METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING POWER FROM ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND VACUUM

Abstract

A method and apparatus using atmospheric pressure and vacuum force to generate electricity performs coordinated operations of normally open (NO) valves and normally closed (NC) valves to repeatedly push water through an upward pipeline to a first vacuum chamber and let the water flow down by gravity to strike the water wheel of a hydraulic power generator installed in a second vacuum chamber to generate electricity. The method and the apparatus is not affected by local climates or geographical locations and may be installed and applied almost anywhere.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating electricity using atmospheric pressure and vacuum, comprising: a main water tank containing water in communication with the atmosphere; a first vacuum chamber positioned at a predetermined height above the main water tank; an upward pipeline connecting the main water tank to a bottom side of the first vacuum chamber, wherein the upward pipeline is equipped with a water supply valve at a lower end thereof and has a lower side port adjacently above the water supply valve; a second vacuum chamber at a height lower than the first vacuum chamber and higher than the main water tank, wherein a vacuum valve is disposed on at least one of the second vacuum chamber and the first vacuum chamber for drawing air out to create a vacuum therein; a first downward pipeline connecting the first vacuum chamber to the second vacuum chamber and having a nozzle fitted at a lower end thereof; a power generating assembly disposed within the second vacuum chamber; an intermediate water tank adjoined to a lower portion of the second vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the second vacuum chamber, wherein the intermediate water tank is equipped with a liquid level probe; a second downward pipeline having an upper end connected to a bottom side of the intermediate water tank; a return pipeline having a first end connected to the lower side port of the upward pipeline through a first normally closed (NC) solenoid valve and a second end connected to a lower end of the second downward pipeline through a second NC solenoid valve, wherein a first normally open (NO) solenoid valve and a second NO solenoid valve are disposed in a middle portion of the return pipeline with the second NO solenoid valve located between the second NC solenoid valve and the first NO solenoid valve along the return pipeline; and an air pressure cylinder vertically connected from above to a middle side port of the return pipeline, wherein the air pressure cylinder includes therein a piston, an extension spring, and an air hole in communication with the atmosphere, wherein the extension spring has a lower end attached to the piston and an upper end fixed to a top inner wall of the air pressure cylinder; and at least one timer-controller electrically connected via a sub-power switch to the power generating assembly for controlling the operations of the two NO solenoid valves and the two NC solenoid valves, wherein when the water supply valve and the vacuum valve are closed and all except at most one of the NO solenoid valves and the NC solenoid valves are set to open, a continuous closed space is formed within the apparatus, which extends from the upward pipeline, through the first vacuum chamber, the first downward pipeline, the second vacuum chamber, the intermediate water tank, the second downward pipeline, the air pressure cylinder up to the piston, and to the return pipeline, whereby after a vacuum is created in the continuous closed space and the water in the main water tank is allowed to enter and propagate through the continuous closed space, the water will flow through the upward pipeline to the first vacuum chamber and into the second vacuum chamber through the nozzle of the first downward pipeline, and then interact with the power generating assembly to generate electricity; afterwards the water will be directed, through coordinated operations of the NC solenoid valves and the NO solenoid valves and up-and-down movement of the piston, to recycle through the continuous closed space to the second vacuum chamber to interact with the power generating assembly in another cycle of power generation.

2. The apparatus for generating electricity as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum valve is disposed on the second vacuum chamber.

3. The apparatus for generating electricity as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum valve is disposed on the first vacuum chamber.

4. The apparatus for generating electricity as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power generating assembly includes a water wheel corresponding in position to the nozzle of the first downward pipeline, a speed increaser gearbox connected to the water wheel, and a generator connected to the speed increaser gearbox.

5. The apparatus for generating electricity as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one timer-controller includes a first timer-controller disposed for energizing or de-energizing the first NC solenoid valve and the first NO solenoid valve as a group, and a second timer-controller disposed for energizing or de-energizing the second NC solenoid valve and the second NO solenoid valve as a group.

6. The apparatus for generating electricity as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first vacuum chamber is positioned at a height no more than 10.33 meter above the water level in the main water tank.

