WO2012081021A1

WO2012081021A1 - System and method for conveying liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2012081021A1
Application number: PCT/IL2011/050059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yosi Ben Yosef
Original assignee: Yosi Ben Yosef
Priority date: 2010-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-15
Publication date: 2012-06-21

Abstract

A method of utilizing a source of liquid stream streaming from a higher location to a lower location by gravitation is provided and comprises placing a tube partially or fully within the liquid stream, positioning one of its openings in the higher location so as to allow liquid to downwardly flow to within the tube, and utilizing the high pressure built within the tube in order to generate energy. The energy can be utilized for conveying liquids to higher locations.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING LIQUIDS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to system and method for conveying liquids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method to convey liquids to elevated platforms using energy generated by a stream of liquid. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The history of energy harvesting from natural resources dates back to ancient times while one of the common natural recourses used is running water. Running water as a source of life was immensely used; hence conveyed and used for energy harvesting.

In ancient times as well as nowadays, a major difficulty in conveying water and energy harvesting from a natural source of running water is the fact that community settlements are often reside on a plateau that is higher than the source of the running water that could be, for example, a river or a waterfall. The plateau on which the settlement resides may thus require that water or other liquids will be elevated towards the plateau, an action that requires investment of energy.

The need remains therefore, for a liquid convey system and a method for conveying liquids to elevated platforms from a lower resource of running water by using minimal energy or even while harvesting energy from the source at the same time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for conveying liquids and especially water from a running water source to elevated heights while energy investment is minimal.

It is therefore provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of utilizing a source of liquid stream streaming from a higher location to a lower location by gravitation, the method comprising:

placing a tube having a first opening and a second opening partially or fully within the liquid stream;

positioning said first opening in the higher location so as to allow liquid to flow to within said tube;

utilizing high pressure built within said tube to generate energy.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said utilizing high pressure built comprises placing a turbine at said second end.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said utilizing high pressure built comprises repeatedly pressurizing a confined volume of gas.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprising providing a drainage tube to said confined volume of gas.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprising utilizing energy produced by the pressurized gas.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein said gas is air. Furthermore and in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for harvesting energy from a stream downwardly flowing, the system comprising:

a tube having a first opening and a second opening wherein said first opening is positioned within the stream so as to allow liquid from the stream to gravitationally enter through said first opening;

a first controlled valve provided within said tube, wherein said first controlled valve is configured to allow flow of liquid in a first state and prevent liquid flow to said second opening in a second state;

a pipe having a third opening and a fourth opening, wherein said third opening is fluidically connected to said second opening wherein said pipe is provided with a drainage valve;

a second controlled valve is provided in said fourth opening so as to confine gas within said pipe;

wherein when said drainage valve and said second controlled valve are closed and said first controlled valve is open so as to allow liquid from the stream to partially enter said pipe through said tube, the gas is pressurized against said second controlled valve and can be utilized to convey liquids.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system further comprising:

a tank configured to be fluidically connected to said fourth opening, wherein said tank is configured to receive liquid from a reservoir;

a conveying tube fluidically connected to a bottom of said tank wherein upon opening of said second controlled valve, said gas pushes liquid from said tank to said conveying tube. Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention , said reservoir is selected from a group of reservoirs such as a lake, sea, or a pool.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said liquids that are conveyed are selected from a group of liquids such as water, oil, or petroleum.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention , said tank is partially submerged within said reservoir and wherein a valved opening is provided at a bottom of said tank so as to receive liquid from said reservoir.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tank is positioned within said reservoir so that a level of liquid in the reservoir exceeds a level of said second controlled valve.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tank is positioned aside said reservoir.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tank is underground placed.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention , said drainage valve is provided at an end of another pipe fluidically connected to said pipe.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention , the system further provided with a vent connected to said tank.

Furthermore and in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said vent is provided with an additional valve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale. For clarity, nonessential elements were omitted from some of the drawings. Some optional parts were drawn using dashed lines.

Figure 1 illustrates a system of conveying water from a reservoir to an elevated location while using energy generated from a stream in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 depicts a block diagram of stages in a method of conveying water in a continuous manner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an underground reservoir used in a system of conveying water from a stream to an elevated location in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a system for forming a directed stream in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates generally to a system and a method of conveying water to elevated locations by using energy generated from running liquid.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts.

The drawings are generally not to scale. Some optional parts were drawn using dashed lines.

For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings.

