more pumps 17 to meet their gallons per minute pumping needs by preferably being coupled directly to a larger diameter ground level pipe 9 that is sealed at the end opposite the end coupled to the coiled section of pipe 4. This also means that small-scale capacity units may operate having one or more additional pumps 17 beyond what are needed to meet the unit's gallons per minute pumping needs included among the pumps 17 that are coupled with an airtight and watertight connection to the larger diameter ground level pipe 9, with the additional pumps 17 able to serve as backup pumps and share pumping responsibilities with the other pumps 17 incorporated into the system.

[0155] Being able to match the gallons-per-minute (gpm) pumping capacities needed to produce a targeted flow rate velocity of 31.3 mps through the coiled section of pipe 4 will typically take larger, more powerful and an increased number of pumps 17 being incorporated into the system. These large capacity pumps 17 (not shown) will preferably be placed at ground level and preferably be coupled directly to an airtight and watertight, circular or loop-shaped, large volume ground level pipe 9 (see FIG. 15) or a large volume ground level tank 20 (see FIG. 16) using multiple ports 21 built into the circular side of the ground level pipe 9 or using the multiple ports built into the sides of the ground level tank 20, with either ground level water receptacle preferably coupled to the end of the coiled section of pipe 4. Since both the ground level pipe 9 and the ground level tank 20 can be made very large and be airtight and watertight, a large volume ground level pipe 9 could be the better choice in units that utilize a centrally located steel support column 11 to support the storage tank 1, and a large volume ground level tank 20 the better choice in units that utilize circular outer support walls 14 or are combined with buildings or other structures and various structural components to support the storage tank 1.

[0156] In large-scale embodiments of the present invention that primarily have the bottom of the storage tank 1 less than 100 feet above the bottom of the ground level pipe 9 or the ground level tank 20, the pressurized water will in many instances be returned straight up to the storage tank 1 using return pipes 16 that are securely coupled to the discharge outlet of multiple centrifugal pumps 17. This will be very efficient and economical to do in large part because of the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the ground level pipe 9 or the ground level tank 20, which will be a direct result of the overall height of the water within the system plus the pressure of the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1, and how, after being reduced by a comparatively small amount by the impeller to produce the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone needed for the pump 17 to operate, the pressure of the water entering each pump 17 will be able to be subtracted from the outlet discharge pressure needed to directly pump the water at the desired flow rate the relatively short distance back up and into the storage tank 1 using a return pipe 16.

[0157] In large-scale embodiments of the present invention that primarily have the bottom of the storage tank 1 more than 100 feet above the bottom of a ground level pipe 9 or a ground level tank 20, the pressurized water will preferably be returned to the storage tank 1 using a return tank 22 (see FIG. 17). FIG. 17 shows a highly efficient embodiment of the FFWN Clean Energy Power Plant using a return tank 22 that will employ eight pumps (not shown), which will connect directly to the trapezoid-shaped ground level tank 20 by four ports 21 on either side and preferably be used to produce large quantities of 24/7, baseload, one-hundred percent clean electricity. Due to how the hydrostatic pressure of the water at the bottom of the ground level tank 20 and the return tank 22 will preferably be the same by having them level with each other, the pumps will be able to move the pressurized water from the ground level tank 20 into the return tank 22—which will be perpendicular to the trapezoid-shaped ground level tank 20 so the eight pumps 17 will have a straight section of pipe running from the pump discharge outlet to the corresponding port 21 (not visible) in the return tank 22—very efficiently, with simple water displacement then automatically returning a steady flow of water of equal volume to the pressurized water entering the return tank 22 all the way back up and into the elevated storage tank 1, regardless of how high it is.

[0158] The return tank 22, which will preferably extend from the bottom of the unit up to or near the top of the main storage tank 1, will also preferably be placed near a side of the coiled section of pipe 4 and preferably have a large opening near the top that makes it possible for the level of the water within the storage tank 1 and the return tank 22 to be the same. And because the water will no longer need to be pumped up to the storage tank 1 against the force of gravity, and because the friction from the walls of the pipes or conduits between the pumps and the return tank 22 will be less than the friction from the walls in the longer return pipes 16, and because of how efficiently the pumps 17 will be able to move the pressurized water directly from the ground level tank 20 into the equally pressurized water at the same height in the return tank 22 due to how the pressure of the water entering the pump 17 will be subtracted from the pressure needed at the discharge outlet to move the water into the return tank 22 at the desired flow rate to complete the power producing cycle, less electric power will be used by the pumps 17, which will also mean the power plant will produce more surplus 100% clean electric power per hour.

