Mass Displacement Generator

Abstract

A mass displacement generator 10 comprising a tower 11 and a first mass 12 suspended by the tower 11 for dropping and lifting. The first mass 12 is suspended by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys 50 secured to the tower 11 above the first mass 12 and a second set of pulleys secured to the first mass 12. A cable 28 extends through the first and second sets of pulleys 50 and one end of the cable 28 is secured to one of the towers 11 or to the first mass 12. A winch 38 includes a barrel 36 around which the cable 28 unwinds as the first mass 12 drops and wraps around as the first mass 12 lifts. The winch 38 is drivingly connected to a flywheel 60 such that as the first mass 12 drops, the cable 28 unwinds from the barrel 36 and the barrel rotation drives the flywheel 60 to rotate. The flywheel 60 is drivingly connected to a generator 62 such that rotation of the flywheel 60 drives the generator 62 to produce electrical energy.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Priority Cross Reference This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2021900441, filed on February 19, 2021, the contents of which are to be deemed incorporated herein by this reference.

[0002] Technical Field The present invention relates to the field of electrical energy generation and energy storage, and in particular to devices and methods for generating electricity by mass displacement. [Background technology]

[0003] The following discussion of the background of the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the discussion is not an admission or acknowledgement that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of this application.

[0004] Electricity can be generated in power plants using coal, gas or nuclear fuels, or in hydroelectric systems that use flowing water to drive turbines that generate electricity, and more recently, solar and wind power have been used in both large and small scale power plants. Solar power can be generated by photovoltaic (PV) modules or cells, or by focusing the sun's rays to vaporize a working fluid that can then drive a turbine. Wave power is another form of energy that can be used to generate electricity.

[0005] Of the above forms of electricity generation, some are based on fossil fuels (coal and gas) and others are based on renewable fuels (water, sun, wind and waves). Nuclear fuel is not usually considered a fossil fuel, but it is a non-renewable fuel and the waste resulting from its use is difficult and dangerous to dispose of.

[0006] Mass displacement is another power source that can be used to generate electricity. The use of gravity to lower a weight and harness the momentum of the falling weight can be used to spin a turbine or rotor to generate electricity.

[0007] Mass displacement systems have advantages in power generation over some of the existing systems previously described herein in terms of environmental emissions benefits, particularly compared to coal, gas and nuclear power plants. Mass displacement systems may also cause reduced damage to the environment, for example compared to hydroelectric power generation, or to the aesthetics of the environment as occurs with hydroelectric, wind and wave power generation.

[0008] A further advantage of mass displacement systems is that they are relatively simple and therefore reliable to operate. Furthermore, they are relatively compact and can be sized to suit either large or small scale movements.

[0009] An example of mass displacement power generation is shown in PCT International Application PCT / EP2020 / 068043 (WO2020 / 260596). In this exemplary prior art PCT application, an energy storage system is disclosed whereby a weight is suspended by a cable from a winch, and when power is needed, the weight can be lowered by gravity to drive a power generating turbine, and when power is not needed, the weight can be lifted for later reuse. An advantage of the system appears to be that when excess power in the grid is available, the weight can be lifted, while when more power is needed than can be provided in the grid, the weight is allowed to be lowered by gravity to add more power to the grid.

[0010] International Application No. PCT / EP2020 / 068043 is intended to be operated such that the weight is lowered and raised in a ground-based shaft. Thus, a winch for lowering and raising the weight is located at ground level, and the weight is lowered and raised in a shaft extending into the ground below the winch. The shaft may be a vertical shaft drilled into the ground. This configuration is advantageous as it minimizes the aesthetic disturbance made to the area in which the mass displacement generator is located. However, for the system to be effective, the shaft needs to be drilled to a depth of about 20-30 meters, which requires a great deal of effort to initially drill the shaft and maintain it against normal ground movements that may displace the axis of the shaft and thus impede the movement of the weight in the shaft.

