HYDROELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

Some embodiments include a system. The system includes a conduit system having a conduit system volume. The conduit system can convey a fluid through the conduit system volume of the conduit system. The system also includes at least one pumping mechanism operable to drive the fluid through the conduit system volume, at least one turbine operable to extract energy from the fluid conveyed by the conduit system and driven by the pumping mechanism(s), and at least one generator coupled to the turbine(s) and operable to generate electricity from the energy extracted by the turbine(s). The pumping mechanism(s) are configured to be powered by a first portion of the electricity and the system makes a second portion of the electricity available to one or more electrical loads. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a conduit system comprising a conduit system volume, the conduit system being configured to convey a fluid through the conduit system volume of the conduit system; at least one pumping mechanism operable to drive the fluid through the conduit system volume; at least one turbine operable to extract energy from the fluid conveyed by the conduit system and driven by the at least one pumping mechanism; and at least one generator coupled to the at least one turbine and operable to generate electricity from the energy extracted by the at least one turbine; wherein:
the electricity comprises a first portion of the electricity and a second portion of the electricity;the at least one pumping mechanism is configured to be powered by the first portion of the electricity;the conduit system is configured to seal the fluid in the conduit system volume so that the fluid is entirely isolated from an atmosphere ambient to the system and so that all of the conduit system volume is able to be pressurized to an operating pressure greater than an atmospheric pressure of the atmosphere ambient to the system; andthe at least one pumping mechanism is operable to drive the fluid through the conduit system and the at least one turbine is operable to extract the energy from the fluid when the fluid is sealed in the conduit system volume and when the conduit system volume is pressurized to the operating pressure.