[0159] Naturally, greater energy savings can be realized from the return tank 22 and its use of simple water displacement to return the water back up and into the storage tank 1 by maximizing the number of coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 and the height of the storage tank 1. Maximizing the number of coils and turbines/generators 5 per coil in above ground and below ground embodiments of the present invention will also increase their capacity significantly. And, of course, more coils and their appropriate number of turbines/generators 5 can be added without needing more pumps 17 because the amount of pumping capacity needed to return the even greater hydrostatic pressure water back to its original source—as well as the amount of electricity needed to operate the pumps 17—will largely be uncharged due to how the amount of water being moved per minute to produce the same flow rate velocity through all the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 will largely be the same and the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the ground level tank 20 and the return tank 22 at the same depth measured from the surface of the water in the storage tank 1, although greater, will be the same. The only major change will be in how the discharge outlet pressure limits for the large pumps 17 will need to be increased commensurate with the increased hydrostatic pressure in the ground level tank 20 due to the increased height of the water within the system and any increase in the pressure of the compressed air.

[0160] Using the pumps 17 and the compressed air in the storage tank 1 to maximize the flow rate velocity of water through all the helical turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 will be the main reason why this and other large-scale embodiments of the invention will be able to produce so much electricity. Not only will the kinetic energy possessed by the moving water be increased by increasing its flow rate velocity, but by increasing the flow rate velocity the amount of energized water interacting with the turbines/generators 5 per minute will also be increased. For instance, just by increasing the flow rate velocity from the preferred normal operating 28.7 m/s (or roughly 64 mph) to 31.3 m/s (70 mph), the amount of kinetic energy that can be harvested and converted into electrical energy per minute by the turbines/generators 5 will be increased by roughly 33%.

[0161] In addition to the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created at the eye of the impeller of the pumps 17, the main reason why the pumps 17 will be able to control and increase the flow rate velocity of the water moving through the system, starting from when the unit is first turned on and variable frequency drives or variable speed drives preferably have the pumps 17 start to gradually increase the flow rate velocity from zero until the water in the coiled section of pipe 4 reaches the targeted flow rate velocity, will be because there will be a considerable amount of hydrostatic pressure present in the ground level tank 20 due to the height of the water in the system plus the compressed air in the airtight upper part of the storage tank 1 and how it will constantly be pushing down with a considerable amount of pressure on the surface of the water within the storage tank 1. And this combination of compressed air constantly pushing down from above and the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the unit (which will certainly be capable of pushing the water in the ground level tank 20 into the pumps by itself), along with some additional assistance from gravity and momentum, will be capable of pushing a steady flow of water down from the storage tank 1, through the down-pipe 3 and coiled section of pipe 4, into the ground level tank 20, and finally into the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone at the eye of the impeller of the centrifugal pumps 17 as the flow rate velocity increases.

[0162] Gorlov helical turbines 6 operate under a lift-based concept, so the water will sweep through the turbine 6 as the turbine 6 is harvesting the kinetic energy of the water flowing through it. Still, the potentially high number of rotations-per-minute (rpms) by the helical turbines 6 in large capacity units of the present invention is another matter that will need to be addressed with more robust components and engineering. To begin with, due to the size and weight of the generators 8 and accompanying components, helical horizontal axis turbines 6 will preferably be used with large-scale embodiments of the invention. Having the helical turbines 6 constructed of the most non-corrosive and durable metals or composite materials available—including titanium and stainless steel—will also be preferable. As for the most preferable way to address the potential for very high rpms by the helical turbines 6, which could lead to so-called solidification, will be to use high-wattage and high-torque generators. Moreover, since a generator is a device for converting torque (rotational force) into electric power, and the amount of electric power produced by a generator is directly proportional to the amount of torque supplied to the generator 8 by the turbine 6, by increasing the torque needed to rotate the shaft of the turbine 6 by mechanical means (preferably using gears or a transmission) or electronic means (preferably using torque controllers as is sometimes done with wind turbines in response to high wind speeds)—or both—the speed the turbine 6 rotates will be reduced while continuing to harvest and convert into electrical energy the same amount of kinetic energy because the kinetic energy possessed by the flowing water will be the same.