7. The apparatus for generating electricity as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the upward pipeline connects the main water tank to the first vacuum chamber via one or more height elevating assemblies, each height elevating assembly comprising: an accessory vacuum chamber having a bottom side connected to an upward pipeline of a next lower height elevating assembly or, if no lower height elevating assembly is present, to the upward pipeline from the main water tank; a downward pipeline having an upper end connected to the bottom side of the accessory vacuum chamber; an upward pipeline having an upper end connected to the bottom side of the accessory vacuum chamber of a next higher height elevating assembly or, if no higher height elevating assembly is present, to the bottom side of the first vacuum chamber; a return pipeline having a first end connected a lower end of the upward pipeline through a first NC solenoid valve and a second end connected to a lower end of the downward pipeline through a second NC solenoid valve, wherein a first NO solenoid valve and a second NO solenoid valve are disposed in a middle portion of the return pipeline with the second NO solenoid valve located between the second NC solenoid valve and the first NO solenoid valve along the return pipeline; an air pressure cylinder vertically connected from above to a middle side port of the return pipeline, wherein the air pressure cylinder includes therein a piston, an extension spring, and an air hole in communication with the atmosphere, wherein the extension spring has a lower end attached to the piston and an upper end fixed to a top inner wall of the air pressure cylinder; and at least one timer-controller electrically connected via a sub-power switch to the power generating assembly for controlling the operations of the two NO solenoid valves and the two NC solenoid valves, wherein the continuous closed space further includes internal space of the accessory vacuum chamber, the downward pipeline, the return pipeline, the air pressure cylinder and the upward pipeline of the height elevating assembly.

8. A method of generating electricity using atmospheric pressure and vacuum, comprising the following steps in such order: (a) providing an apparatus as claimed in claim 1; (b) closing the water supply valve of the upward pipeline and opening the first NC solenoid valve and/or the second NC solenoid valve while keeping the two NO solenoid valves open so that the continuous closed space is formed in the apparatus; (c) connecting an external vacuum pump to the vacuum valve and operating the vacuum pump to create a vacuum in the continuous closed space in the apparatus; (d) disconnecting the vacuum pump, closing the vacuum valve, and then opening the water supply valve of the upward pipeline, upon which water flows from the main water tank through the water supply valve and propagates through the continuous closed space while pushing upward the piston in the air pressure cylinder, until water in the intermediate water tank reaches a preset level; (e) closing the water supply valve, returning the two NC solenoid valves to their respective NO status, and switching the apparatus' operation to an auto mode by setting power source for the liquid level probe and the at least one timer-controller to the sub-power switch so that the liquid level probe and the at least one timer-controller are powered by the sub-power switch; (f) performing a power generation cycle by controlling the operations of the two NC solenoid valves and the two NO solenoid valves in the following sequence: (1) using the at least one timer-controller to open the first NC solenoid valve and close the first NO solenoid valve, upon which the piston in the air pressure cylinder is pushed down and the extension spring is stretched by air entering through the air hole of the air pressure cylinder to drive the water in the air pressure cylinder out into the return pipeline, then through the return pipeline, the upward pipeline, the first vacuum chamber and into the second vacuum chamber to interact with the power generating assembly to generate electricity; (2) after a time period T1, using the at least one timer-controller to close the first NC solenoid valve and open the first NO solenoid valve; (3) after a time period T2, using the at least one timer-controller to open the second NC solenoid valve and close the second NO solenoid valve, upon which the water flows from the intermediate water tank through the second downward pipeline and the second NC solenoid valve into the return pipeline to reach the second NO solenoid valve; (4) after a time period T3, using the at least one timer-controller to close the second NC solenoid valve and open the second NO solenoid valve, upon which the water flows through the two NO solenoid valves and enters the air pressure cylinder, pushing up the piston and retuning the extension spring to its original state; (5) waiting for a time period T4 for step (4) to run its course; and (g) repeating step (e).

9. The method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 8, wherein the water flows downward from the first vacuum chamber by action of gravity only.

10. The method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vacuum valve is disposed on the second vacuum chamber.

11. The method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 8, wherein the power generating assembly includes a water wheel corresponding in position to the nozzle of the first downward pipeline, a speed increaser gearbox connected to the water wheel, and a generator connected to the speed increaser gearbox, and the water flowing from the first vacuum chamber and through the nozzle of the first downward pipeline strikes the water wheel to rotate the water wheel along with the generator to generate electricity.

12. The method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one timer-controller includes a first timer-controller disposed for energizing or de-energizing the first NC solenoid valve and the first NO solenoid valve as a group, and a second timer-controller disposed for energizing or de-energizing the second NC solenoid valve and the second NO solenoid valve as a group.

13. The method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 8, wherein T1 is no longer than 1 second, T2 is about 2 seconds, T3 is about 2 seconds, and T4 is about 2 seconds.

14. The method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first vacuum chamber is positioned at a height no more than 10.33 meter above the main water tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a sketch showing the components of the apparatus utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum to generate electricity according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a sketch illustrating the apparatus with raised pressure differential for generating electricity according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates the method using the apparatus for generating electricity according to the present invention, showing the piston having been pushed down in the air pressure cylinder to drive water out of the air pressure cylinder into the return pipeline.

