Compressed-air hydro-power plant in closed circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressed-air hydro-power plant in closed circuit. According to the invention, the hydro-power plant consists of two or more cylinders (1) in which an air-water mixture is introduced, a collector cylinder (2) which communicates, through a pipe (3), with the cylinders (1), at its upper side, with a hydraulic turbine (T1) coupled with an electric generator (G1), at its intermediary side and with a hydraulic turbine (T2) coupled with a generator (G2) and a distribution pipe (4) in connection with the cylinders (1), at its lower side; compressed air is introduced, through a pipe (5), at a pressure correlated with the first level of water in the cylinder (2), level indicated by a level sensor (SN), 1 at for a height of 10 meters, 2 at for a height of 20 meters, the pressure is increased by 1 at for each 10 meters, it being important to have the first level of water in the collector cylinder (2) correlated with the compressed air pressure at the entrance into the system, level which is kept through a pipe (6) which is connected with the exterior and with the regulation of the water flow entering the turbine (T2), the compressed-air hydro-power plant in closed circuit also comprises a pipe (7) for collecting the air from the cylinders (1), air which actuates a turbine (T3) coupled with the generator (G3), air which was constantly driven by the buoyancy force during its moving in the cylinders (1), the hydro-power plant using an air-water mixture with a density lower than the water density to rise the water by using compressed air, fact that enables the optimal conversion of the compressed air energy into electric energy and the use of the compressed air energy at low pressures, requires the energy storage as compressed air to compensate electric energy in peak periods, the compressed air is obtained with classic power plants or power plants based on renewable energies in periods when the electric energy consumption is lower than the production.