[0163] Using high-wattage, high-torque generators 8 and other means to reduce the speed the turbine 6 rotates will, as testing by researchers has shown, also reduce the resistance or obstruction of water flow by the helical turbines 6. Because helical horizontal axis turbines 6 will preferably have a central shaft that extends out both ends of the turbine 6, two pairs of high strength bearings and bearing housings will also preferably be used by the present invention to provide support to each end of the turbine 6 when the flow rate velocity of the rapidly flowing water is raised to very high velocities by the pumps 17. The bearing housing between the turbine 6 and the generator 8 will preferably be within the connector 7, and the opposing bearing housing will preferably be securely coupled to the opposite side of the pipe in a way that preferably doesn't impede the water flow. Having access to the opposing bearing and bearing housing from outside the pipe will also be preferred. Also, the added cost for higher-wattage, higher-torque generators 8 will almost certainly be offset by the reduced wear and tear on the turbines 6 and generators 8, and result in reduced maintenance costs as well.

[0164] For potential embodiments of the present invention that rely primarily on natural forces or those that only use atmospheric pressure from an operational standpoint, proper venting will also be important. That is why when appropriate the storage tank 1 will preferably be vented through the top of the storage tank 1 to the outside atmosphere using multiple vents and why there will preferably be a space for atmospheric air above the surface of the water within the tank 1. In addition to all the benefits provided by atmospheric pressure constantly pushing down on the surface of the water within the storage tank 1, a space for atmospheric air will allow water from the return pipes 16 to flow freely into the top of the tank 1 without encountering any water, only air. By doing so, additional turbines and generators could potentially be placed within the air space above the surface of the water within the tank 1 to harvest some of the kinetic energy of the freely flowing water from the return pipes 16 after it enters the tank 1 and falls downward.

[0165] Evaporation of water from the system is another matter that will need to be addressed with adequate remedies in potential embodiments of the present invention that use atmospheric pressure to move water throughout the system. The same holds true for water loss due to leakage in all embodiments of the present invention. Water loss through evaporation through the venting at the top of the tank 1 or through leakage from any part of the system can be mitigated by different ways if doing so makes sense. But the preferred way to replace water lost throughout the system will be to have a supplemental source of water available to each unit that will preferably be accessed by the Al-enabled control system when needed. Municipal water lines and/or storage tanks will certainly be among the potential options for supplemental sources of water that could be pumped up into the storage tank 1 at night or during other times of low energy demand like is done with a typical municipal water tower.

[0166] In regard to the present invention being used as part of a water distribution system for homes, businesses, 100% clean infrastructure and industrial purposes, the original embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, was combined with a typical water tower-based municipal water distribution system to take advantage of the water tower to produce baseload, clean, electric power that could be used by the municipality and/or provide it with a revenue source. Other than having the bottom of the storage tank 1 preferably elevated at least 30 meters (or about 100 feet) to produce the necessary amount of hydrostatic pressure for the water distribution system to operate properly, basically all that will need to be added to a unit that relies on atmospheric pressure to keep a steady flow of water through the energy generating part of the system will be a separate water line that can be attached and extend down from the bottom of the storage tank 1 just about anywhere where it can adequately be secured and supported. Once at ground level, the added water line can be used like any other water line from a municipal water tower for water distribution purposes. Then, of course, if a much higher capacity embodiment of the present invention that uses compressed air that was piped into the airtight upper part of the storage tank 1 to increase the flow rate velocity of the water down through the coiled section of pipe 4, a larger storage tank 1 with a separate section for potable drinking water would preferably be how a combined energy generation and water distribution unit would be constructed.

[0167] The greater the flow rate velocity of water through the system, the greater the amount of kinetic energy that will be possessed by the water flowing down through the coiled section of pipe 4 and also the greater the amount of highly energized water interacting with the turbines/generators 5 per minute, which, when combined, will dramatically increase the amount of kinetic energy that can be harvested and converted into electrical energy by the turbines/generators 5. With the targeted flow rate of 31.3 mps being used for description purposes as an attainable flow rate velocity to maximize the efficiency of the system, the volume of the water cycling through the system each minute and the number of turbines/generators 5 deployed throughout the system will be the other major determining factors as to how large the capacity of the unit will be.