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates the method using the apparatus for generating electricity according to the present invention, showing the piston having been pushed up in the air pressure cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The apparatus and the method for generating electricity utilizing atmospheric pressure and vacuum is illustrated by the preferred embodiments described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment I

[0018] A first embodiment of the apparatus and method for generating electricity using atmospheric pressure and vacuum (and gravity) according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The apparatus includes: a main water tank 2 containing water in communication with the atmosphere via an opening 3; a first vacuum chamber 1 positioned at a height (of up to 10.33 meter) above the level of water in the main water tank 2; an upward pipeline 5 connecting the main water tank 2 to the first vacuum chamber 1; a second vacuum chamber 11 positioned below the first vacuum chamber 1 and above the main water tank 2; a first downward pipeline 6 connecting the first vacuum chamber 1 to the second vacuum chamber 11; a power generating assembly 7 disposed inside the second vacuum chamber 11; an intermediate water tank 20 adjoined to a lower portion of the second vacuum chamber 11 and in fluid communication with the second vacuum chamber 11; a second downward pipeline 21 with an upper end connected to the bottom side of the intermediate water tank 20; a return pipeline 26 connected between a lower end of the second downward pipeline 21 and a lower side port 27 of the upward pipeline 5; and an air pressure cylinder 22 with a piston 25 therein and vertically connected from above to a middle side port 24 of the return pipeline 26.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the upward pipeline 5 is equipped with a water supply valve (e.g. a manual stopcock valve) 4 for stopping or admitting the water flow from the main water tank 2 into the upward pipeline 5. The water supply valve 4 is positioned lower than the lower side port 27 of the upward pipeline 5. The lower end of the first downward pipeline 6 is formed as or fitted with a nozzle 13 for forming a jet stream from the water following through it.

[0020] The return pipeline 26 is connected to the lower side port 27 of the upward pipeline 5 through a first normally closed (NC) solenoid valve 17 and is connected to the lower end of the second downward pipeline 21 through a second NC solenoid valve 18. It is noted that each of the two NC solenoid valves is open when energized, but closed when de-energized. Except for the section connected to the second downward pipeline 21, the return pipeline 26 is substantially horizontal at the level of the lower side port 27 of the upward pipeline 5. Therefore, the second vacuum chamber 11 and the adjoining intermediate water tank 20 are both at a level above the return pipeline 26. The return pipeline 26 is further equipped with a pair of two adjacent normally open (NO) solenoid valves 16A,16B between the middle side port 24 and the second NC solenoid valve 18 at a location near the middle side port 24. Specifically, the first NO solenoid valve 16A is positioned closer to the middle side port 24 than the second NO solenoid valve 16B. It is noted that each of the two NO solenoid valves 16A,16B is closed when energized, but open when de-energized. Moreover, in this embodiment, the operations (i.e. opening or closing) of the first NC solenoid valve 17 and the first NO solenoid valve 16A are controlled by a first timer-controller (not shown), whereas the operations of the second NC solenoid valve 18 and the second NO solenoid valve 16B are controlled by a second timer-controller.

[0021] The second vacuum chamber 11 is equipped with a vacuum valve 9 (through which air may be drawn out to create vacuum), a vacuum pressure gauge 8, and a liquid level probe 10 extending through the second vacuum chamber 11 and into the intermediate water tank 20. The power generating assembly 7 includes a water wheel (or turbine) 12 located in a position corresponding to the nozzle 13 of the first downward pipeline 6, a speed increaser gearbox 14 connected to the water wheel (or turbine) 12, and a generator 15 connected to the speed increaser gearbox 14. When the water wheel 12 is struck and turned by the water stream through the nozzle 13, it rotates the speed increaser gearbox 14 and the generator 15 to generate electricity. Generally, the generator 15 includes a stator and a rotor (not shown). Since the components and operational principle of the power generating assembly 7 are well known in the art, they will not be further described. Suffice to say that a sufficient height differential should be maintained between the first vacuum chamber 1 and the second vacuum chamber 11.

[0022] For proper operation of the apparatus of the present invention, the intermediate water tank 20 has a storage capacity larger than that of the first vacuum chamber 1. The purpose of the liquid level probe 10 is to keep the water level in the intermediate water tank 20 from getting too high by sending a warning signal or alarm when the water level in the intermediate water tank 20 reaches the lower end of the liquid level probe 10.