[0011] The present invention is in the same field as PCT Application No. PCT / EP2020 / 068043, but relates to a mass displacement generator intended to provide a different power generation solution than that provided by PCT / EP2020 / 068043. Summary of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention there is provided a mass displacement generator comprising: A tower and b. a mass suspended by the tower for dropping and lifting, the mass being suspended by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys secured to the tower above the mass and a second set of pulleys secured to the mass, and a cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys, one end of the cable being secured to one of the towers or the mass; c. a winch including a barrel around which the cable unwinds as the mass falls and around which the cable winds as the mass rises; d. the winch is drivingly connected to a flywheel so that as the mass falls, the cable unwinds from the barrel and barrel rotation drives the flywheel to rotate; e. A mass displacement generator is provided, the flywheel being drivingly connected to a generator such that rotation of the flywheel drives the generator to produce electrical energy.

[0013] The present invention also provides a system for generating electricity, comprising: a. suspending a first mass on a tower by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys secured to the tower above the first mass and a second set of pulleys secured to the first mass, extending a cable through the first and second sets of pulleys, and securing one end of the cable to one of the towers or the first mass; b. extending a free end of the cable to a winch that includes a barrel around which the cable unwinds as the first mass falls and around which the cable winds as the first mass lifts; c. connecting said winch to said flywheel for driving said flywheel, such that as said first mass falls, said cable unwinds from a barrel and barrel rotation drives said flywheel to rotate; and d. connecting the flywheel to a generator such that rotation of the flywheel drives the generator to produce electrical energy.

[0014] The mass displacement generator according to the present invention utilizes a falling mass to generate electricity by driving a flywheel which drives a generator. Furthermore, the mass is dropped by a cable extending through first and second sets of pulleys acting as gears, such that by changing the number of pulleys through which the cable extends, the mass can be made to fall faster or slower, thereby increasing or decreasing the rotational speed of the flywheel and thus increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity generated. The flywheel forms a key component of the mass displacement generator of the present invention as it facilitates a constant supply of rotational energy to the generator for consistent energy production. The employment of a flywheel in the manner contemplated by the present invention is not known to the applicant to be part of the prior art.

[0015] The power output of the generator according to the invention can be varied by increasing or decreasing the weight of the mass, by increasing or decreasing the number of sheaves in the first and second sets of sheaves, or by changing the gear connections between the winch and the flywheel and / or between the flywheel and the generator. For example, slowing the fall of the mass will extend the time of power generation but reduce the electrical power output. Slowing or increasing the speed at which the mass falls can be achieved by any of the modifications mentioned above.

[0016] The rate at which the mass falls can be slowed without decreasing the electrical output by increasing the weight of the mass.

[0017] The power output of the generator according to the invention may be varied by the addition of a second mass suspended by the tower by a second pulley arrangement comprising a first set of pulleys fixed to the tower above the second mass, a second set of pulleys fixed to the second mass, and a cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys, one end of the cable being fixed to the tower or one of the masses. The cable may extend to a second winch in the same manner as the first mass, which may be connected to the same flywheel as the first mass or may be connected to a second flywheel. The second flywheel may drive a second generator.

[0018] The second mass can be supported on the same tower as the first mass, and in some configurations of the invention, the second mass has the same vertical movement or drop as the first mass, such that the second mass is operable to generate the same energy as the first mass for power generation. The second mass can simply duplicate the first mass to double the capacity of a generator according to the invention.

[0019] A third and fourth mass can be added to the generator and can operate according to the second mass as described above, in fact any number of masses can be provided as required for the desired power generating capacity of the generator.

[0020] Each mass of the generator can be used in a falling mode to drive a single flywheel or different flywheels. A single flywheel is preferred since it allows the capacity of a system to be varied by the number of falling masses supplying energy to the system. Termination of the falling motion of the masses can be achieved by controlling the rotation of the barrel around which the cable associated with the mass is wound. By braking or terminating the barrel rotation, the power input to the generator is reduced or terminated.

[0021] A generator according to the invention can operate with a single flywheel or can include two or more flywheels. These flywheels can be configured to connect in sequence so that a first flywheel can be connected to the winch during the initial initiation of power generation when the mass begins its falling motion and when the mass reaches a predetermined falling speed, a second flywheel can be connected to slow or reduce the falling speed. A clutch arrangement can be employed to control the connection and disconnection of the second and additional flywheels.