[0168] As previously described, being able to use highly compressed air to constantly push down on the surface of the water in the storage tank 1 with twenty (300 psi) to fifty (800 psi) times more pressure than can be provided by atmospheric air pressure will make it possible to dramatically increase the flow rate velocity of the water down through all the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 and help to maximize the electric output of the power plant. For context, 300 psi of compressed air in the top 1 foot of the storage tank 1 would equate to increasing the inside height of the storage tank 1 by more than 650 feet and filling it with water. Even more impressively, 800 psi of compressed air in the top 1 foot of the storage tank would equate to increasing the inside height of the storage tank 1 by more than 1,700 feet and filling it with water. (The empire state building is 1,454 ft. high.) And considering that filling the upper part of the storage tank with 14.8 to 300 psi or 300 to 800 psi (or more) compressed air will not be difficult or expensive to do—not to mention that once the compressed air is trapped in the airtight upper part of the storage tank 1 it isn't going anywhere—doing so for the purpose of assisting in reaching the targeted flow rate velocity of 31.3 m/s, which will be further fostered by applying hydrophobic coatings or other specialty coatings to the interior walls of the pipes to reduce friction, will be invaluable in many units—such as the previous first example unit with a 28″ inside diameter pipe and 85 ft. overall height (20 ft. for the tank 1 and 65 ft. for the pipes and ground level tank 20 underneath)—because of the increased amount of baseload electric power that will be produced per hour with or without the use of the curved inserts.

[0169] Obviously, if there is enough available space to raise the overall height of a unit and use larger than 28″ inside diameter pipes in the main section of pipe, in addition to there being much less friction losses for the amount of water rapidly flowing down through the pipes by increasing their inside diameter, there will also be the potential to increase the targeted flow rate velocity of the water, which could also be maximized by using higher psi compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 and by using higher capacity pumps 17. Having centrifugal pumps 17 with pumping capacities of up to 200,000 gpm will also make it relatively easy to use a reasonable amount of pumps 17 as the inside diameter of the pipe and the volume of water per meter of pipe increases. And by using the larger inside diameter pipes and pumps, the total energy generating capacity of the unit will still be able to be at least 33% greater than the nameplate capacity of the unit (or what will preferably be able to be produced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year). As for how the use of the larger pumps 17, which will preferably be used with larger inside diameter pipe embodiments of the present invention, will have a minor decrease in efficiency as the pumping capacity of the pump 17 increases, the minor decrease in efficiency will be nothing compared to the dramatic increase in surplus electricity that will be produced with the larger capacity embodiments of the invention.

[0170] For instance: using the first 28″ inside diameter pipe example unit with 10 coils and 10 turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4, just by increasing the inside diameter of the pipe by eight inches from 28″ to 36″, which will increase the volume of the water in the approximately 100 meter main section of pipe 10 from roughly 10,500 gallons to roughly 17,350 gallons—and still using the targeted flow rate velocity of 31.3 m/s—the capacity of the unit would be increased by about 50% from roughly 9 MW to 13.5 MW of electric power produced each hour—which is without the potential to double the electricity output and capacity of the unit by using the curved inserts.

[0171] In instances when it may be necessary, increasing the pressure of the highly compressed air to maximize the flow rate velocity of the water through all the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 as the height and/or capacity of a unit increases will also have little or no effect on the ability of the pumps 17 to return the water to the storage tank 1 despite how the increased pressure from the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 will also increase the hydrostatic pressure in the ground level tank 20 and the return tank 22. This is because the hydrostatic pressure, which increases in proportion to the measured depth from the surface because of the increasing weight of the water exerting downward force from above plus any pressure acting on the surface of the water, will still be the same in both the ground level tank 20 and the return tank 22 at the same depth below the surface of the water in the storage tank 1. As a result, the large centrifugal pumps 17, which will have discharge outlet pressure limits suited for the increased water pressures within the system, will still be able to efficiently move the water entering the ground level tank 20 to the return tank 22, with simple water displacement also still returning an equal volume of water back up into the storage tank 1, regardless of how high it is or how high the water pressure within it is (within reason), to complete the power producing cycle.

[0172] In embodiments of the present invention that don't use a return tank 22, another benefit of having highly compressed air essentially trapped in the upper part of the storage tank 1 will be how the resulting increased hydrostatic pressure in the ground level tank 20 will also increase the amount of pressure pushing the water into the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the centrifugal pumps' impellers. With the hydrostatic pressure in the ground level tank 20 increased and providing an equal amount of operational pressure as that provided by the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1 plus the water pressure due to the depth of the water measured from the surface to the midpoint of the impellers, the pumps 17, securely coupled directly to the ground level tank 20, will be assured of having a constant flow of the highly pressurized water into them. Moreover, when return pipes 16 or similar conduits are used to return the highly pressurized water to the storage tank 1, the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the ground level tank 20 (or a large volume ground level section of pipe 9 or other large volume water receptacle), will be increased by roughly the same amount the discharge outlet pressure of the pumps 17 will need to be increased to return the highly pressurized water to the storage tank 1.