[0023] As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the piston 25 inside the air pressure cylinder 22 is connected to the lower end of an extension spring 19, which is fixed at its upper end to the top inner wall of the air pressure cylinder 22. The internal space of the air pressure cylinder 22 is divided into twothe upper space (on the same side as the extension spring 19) is in communication with the atmosphere via an air hole 23 disposed at a level on the same as the extension spring 25 from the and its space below the piston 25, and the lower space (under the piston 25) is in fluid communication, through the middle side port 24 of the return pipeline 26, with the return pipeline 26, the second downward pipeline 21 and the intermediate water tank 20 (when the two NO solenoid valves and the second NC solenoid valve is 18 are set to open).

[0024] As also shown in FIG. 1, the generator 15 is connected by a cable to the main power switch 30, which is connected to sub-power switches 31, 32 and 33. The electricity generated by the generator 15 can be transmitted to the main power switch 30 and then distributed to each of the sub-power switches 31, 32 and 33. In this embodiment, the sub-power switches 31, 32 are used to supply electricity to the power grid or directly to end users; the sub-power switch 32 is connected to the liquid level probe 10 and the first timer-controller and the second timer controller mentioned above for controlling the operations of the liquid level probe 10 and the NO solenoid valves 16A,16B and the NC solenoid valves 17,18.

[0025] With the above-described apparatus, the method according to the present invention for generating electricity using atmospheric pressure and vacuum proceeds as follows:

[0026] (A) close the water supply valve 4 of the upward pipeline 5 and open the first NC solenoid valve 17 or the second NC solenoid valve 18 (using an external power source) while keeping the NO solenoid valves 16A,16B open so that a continuous closed space is formed in the apparatus, including the upward pipeline 5, the first vacuum chamber 1, the first downward pipeline 6, the second vacuum chamber 11, the intermediate water tank 20, the second downward pipeline 21, the return pipeline 26, and the air pressure cylinder 22;

[0027] (B) connect a vacuum pump (not shown) to the vacuum valve 9 of the second vacuum chamber 11 and operate the vacuum pump to create a vacuum in the second vacuum chamber 11 and throughout the continuous closed space in the apparatus;

[0028] (C) disconnect the vacuum pump, close the vacuum valve 9, and then open the water supply valve 4 of the upward pipeline 5, upon which water in the main water tank 2, under air pressure through the opening 3 of the main water tank 2, flows into and fills up the continuous closed space while pushing the piston 25 in the air pressure cylinder 22 upward, until the water in the intermediate water tank 20 reaches a preset level; in the meantime, water flowing first downward pipeline 6 strikes and turn the water wheel 12 for the generator 15 to start generating electricity;

[0029] (D) close the water supply valve 4, return the NC solenoid valves 17,18 to their respective NC status, and set the apparatus to the auto mode: namely, set the power source for the liquid level probe 10, the first timer-controller and the second timer-controller to the sub-power switch 32, which draws power from the generator 15;

[0030] (E) upon entering the auto mode, the apparatus proceeds with the power generation cycle in the following sequence: [0031] (1) The first timer-controller energizes (i.e. supplies electricity to) the first NC solenoid valve 17 and the first NO solenoid valve 16A to open the first NC solenoid valve 17 and close the first NO solenoid valve 16A. At that instant, air follows through the air hole 23 into the air pressure cylinder 22, pushing down the piston 25 and extending the extension spring 19 (as shown in FIG. 3), driving the water under the piston 25 of the air pressure cylinder 22 to flow through the middle side port 24 of the return pipeline 26, the first NC solenoid valve 17, the first pipeline 5, the first vacuum chamber 1, the first downward pipeline 6, and the nozzle 13, striking and turning the water wheel 12 and therefore the generator 15 to generate electricity, as described earlier. FIG. 3 illustrates the piston having been pushed down and the extension having been extended in the air pressure cylinder to drive water out of the air pressure cylinder. [0032] (2) After a preset time period T1 (usually no longer than a second), the first timer-controller de-energizes (i.e. cuts off electricity to) the first NC solenoid valve 17 and the first NO solenoid valve 16A to return them to their respective NC and NO status; [0033] (3) After a preset time period T2 (about 2 seconds), the second timer-controller energizes the second NC solenoid valve 18 and the second NO solenoid valve 16B to open the second NC solenoid valve 18 and close the second NO solenoid valve 16B. At that instant, water flows from the intermediate water tank 20 through the second downward pipeline 21 and the second NC solenoid valve 18 to reach the second NO solenoid valve 16B; [0034] (4) After a preset time period T3 (about 2 seconds), the second timer-controller de-energizes the second NC solenoid valve 18 and the second NO solenoid valve 16B to return them to their respective NC and NO status. Then, water flows through the second NO solenoid valve 16B and the first NO solenoid valve 16A in the direction towards the middle side port 24. As the extension spring 19 returns to its original unextended state, it pulls the piston 25 upwards, thereby taking water in the return pipeline 26 to flow through the middle side port 24 into the air pressure cylinder 22, filling up the space under the piston 25; FIG. 4 illustrates the piston having been pushed up and the extension spring having been restored in the air pressure cylinder. [0035] (5) Wait for a preset time period T4 (about 2 seconds) to allow step (4) to run its course; and

[0036] (F) repeating the step (E).

