| 摘要 |
<p>An apparatus 10 for generating electrical energy comprises a plurality of generating units 24 mounted on a wheel 12 which is submerged in a liquid. Each generating unit 24 comprises a variable volume container 28 having a movable wall portion, preferably a piston 26, and an electricity generator 32 for converting movement of the piston 26 into electrical energy. In use, rotation of the wheel 12 causes the generating units 24 to move between positions of different submerged depths so that the pressure exerted on them varies. This variation in pressure cause the pistons 26 to reciprocate which in turn drives the generators 32 via a gearing mechanism 30. The generators 32 may be either dynamos or alternators. The wheel is made to rotate either by an electric motor (figure 3) or by introducing air 22, at depth, into pockets 20 mounted on the wheel 12 to make the pockets buoyant.</p> |