[0173] As for how additional water can be pumped into the system (while actively being operated or not) when needed due to leakage and/or to bring the pressure of the compressed air in the upper part of storage tank 1 up to the desired psi, it will depend primarily on whether the storage tank 1 is at or near ground level or elevated. In instances when the storage tank 1 is at or near ground level, the water will preferably be pumped into the storage tank 1 by a suitable pump. In instances when the storage tank 1 is elevated, the water will preferably be pumped into the return tank 22 by a suitable pump. In either case, because water is not easily compressed and air is, the water level will rise within the system and the compressed air will be further compressed.

[0174] As for how additional compressed air can be piped into the upper part of the storage tank 1, compressed air, preferably stored in carbon fiber storage tanks rated to handle at least 4,500 psi of compressed air, will preferably be used when needed. The stored compressed air will preferably come from an air compressor using surplus electric power from the power plant or from shared infrastructure used by multiple units but can also come from an external electricity source. An external electricity source may also be used to fill the unit with water and compressed air before the unit is put into operation. An external electricity source may also be used to power the pumps when the unit is first turned on or any other time when it is needed. As for instances when the compressed air needs to be reduced or removed, a pressure reduce valve in the upper part of the storage tank 1 will preferably be utilized.

[0175] In some embodiments of the present invention, an airtight and watertight elastomer barrier or membrane may be placed in the storage tank 1 between the compressed air (or other compressed gas) and the water (or other liquid) so the compressed air and the liquid do not come in contact. This will not only make it possible to keep oil or other unwanted substances that may accompany the compressed air away from the liquid, but the elastomer barrier or membrane could also make it possible to use an embodiment of the present invention as an electric power source on a spacecraft in space. And because gravity and hydrostatic pressure will not be a factor in space—although the highly compressed air (or other gas) and the partial vacuum or lower pressure zone created by the pump(s) 17 will certainly be able to be used by the pump(s) 17 to maintain a continuous flow of the liquid through the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 and simple water displacement will still work to return the liquid back into the storage tank regardless of the shape of the return pipe(s) 16 or return tank 22—the coiled section of pipe 4 could also be oriented horizontally instead of vertically.

[0176] Furthermore, because the benefits from gravity in moving the water down through the turbines 6 in the coiled section of pipe 4 and into the pump(s) 17 in Earth-based embodiments of the invention are not nearly as beneficial as what can be achieved by using the compressed air, and because the increase in hydrostatic pressure due to the height of the water in the system in Earth-based embodiments of the invention is not nearly as great as what can be achieved by using the compressed air, by having the orientation of the coiled section of pipe be horizontal instead of vertical while continuing to have the compressed air in the upper part of the storage tank 1, with or without the elastomer barrier or membrane, and continuing to have a ground level tank 20 or other water receptacle for the pump(s) 17 to create a partial vacuum or lower pressure zone within and also use to return the highly pressurized water back to the storage tank 1, potentially even using a shorter return tank 22, will make using a coiled section of pipe 4 that is oriented horizontally in Earth-based embodiments of the present invention not that much different than having the coiled section of pipe oriented vertically from the perspective of how it will function.

[0177] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid in the storage tank may be pressurized by a hydraulic piston coupled to the storage tank while in others the liquid in the storage tank 1 may be pressurized by an external force applying pressure to an elastomer diaphragm coupled to the storage tank.