[0022] A cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys and attached to the tower or the first mass can also extend through the first and second sets of pulleys associated with the second mass and any additional masses provided. This can be configured to link the masses so that they fall together. In this configuration, the cable extends through the first and second sets of pulleys of the first and second masses and the additional masses, if provided, and has one end attached to the tower or one of the first or second or additional masses, and the cable extends to a winch.

[0023] The cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys needs to be of considerable length. It is envisioned that each set of pulleys may have 120 pulleys, or 240 pulleys, or 360 pulleys, or 480 pulleys. Furthermore, the drop distance of the mass may be approximately 21 m, or 19 m, or 16 m, or 14 m. These different configurations require cable lengths of at least approximately 2600 m, or 4500 m, or 5800 m, or 6500 m. The length of the cable needs to be sufficient to extend from the barrel of the winch to the first set of pulleys fixed to the tower above the mass, and through each of the pulleys of the first and second sets of pulleys. It is noted that when the mass falls to its lowest point, the distance between the first and second sets of pulleys is at a maximum, and the cable needs to extend a maximum distance equal to the number of pulleys in the first and second sets of pulleys. So if each set of pulleys has 120 pulleys, the cable goes up and down 120 times to connect between a pulley in the first set of pulleys and a pulley in the second set of pulleys. So if there are 120 strands of cable extending between the first and second set of pulleys, and the mass falls, for example, about 21m, then the length of the cable needs to exceed 120m x 21 = 2520m. The length of the cable will be longer than this because the cable needs to extend around the pulleys and the cable needs to extend to the winch.

[0024] The drop distance of the one or more masses may be the height of the tower minus the height of the one or more masses. A 25m tower combined with a 2.6m tall mass may allow for a drop of 21.4m. Further examples are provided after the discussion of the figures below.

[0025] The generator according to the invention is intended to provide reliable power generation for several hours. Initial calculations suggest that a tower of about 12 floors or about 37 m high could be used with a concrete mass block having dimensions of 12 m x 7.5 m x 10 m and a weight of about 2200 t. The barrel of the winch could have a diameter of about 2.4 m and an axial length of about 20 m. The cable could have a length of about 12 km. In such a configuration, the mass block could fall at a speed of about 2 mm / s for about 3 hours.

[0026] In the above configuration the flywheel may have a weight of approximately 800 tonnes and a diameter x 2.4 width of approximately 20m.

[0027] Once the or each mass has fallen the maximum distance, the flywheel slows as the drive input is removed. In some forms of the invention, as soon as one mass has fallen the maximum distance, another mass may begin to fall, or more likely, there may be an overlap in the start of the fall of the new mass before the first mass has reached the bottom of its fall.

[0028] The fall of the mass can be pulsed so that the mass falls more slowly but does not interrupt the generation of electricity from the continuous rotation of the flywheel. If the pulsing is short enough, the rotation of the flywheel is not interrupted. The pulsing of the mass can be accomplished in any suitable manner, and in some forms of the invention, a generator may be attached directly to the barrel of the winch or to the driving connection between the winch and the flywheel to brake the movement of the mass. The generator can be switched between connection and disconnection from the barrel or the driving connection, such as by a clutch device. The connection time may be, for example, 3 to 5 seconds, and then disconnected for a similar period of time. The generator can brake the movement of the mass to slow it down or stop it completely. The generator can be the generator in driving connection to the flywheel, or a second or additional generator to the generator in driving connection to the flywheel.

[0029] A mass displacement generator according to the invention may include multiple winches. For example, a generator according to the invention may include two mass weights, and a cable may extend from each mass weight to a separate winch. The pair of winches may drive a single flywheel or a pair of flywheels. In a configuration according to the invention, four mass weights are provided, and a cable may extend from each mass weight to a separate winch, resulting in four winches. The four winches may drive a single flywheel or a pair of flywheels or four flywheels.