[0037] According to the foregoing description, the method and apparatus according to the present invention can generate electricity in repetitive cycles, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The apparatus can be installed in the backyard of a house or in a factory, regardless of the local climatic or weather conditions.

Embodiment II

[0038] When a relatively larger capacity of power generation is demanded, a larger flow rate or a larger impact force is required of the water stream from the nozzle 13 to strike and rotate the water wheel 12. To accomplish this, the height of the first vacuum chamber 1 over the water wheel 12 need be increased to increase the pressure differential, and the upward pipeline 5 and the diameters of the first downward pipeline 6 need be lengthened. Moreover, the various pipelines in the apparatus may have to be larger in diameter.

[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention for this purpose. As shown in FIG. 2, instead of connecting the upward pipeline 5 directly to the first vacuum chamber 1, the upward pipeline 5 is connected to a height elevating assembly 40, which is in turn connected to the first vacuum chamber 1.

[0040] The height elevating assembly 40 includes an accessory vacuum chamber 1, which is connected to the upward pipeline 5 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and to a downward pipeline 21, a second NC solenoid valve 18, a return pipeline 26, a pair of adjacent NO solenoid valves 16 (16A,16B), an air pressure cylinder 22, a first NC solenoid valve 17, and an upward pipeline 5 (without a water supply valve), which is connected to the first vacuum chamber 1 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. Essentially, the accessory vacuum chamber 1, the downward pipeline 21, the second NC solenoid valve 18, the return pipeline 26, the pair of NO solenoid valves 16 (16A,16B), the air pressure cylinder 22, the first NC solenoid valve 17 and the upward pipeline 5 in the second embodiment are respectively the same in structure and function as the first vacuum chamber 1, the second downward pipeline 21, the second NC solenoid valve 18, the return pipeline 26, the pair of NO solenoid valves 16A,16B, the air pressure cylinder 22, the first NC solenoid valve 17 and the upward pipeline 5 of the apparatus of the first embodiment described earlier, except that the upper end of the downward pipeline 21 is connected to the accessory vacuum chamber 1.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the first vacuum chamber 1 in this embodiment is elevated to an altitude higher than is the first vacuum chamber 1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The upward pipeline 5 and the downward pipeline 6 in this embodiment are extended and elevated higher than their counterparts in FIG. 1. Therefore, the water flowing from the first vacuum chamber 1 through the second pipeline 6 will strike the water wheel 12 with a larger impact force and generating more electricity.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows just one height elevating assembly 40, however, more than one height elevating assembly may be provided between the upward pipeline 5 and the first vacuum chamber 1 to increase the height of the first vacuum chamber 1 over the water wheel 12.

BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0043] From the foregoing, the method and apparatus for generating electricity according to the present invention has the following advantages:

1. it is not limited by the geographical or climate conditions and is environmentally friendly; the apparatus may be installed in almost all locations for around-the-clock operations.
2. it is easily scalable by adding intermediate height elevating assemblies and/or increasing the diameter of the pipelines to increase the flow rate and impact force of the water to produce more electricity;
3. it consumes little electricity to start its operation and can continue to generate electricity perpetually afterwards.

[0044] In the apparatus of the present application, water is used due to its great abundance and wide availability on earth. However, other liquids can certainly be used instead of water. In the embodiments discussed above, the vacuum valve 9 and the vacuum pressure gauge 8 are installed on the second vacuum chamber 11 for creating a vacuum in the apparatus. Nevertheless, the vacuum valve 9 and the vacuum pressure gauge 8 may be disposed on the first vacuum chamber 1 instead of, or in addition to, the second vacuum chamber 11.

[0045] Because a prior art search did not find any identical or similar structure existing prior to this application. this invention meets patentability requirements and should be patentable.

[0046] The foregoing are merely some preferred embodiments of this invention and should not limit the claims of the present application as a result. Changes of equivalent structures which apply this invention's instructions and claims are all included in the claims of this invention for the same reason.