[0178] By having the bottom of the storage tank 1 elevated to a height of 122 feet (as might be found in a combined energy generation and water distribution unit with a larger diameter storage tank 1 and a separate section for the potable water), the electricity generating capacity of the unit will be increased when compared to the first example unit having a 28″ inside diameter pipe and 10 coils and 10 turbines/generators 5 below the storage tank 1. With at least twice the height (or vertical distance) to work with than the 65 ft. in the first example unit (roughly 47 ft. for the coiled section of pipe 4, 12 ft. for the down-pipe 3, and 6 ft. for the ground level tank 20), by simply doubling the number of coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 from ten to twenty, the number of turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4 can also be doubled from ten to twenty and the capacity of the unit will actually be more than doubled. This is because, even with the total height of the unit increased to 132 ft. (20 ft. for the tank 1 and 112 ft. for the main section of pipe 10 and the ground level tank 20 underneath) the water will still be returned up into the storage tank 1 using roughly the same amount of electricity by preferably using the return tank 22. And by doubling the length of the main section of pipe 10 from roughly 100 meters with a water volume of roughly 10,500 gallons to roughly 200 meters with a water volume of roughly 21,000 gallons, and also the number of turbines/generators 5 in the coiled section of pipe 4 from ten to twenty, the 9.16 MW capacity of the first 28″ diameter pipe example unit without using the curved inserts will be more than doubled to more than 25 MW in a 132 ft. high unit because the amount of electricity used to return the pressurized water up into the storage tank 1 using the return tank 22 will still be roughly the same.

[0179] But why stop there? Since the overall height of the coiled section of pipe 4 will be doubled, why not double the diameter and circumference of each coil in the coiled section of pipe 4 as well? By doubling the coil diameter from 10 ft. to 20 ft., the circumference (or overall length) of the circular pipe in each coil will also double from 31.4 ft. to 62.8 ft. And by doubling the circumference of each of the twenty coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 from 31.4 ft. to 62.8 ft., the roughly 200 meters of 28″ inside diameter pipe with a water volume of roughly 21,000 gallons will be doubled from roughly 200 meters to roughly 400 meters (which will extend from the bottom of the storage tank 1 to the top of the ground level tank 20), with the water volume within the main section of pipe 10 becoming roughly 42,000 gallons.

[0180] The doubling of the overall length of the main section of pipe 10 from roughly 200 meters to roughly 400 meters, as well as the doubling the circumference of each coil in the coiled section of pipe 4 from 31.4 ft. to 62.8 ft., will also make it possible to add an additional turbine/generator 5 to each of the twenty coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 and still have roughly 30 feet of pipe between each turbine/generator 5. That means that instead of having twenty turbines/generators 5 to produce electricity in the 106 ft. high main section of pipe 10, there will be forty turbines/generators 5 available to produce electricity, and do so, using the same seven 30,000 gpm centrifugal pumps 17, to once again more than double the capacity of the unit. But this time the capacity of the unit will be increased from an already impressive over 25 MW of electric power capable of being produced each hour to more than 57 MW of electric power capable of being produced each hour—which is without the potential to double the electricity output and capacity of the unit by using the curved inserts.

[0181] Finally (before turning to embodiments of the present invention that are constructed in bodies of water), other land-based units of the invention with far greater overall length and height main sections of pipe 10 and even greater overall diameter coils and pipes are possible and will surely be constructed above and below ground, or a combination of both. Similarly, even bigger turbines 6 and generators 8 will surely be needed for the wider than 28″ inside diameter pipes in larger units. Likewise, the larger units will almost as surely use larger capacity pumps 17 to produce the high flow rates that will be needed to take full advantage of the larger volumes of water being cycled through larger units of the invention.

[0182] In addition to replacing the storage tank 1 with a floating surface level structure 23 that will be used to keep the unit vertical and will preferably be coupled to the down-pipe 3 (see FIG. 18), one of the biggest differences between land-based embodiments of the present invention and units that are located in bodies of water will be how the pumps 17 are utilized to return the working fluid back to the original source once it reaches the bottom of the unit. Because a unit of the invention that is located in a body of water will preferably have the working fluid—be it from an ocean, sea, lake, pond, river, or other body of water with an adequate depth, including a mine shaft or other man-made or even a water holding enclose of some sort—enter into the system through the down-pipe 3 from the surrounding body of water, the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid within the main section of pipe 10 and the bottom tank 24 (see FIG. 19) will be the same as the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the surrounding body of water at an equal distance below the surface.