[0030] The mass displacement generator according to the present invention can be easily constructed in a compact configuration or have a compact footprint, despite the large installation of the generator, but considering the main height requirement of the installation, the footprint can be relatively small. Thus, the installation can be advantageously performed in residential areas without requiring a significant land area, and can be suitable for construction areas of mid-rise or high-rise residential or commercial buildings.

[0031] Alternatively, a mass displacement generator according to the present invention may be installed for use in rural environments or mining sites, for example, thereby adding to the mix of available energy sources. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, several embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mass displacement generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an opposite perspective view of the mass displacement generator of FIG. 1;

[0035] [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is the same view of the mass displacement generator of FIG. 2, but with a portion of the housing of one winch cut away to show the barrel of the winch.

[0036] [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the top of the mass displacement generator of FIG. 1.

[0037] [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the mass displacement generator of FIG. 1;

[0038] [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of the mass displacement generator of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a mass-displacement generator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] The generator 10 includes a tower 11 and first through fourth masses 12, 14, 16, 18 suspended within the tower 11. It can be seen from Figure 1 and from Figures 2 and 3 that the masses 12-18 are each square in cross section and rectangular in length, and that the tower 10 supports them side-by-side or adjacent to one another.

[0041] The masses 12-18 are each suspended within the tower 11 by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys fixed to the inside of the upper tower plates 20, 22, 24 and 26, and a second set of pulleys fixed to the top surfaces of the masses 12-18. Cables 28, 30, 32 and 34 extend through the first and second sets of pulleys, with one end of each cable fixed to one of the towers or masses and the other end extending downward and around a barrel 36 (see FIG. 3), which form part of each of the separate winches 38, 40, 42 and 44, only one of which is shown in FIG. 3.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the cable 28 winds in and out of the barrel 36 of the winch 38 depending on the direction of up and down movement of the mass 12. In the figure, the mass 12 and the other masses 14-18 are all shown at about one third of their vertical movement between the plates 20-26 of the tower 11 and the base 46 from which the tower 11 extends. In some forms of the invention, the masses 12-18 each fall at a speed of about 2 mm / s for about three hours. The examples that follow show how this can be done. The masses 12-18 may all fall together at the same or different speeds, or only some of the masses 12-18 may fall, with the remaining masses remaining stationary or one or more of the masses being lifted from a lower position. The stationary masses may start to fall when the others of the masses reach, for example, the lowest level to which they can fall.

[0043] The cables 28-34 extend upward from the barrels in the associated winches 38-44 and extend 90 degrees through the upper pulley 48, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the upper end of the cable 28 extending from the barrel 36 and shows that it extends through the upper pulley 48. The cable 28 extends from the pulley 48 into a first set of pulleys 50 mounted on the inside of the upper tower plate 20. The cable 28 extends through a first pulley in the first set of pulleys 50 and then extends downward to a pulley in a second set of pulleys (not shown) mounted on the top surface of the mass 12. The cable 28 then returns upward to another pulley in the first set of pulleys 50 and then returns downward to a pulley in the second set of pulleys. Thus, cable 28 threads through each pulley in the first and second sets of pulleys until it passes through each of these pulleys and then it may be secured to one of the towers 11 or mass 12. In some forms of the invention, there are approximately 480 pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys (24 pulleys per column by 20 rows), although there may be more or less.

[0044] Thus, the cable 28 needs to be of considerable length. For example, if the mass 12 can fall a distance of about 26 m, the length of the cable needs to include a portion of about 26 x 480 = 12,480 m to just span between the first and second set of pulleys. At a fall speed of 1.0 m / s, the time it takes the mass 12 to fall is about 208 minutes. But the cable also needs to extend from the barrel to the first set of pulleys, around the pulley wheels. So the length of the cable 28 is longer than 12,480 m. If the height of the tower allows a larger fall distance or if the number of pulleys is increased, the length of the cable will be greater.

[0045] The manner in which pulleys operate to lift and lower weights is well known. For the present invention, increasing the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys means that mass 12 will fall slower than if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys were reduced. Thus, one way to change the speed at which mass 12 falls adjacent plate 20 of tower 11 to base 46 is to increase the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys.