Reference is now made to Figure 1 illustrating a system of conveying water from a reservoir to an elevated location while using energy generated from a stream in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Energy from a stream of water 2 flowing in a downward direction indicated by arrow 4 is used to enable the elevation of water from a reservoir 6 to an elevated location. Reservoir 6 is located at a certain distance from stream 2, the reservoir having a water level 8 that is lower than the height of the elevated location to which the water should be conveyed. Reservoir 6 can be a natural source of water such as a lake or a sea or an artificial source such as a pool. Although in this example, reservoir 6 contains water, it may also contain without limitations liquids such as oil, petroleum or the like.

The system comprises a tube 10 that is placed within stream 2 and has an opening 3 open to receive water flowing in stream 2. Tube 10 has a length that is placed within the stream in the flowing direction and a portion that is outwardly directed outside the stream. A valve 12 is provided in tube 10 preferably in the portion that is outside the stream. Tube 10 is provided with a side pipe 1 3 in the outside portion of the tube; side pipe 13 is provided with a drainage valve 14 at its end.

Tube 10 is fluidically connected to a pipe 16 that is connected in its second end to a tank 20. Tank 20 is preferably submerged within reservoir 6 and is preferably provided with three openings - a water inlet 22, an air tube

24 and a water tube 26. Water inlet 22 is provided with a valve 23; air tube 24 is provided with a valve 25; and water tube 26 has an opening 28 preferably located or connected to another tube that is located at the level of the elevated location.

All valves in the system are controlled to allow fluids to move within the tubes and pipes of the system in the following manner:

In order to achieve a resting system, valve 12 is closed so as to prevent water from flowing into pipe 16. Drainage valve 14 is open to enable water trapped within pipe 16 to be drained out of the pipe by gravitation. Valve

25 of air tube 24 is open as well as valve 18 between tank 20 and pipe 16 in order to allow air to flow into tank 20 and fill up pipe 16 that is being simultaneously drained. Valve 22 of the tank is closed so as to prevent water from entering the tank there through.

In accordance with a method of operating the system, in order to start and continuously activate the system to convey water, the valves in tank 20 are being opened. Valve 23 is opened to allow water from reservoir 6 to enter tank 20 so that the water level in tank 20 reach water level 8 of the reservoir and valve 18 is open to allow water to enter, even slightly, into the proximal side of pipe 16. When tank 20 is full to its full capacity, valve 25 of air tube 24 is closed to prevent air from escaping through the tube and valve 23 is closed.

It should be mentioned that other methods of filling tank 20 can be employed, some of which dependent on the location of the tank relative to the reservoir. Any other method of filling the tank can be used without limiting the scope of the present invention.

In this steady state situation in the tank, valve 12 in tube 10 is opened in order to allow communication between tube 10 and pipe 16. Drainage valve 14 is closed in order to prevent the escape of any liquid - air or water from pipe 16. Water flowing from the stream to within tube 1 0 is forced in some extent to enter into pipe 16 unto line 29.

The water that enters pipe 16 is pushed as mentioned, increasing the pressure of the air that is trapped now within pipe 16. The air that occupied the whole extent of tube 16 at atmospheric pressure is now being pressurized by water coming in pipe 16 from tube 10. Air is confined between line 29 and the water reaching level 8 within tank 20 in the proximal portion of pipe 16. As the water pressure within tube 10 is higher, more water will enter pipe 16. The length of the tube can be designed to accord a certain designed pressure. The extent of water entering pipe 1 6, which determines the position of line 29, will determine the air pressure within pipe 16.

Pressurized air then enters into tank 20 through open valve 18. When the pressurized air from within pipe 16 enters tank 20, the water from within tank 20 are pressured and forced into the only available open water tube 26. The water is then directed to opening 28 that can be located in an elevated position.

Pressurizing the air within pipe 16 and discharging it into tank 20 may be performed simultaneously and repeatedly using the valves of the system.

The system now can return to the resting state in which drainage valve 14 is opened and valve 12 is closed. Air trapped within tank 20 can now escape through valve 25 that is open. Air escaping through valve 25 can be utilized for energy harvesting.

It should be mentioned that it is preferred that the total volume of pressurized air in pipe 16 will be larger than the volume of tank 20. Optionally, tank 20 may be located outside reservoir 6, in which case filling tank 20 with liquid from reservoir 6 can be done by using other means such as a pump.