[0183] Having the hydrostatic pressure within the main section of pipe 10 (namely the down-pipe 3 and the coiled section of pipe 4) and the bottom tank 24 (although other conduits are certainly possible) the same as the hydrostatic pressure just on the other side in the surrounding body of water at whatever distance below the surface a portion of the main section of pipe 10 or the bottom tank 24 may be, will be extremely important for several reasons: (1) Since the hydrostatic pressure being exerted on both sides of the pipe in the main section of pipe 10 and on both sides of the walls of the bottom tank 24 will be the same—regardless of what preferably strong material or materials the pipes and bottom tank 24 are made of—the rising hydrostatic pressure the deeper the main section of pipe 10 and the bottom tank extends down (see FIG. 20), especially if the bottom of the unit extends down more than 100 meters (see FIG. 21), won't cause the pipe or the walls of the bottom tank 24 to collapse in or blow out. (2) As a result, simple guide wires or cables 25 will preferably be what is used to support and hold the coils of the coiled section of pipe 4 in the proper place between where the guide wires or cables 25 are attached to the floating surface level structure 23 and where they finally end after extending all the way down to preferably large concrete anchors 26 that are used to anchor the unit where they are purposely positioned on the floor of the body of water. Additional buoyancy devices (not shown) may also be added to the guide wires or cables 25 or other parts of the unit, including the bottom tank 24, to support the weight of the unit and help hold it in place. (3) Because the pipes in the main section of pipe 10 and walls of the bottom tank 24 won't collapse in or blow out, as well as how the submersed components of the unit will be properly supported and held in place, the main section of pipe 10 and the bottom tank 24 will be able to extend down quite far. (4) By being able to extend down quite far, many more coils can potentially be added to the coiled section of pipe 4. (5) With many more coils, much more electricity can be produced by the at least one turbine/generator 5 in each of the coils. (6) And because the hydrostatic pressure will be the same on either side no matter how far down the main section of pipe 10 and the bottom tank 24 extends down into the surrounding body of water, it will not be difficult for the pumps 17 to return the water the very short distance back into the surrounding body of water, which is right on the other side of the inside walls of the bottom tank 24, using the ports that either internal or external pumps 17 can connect to in order to pump the pressurized liquid entering into the bottom tank 24 out of the system.

[0184] The ability to use the pumps 17 to simply return the pressurized liquid once it reaches the bottom of the unit to the equally pressurized liquid just outside the bottom tank 24 in the surrounding body of water at whatever rate they are simultaneously causing the liquid to flow down through all the turbines in the coiled section of pipe 4 will make the unit incredibly efficient. It will also eliminate the previous need for the pumps 17 to use return pipes 16 or a return tank 22 to return the liquid up into the storage tank 1. This will make it possible for the pumps 17 to be more efficient and consume less electricity if the gallons-per-minute pumping capacities are the same. The ability to just pump the water out of the system at the bottom of the unit will also eliminate the added cost of long return pipes 16 or the return tank 22. This is especially important when you consider that units located in deep water will potentially extend down hundreds of meters. Add in the ability to increase the inside diameter of the pipes and add additional turbines/generators by increasing the diameter of the coils in the coiled section of pipe 4 by a significant amount in very large embodiments of the present invention, and a single unit could potentially be used to power a whole city or seaside community, or even an island of considerable size.

[0185] One of the drawbacks of having the working fluid enter the down-pipe 3 at or near the surface of the surrounding body of water if it is a sea, ocean, or other large body of water, will be the potential for electricity production to be interrupted by storms or other undesirable weather conditions. Another option, or potential embodiment of the present invention, that could be constructed to avoid this real possibility will be to locate the main components of the unit underwater. This can be done by removing the floating support structure 23 and lowering the entire unit so a large underwater air bag or balloon 27 can be attached to the down-pipe 3 to keep the unit vertical (see FIG. 22). Because the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid at the lower entry point into the down-pipe 3 will be the same as if it entered at the surface of the surrounding body of water and flowed down to the same depth, the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the bottom tank 24 will be the same at the same depth in the surrounding body of water.

[0186] Another potential option (or embodiment) will be to use a longer, much more flexible, down-pipe 3 with multiple release valves 2 located at different depths, and/or using additional buoyancy devices that can be deployed as needed, wherever needed.

[0187] Finally, after using this document to describe multiple potential embodiments of the present invention that are made possible by innovative concepts and principles that are the basis for the invention and may be beneficial, if not essential, for its successful operation, it is also a purpose of this patent application to disclose that there are a great many more potential embodiments of the present invention that can potentially be constructed using any of the previously described potential embodiments of components, parts, methods and/or systems used in any of the previously described embodiments of the FFWN Clean Energy Power Plant.

[0188] Moreover, while the present invention has been described as a land-based power plant or as a power plant located in a body of water, as well as potentially being used as a power plant for use in space, as well as making use of any number of the innovative concepts and principles herein, the present embodiments of the invention—which may already be described herein using multiple embodiments—may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention using its general concepts and principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the disparate arts to which this invention pertains.