[0046] While FIG. 4 only illustrates a first set of pulleys 50, it should be understood that a similar pulley arrangement is attached to the top surface of mass 12 for cables 28 to extend and thread through.

[0047] As previously indicated, as masses 12-18 fall, each cable 28-34 unwinds from a barrel 36 in a respective winch 38-44. Each barrel is connected to a shaft, of which shafts 52, 54 and 56 are visible in the figures. The shaft associated with winch 44 (see FIG. 5) is not visible in the figures.

[0048] Each of the shafts 52-56 extends to a drive wheel 58 which connects to a flywheel 60, which in turn is connected to a generator, so that rotation of the flywheel 60 under drive by the drive wheel 58 rotates a rotor in the generator 62 to generate electricity. The actual engagement between the drive wheel 58 and the flywheel 60 may be by tooth engagement rather than the frictional engagement shown in the figures. Of course, other arrangements may be employed to transmit drive between the drive wheel 58 and the flywheel 60, such as by a different form of gear connection or by a belt or chain drive. It should be understood that since the present invention contemplates that one or more of the masses 12-18 may fall independently of the other masses, a single drive wheel 58 may drive the flywheel 60 to rotate, but at a slower speed than if two or more of the drive wheels 58 drove the flywheel 60.

[0049] Additionally, the generator 10 may be modified to include, for example, a pair of flywheels or four flywheels. If a pair of flywheels is provided, two of the drive wheels 58, such as those extending from winches 38 and 40, may drive a first flywheel, and the drive wheel 58 extending from winches 42 and 44 may drive a second flywheel.

[0050] Furthermore, the actual engagement between the flywheel 60 and the generator 62 may be in any suitable form, for example, the flywheel 60 may drive a shaft to rotate, which may be geared to a shaft of the generator 62 to drive the generator. The shaft connection between the flywheel 60 and the generator 62 is not shown in the figures, but would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

[0051] The generator 62 may be the only generating point in the mass displacement generator 10 or additional generators may be provided. The generators may be attached directly to the barrels 36 of the winches 38-44 or may be attached to the drive connections between the winches 38-44 and the flywheel 60 to apply a brake to the movement of the masses 12-18. These generators may provide reduced power when power requirements are low and may allow power to be generated by one, two or three of the masses 12-18 instead of driving the generator 62 by all four of the masses 12-18.

[0052] As previously described herein, these additional generators may be used to pulse the descent of the masses 12-18 to brake the movement of the masses 12-18 and slow them down or stop them completely. This allows the masses 12-18 to fall more slowly without interrupting the power generation from the continued rotation of the flywheel if the flywheel is still driven. If the pulsing is short enough, the rotation of the flywheel is not interrupted.

[0053] Masses 12-18 may be raised during off-peak power usage or when there is excess power in the grid. This may be during peak solar generation during the day so that masses 12-18 may be raised so that generator 10 is ready for use at night, or during high wind events that occur at any time during the day or night. Generator 10 may be used in conjunction with wind generation when power generation is reduced due to light or stagnant wind conditions, during cloudy days when sunlight is weak, or at night when sunlight is unavailable.

[0054] Thus, generator 10 may operate in concert with other forms of generation to provide a consistent base load or to supplement the base load when needed or when one or more of the other forms of generation are depleted. Alternatively, generator 10 may be the primary form of generation as long as power is available to lift masses 12-18 when needed. Generator 10 may also be used to recharge batteries in a battery storage facility.

[0055] The generator 10 is relatively simple in construction and is therefore expected to provide robust and reliable performance over time. Additionally, the environmental benefits of the generator 10 are advantageous in that it does not use fossil fuels. This is of particular benefit where the masses 12-18 may be lifted through the use of solar, hydroelectric, wind or wave power.

[0056] example The following example shows how the number of pulleys in the first and second sets of pulleys affects the time it takes for a mass to travel the available drop distance from the top of the tower to the base. The example shows generator configurations using towers with different drop distances, masses having different weights, and cables of different lengths.