Reference is now made to Figure 2, depicting a block diagram of stages in a method of conveying water in a continuous manner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to the flow chart a cyclic mode of operation can be employed that enables constant and continuous liquid discharge from the reservoir to an elevated position through pipe 28 of the system. According to the continuous method presented herein, tank 20 is filled with liquid to its full capacity; air is pressurized within pipe 16 by forcing water to enter the pipe. Then, the pressurized air from pipe 16 is pressurized into tank 20 while elevating the pressure of water in the tank so that they are pushed to within tube 26. In order to repeat this, air is allowed to enter pipe 16 in atmospheric pressure. The water pushed from Tube 10 to pipe 16, pressuring the air forward act as a piston that pushed the water outwardly from the tank.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 illustrating an underground reservoir used in a system of conveying water from a stream to an elevated location in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Water reservoir 32 is buried underground ground level 30. Reservoir 32 may be hosting liquids other than water such as oil or petroleum. Pipe 34 can be very long allowing liquid to flow within in the direction pointed to by arrow 4. A valve 36 is provided within pipe 34 as well as a vent 38. When valve 36 is opened and vent 38 is closed, water flows through pipe 34 while pressurizing air that was trapped within the pipe. Pressurized air is pushed into reservoir 32 via opening 39 of pipe 34 wherein opening 39 is preferably located at the top of reservoir 32. In this way, liquid 31 from within the reservoir is forced out of reservoir 32 via liquid tube 40 having an elevated opening 42 located above ground level 30. Liquid tube 40 is preferably positioned in a position in which opening 44 is preferably located at the very bottom of reservoir 32. When the air is completed, valve 36 is closed and vent 38 is opened, allowing air to enter pipe 34 via the vent and for water to return to their source (not shown). This action is repeated in order to convey portions of the liquid from the tank.

Reference is also made to Figure 4 illustrating a system for forming a directed stream in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A stream 50 is flowing downhill in the direction shown by arrow 4. Tube 52 is placed within stream 50. The length of the tube can be determined according to the pressure needed to achieve the goal. The energy accumulated from the height difference between both ends of pipe 52 may be used by a turbine that will preferably be located at location 54 which is the bottommost end of pipe 52. Optionally, only the upper opening 56 of pipe 52 is placed within stream 50 serving as a water inlet, and the rest of pipe 52 may be positioned alongside stream 50 or any other configuration that suits the requirements of the system.

Additional uses for the system are further described herein. Optionally, an underground or underwater gas reservoir containing pressured gas may be used for liquid conveying using the system described in Figure 1 .

Another embodiment of the system may contain two reservoirs: the first reservoir containing high-pressured gas and a second reservoir of petroleum that can be connected to each other. High-pressured gas from the first reservoir may be pushed into the second petroleum reservoir, causing petroleum to be conveyed from the second reservoir. The pressure of the gas within the petroleum reservoir can then be reduced as demonstrated in Figure 3.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

Claims

A method of utilizing a source of liquid stream streaming from a higher location to a lower location by gravitation, the method comprising: placing a tube having a first opening and a second opening partially or fully within the liquid stream;

utilizing high pressure built within said tube to generate energy.

The method as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said utilizing high pressure built comprises placing a turbine at said second end.

The method as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said utilizing high pressure built comprises repeatedly pressurizing a confined volume of gas.

The method as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising providing a drainage tube to said confined volume of gas.

The method as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, further comprising utilizing energy produced by the pressurized gas.

The method as claimed in Claims 3-5, wherein said gas is air.

A system for harvesting energy from a stream downwardly flowing, the system comprising:

a first controlled valve provided within said tube, wherein said first controlled valve is configured to allow flow of liquid in a first state and prevent liquid flow to said second opening in a second state; a pipe having a third opening and a fourth opening, wherein said third opening is fluidically connected to said second opening wherein said pipe is provided with a drainage valve;

8. The system as claimed in Claim 7, further comprising:

a conveying tube fluidically connected to a bottom of said tank wherein upon opening of said second controlled valve, said gas pushes liquid from said tank to said conveying tube.

9. The system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said reservoir is selected from a group of reservoirs such as a lake, sea, or a pool.

10. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said liquids that are conveyed are selected from a group of liquids such as water, oil, or petroleum.

1 1 . The system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said tank is partially submerged within said reservoir and wherein a valved opening is provided at a bottom of said tank so as to receive liquid from said reservoir.

12. The system as claimed in Claim 1 1 , wherein said tank is positioned within said reservoir so that a level of liquid in the reservoir exceeds a level of said second controlled valve.

13. The system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said tank is positioned aside said reservoir.

14. The system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said tank is underground placed.

15. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said drainage valve is provided at an end of another pipe fluidically connected to said pipe.

16. The system as claimed in Claim 8, the system further provided with a vent connected to said tank.

17. The system as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said vent is provided with an additional valve.