[0057] All examples use a mass descent speed of 1.0 m / s. This descent speed is determined by frictional resistance in the system and the generator resistance. Different descent speeds may be selected to vary the mass descent time.

[0058] Example 1 Based on an available drop distance of 21.4 m, with 120 sheaves in each of the first and second sets of sheaves, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of sheaves is approximately 21.4 x 120 = 2568 m. If the descent speed is set to 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to descend is 42.8 minutes.

[0059] Example 2 Based on an available drop distance of 18.8 m, if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys is 240, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 18.8 x 240 = 4512 m. If the descent speed is set to 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to descend is 75.2 minutes.

[0060] Example 3 Based on an available drop distance of 16.2 m, if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys is 360, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 16.2 x 360 = 5832 m. If the descent speed is set to 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to descend is 97.2 minutes.

[0061] Example 4 Based on an available drop distance of 13.6 m, if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys is 480, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 13.6 x 480 = 6528 m. If the descent speed is set to 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to descend is 108.8 minutes.

[0062] The masses can vary in weight, examples include 550t, 1100t, 1650t and 2200t. As the number of pulleys increases, it may be preferable to increase the weight of one or more of the masses to overcome increased frictional resistance.

[0063] If the above example is applied to a taller tower, the fall time of the mass will increase. Thus, if a tower offering a greater fall distance is employed, the following modifications to the fall times given in the above example apply:

[0064] Example 5 Based on an available fall distance of 33.4 m, with 120 pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 33.4 x 120 = 4008 m. At a fall speed of 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to fall is 66 minutes 48 seconds.

[0065] Example 6 Based on an available fall distance of 30.8 m, if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys is 240, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 30.8 x 240 = 7392 m. At a fall speed of 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to fall is 123 minutes and 12 seconds.

[0066] Example 7 Based on an available fall distance of 28.2 m, if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys is 360, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 28.2 x 360 = 10152 m. At a fall speed of 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to fall is 169 minutes 12 seconds.

[0067] Example 8 Based on an available fall distance of 25.6 m, if the number of pulleys in each of the first and second sets of pulleys is 480, the total length of cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys is approximately 25.6 x 480 = 12288 m. At a fall speed of 1.0 m / s, the time it takes for the mass to fall is 204 minutes 48 seconds.

[0068] For a mass displacement generator with four masses, in Example 8, the fall time is 4 x 204.8 min = 819.2 min = 13.65 hours.

[0069] These examples show that a mass displacement generator according to the present invention can generate a constant rate of power generation over long periods of time, and thus provide a reliable alternative or additional form of power generation, which can be largely renewable, if the mass is lifted during periods of alternative surplus power generation through solar, wind, or other renewable forms of power generation.

[0070] Advantageously, the mass displacement generator according to the invention harnesses the energy of the falling mass through a transmission train comprising a winch, a flywheel and a generator. The generator converts the rotational energy of the flywheel into electricity for direct use, for addition to the power grid or for battery storage. The inclusion of the flywheel is important to the invention in order to maintain a constant supply of rotational energy to the generator. The employment of a flywheel in the manner contemplated by the invention is not known to the applicant to be part of the prior art.

[0071] When any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims), they are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but not to exclude the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described, and it is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A mass displacement generator comprising: a. A tower; b. a first mass suspended by the tower for dropping and lifting, the first mass suspended by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys secured to the tower above the first mass and a second set of pulleys secured to the first mass, and a cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys, one end of the cable secured to one of the tower and the first mass; c. a winch including a barrel around which the cable unwinds as the first mass falls and around which the cable winds as the first mass lifts; d. the winch is drivingly connected to a flywheel such that as the first mass falls, the cable unwinds from the barrel and barrel rotation drives the flywheel to rotate; e) A mass displacement generator, wherein the flywheel is drivingly connected to a generator such that rotation of the flywheel drives the generator to produce electrical energy.

2. 2. The mass displacement generator of claim 1, comprising: a second mass suspended by the tower by a second pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys secured to the tower above the second mass and a second set of pulleys secured to the second mass; and a cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys, one end of the cable secured to one of the tower and the second mass, the cable extending to a second winch including a barrel about which the cable unwinds as the second mass falls and around which the cable winds as the second mass lifts, the winch being drivingly connected to the flywheel such that as the second mass falls, the cable unwinds from the barrel and barrel rotation drives the flywheel to rotate.

3. 2. The mass-displacement generator of claim 1, comprising: a second mass suspended by the tower by a second pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys secured to the tower above the second mass and a second set of pulleys secured to the second mass; and a cable extending through the first and second sets of pulleys, one end of the cable secured to one of the tower and the second mass, the cable being configured to move along the cable as the second mass falls. a cable unwinds and extends to a second winch including a barrel around which the cable winds as the second mass is lifted, the winch is drivingly connected to a second flywheel such that as the second mass falls, the cable unwinds from the barrel and barrel rotation drives the second flywheel to rotate, the second flywheel is drivingly connected to a generator such that rotation of the second flywheel drives the generator to produce electrical energy.

4. 2. A mass displacement generator as claimed in claim 1, comprising: one or more further masses suspended by the tower by one or more further sheave arrangements each including a first set of sheaves secured to the tower above the one or more further masses and a second set of sheaves secured to the one or more further masses; and respective cables extending through the first and second sets of sheaves, one end of the cables secured to one of the tower and the one or more further masses, each of the cables extending to a respective winch including a barrel around which the one or more further cables unwind as the one or more further masses fall and around which the one or more further cables wind as the one or more further masses lift, the winch being drivingly connected to the flywheel such that as the one or more further masses fall, the cables unwind from the barrel and barrel rotation drives the flywheel to rotate.

5. 2. A mass displacement generator as described in claim 1 including first and second flywheels, the first flywheel connects to the winch during initial initiation of power generation when the first mass begins a falling motion and when the first mass reaches a predetermined falling velocity, and the second flywheel connects to the winch to slow or reduce the falling velocity of the first mass.

6. 6. A mass displacement generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each winch is actuatable to wrap around the cable associated with it so as to lift the mass associated with it.

7. 7. A mass displacement generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tower has a height of 12 floors or 37m.

8. 8. A mass displacement generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first mass has dimensions of 12m x 7.5m x 10m and a weight of 2200t.

9. 9. A mass displacement generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first mass is arranged to fall at a speed of 1 m / s for a period of 3 hours.

10. 1. A method for generating electricity, comprising: suspending a first mass on a tower by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys secured to the tower above the first mass and a second set of pulleys secured to the first mass, extending a cable through the first and second sets of pulleys, and securing one end of the cable to one of the tower and the first mass; b. extending a free end of the cable to a winch that includes a barrel around which the cable unwinds as the first mass falls and around which the cable winds as the first mass lifts; c. connecting said winch to said flywheel for driving said flywheel, such that as said first mass falls, said cable unwinds from a barrel and barrel rotation drives said flywheel to rotate; and d) connecting the flywheel to a generator such that rotation of the flywheel drives the generator to produce electrical energy.

11. 11. A method of generating electricity as claimed in claim 10, comprising varying the power of the electricity generated by increasing or decreasing the weight of the mass, by increasing or decreasing the number of sheaves in the first and second sets of sheaves, or by changing the gear connections between the winch and the flywheel and / or between the flywheel and the generator.

12. 12. A method for generating electricity as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein an end of the falling motion of the first mass is controlled by controlling the rotation of the barrel around which the cable associated with the first mass is wound.

13. 13. A method of generating electricity as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising allowing the first mass to fall a maximum distance and then allowing a second mass to begin falling, or allowing the first mass to fall a predetermined distance and allowing the second mass to begin falling before the first mass has fallen the maximum distance.

14. 14. A method for generating electricity as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the mass is pulsed during a fall.

15. 15. A method of generating electricity as described in claim 14, wherein the mass is pulsed by connecting a generator directly to the barrel of the winch or in a drive connection between the winch and the flywheel to brake the movement of the mass.

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