Energy conversion device

Abstract

An energy conversion device includes a tank containing fluid, an ascending conduit at least partially filled with fluid, a descending conduit, and an upper connecting conduit and a lower connecting conduit connecting the ascending and descending conduits to form a closed loop path. Multiple floats are disposed in this path, rising via the ascending conduit by fluid buoyancy and descending via the descending conduit by gravity to drive a power generation unit located along the descending conduit to generate electricity. A drive module is provided between the lower connecting conduit and the ascending conduit, comprising an electric actuator powered by an external renewable energy source and a push rod. When the push rod is actuated, it pushes the floats into the ascending conduit against the hydrostatic pressure within the ascending conduit. The device may also be equipped with a sealing element having a resiliently deformable central opening to reduce fluid leakage while allowing the floats to pass through, thereby improving the system's energy conversion efficiency and output stability.

Claims

1. An energy conversion device, comprising: A tank, configured to hold fluid; An ascending conduit extends upward from its lower end in the tank to its upper end above the liquid surface in the tank, and the ascending conduit is at least partially filled with the fluid; a descending conduit extends downward from its upper end above the liquid surface in the tank to its lower end below the liquid surface in the tank; an upper connecting conduit fluidly connects the upper end of the ascending conduit and the upper end of the descending conduit; a lower connecting conduit fluidly connects the lower end of the descending conduit and the lower end of the ascending conduit; a plurality of floats are configured to circulate along a closed loop defined by the ascending conduit, the upper connecting conduit, the descending conduit, and the lower connecting conduit, each float being configured to rise by the buoyancy of the fluid through the ascending conduit and descend by gravity through the descending conduit; a power generation assembly is disposed along the descending conduit and configured to generate electricity driven by the motion of the floats descending through the descending conduit. A drive module is disposed at or near the connection between the lower connecting conduit and the rising conduit, the drive module comprising: an electric actuator; a push rod driven by the electric actuator and extending toward the rising conduit; and a power supply interface configured to receive power from an external regenerative energy source and electrically connected to the electric actuator to transmit the power to the electric actuator; wherein, when actuated by the electric actuator, the push rod is configured to push at least one float from the lower connecting conduit into the rising conduit to counteract the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid present in the rising conduit, such that the at least one float subsequently rises through the rising conduit by buoyancy.

2. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, It also includes a sealing element disposed between the lower connecting conduit and the rising conduit, the sealing element having a central opening through which the float can move, wherein the push rod is configured to push the float through the central opening, and the sealing element is elastically deformable such that when one of the floats passes through the central opening, the central opening is enlarged, and after the float has passed, it returns to a smaller size to reduce fluid leakage.

3. The energy conversion device as described in claim 2, wherein, The sealing element includes a pair of flanges and a resilient disc sandwiched therebetween, the resilient disc being formed of an elastomeric material and defining the central opening.

4. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, The lower end of the ascending conduit is located below the lower end of the descending conduit, and the upper end of the ascending conduit is located above the upper end of the descending conduit.

5. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, The inner diameter of the riser is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of each of the floats, so as to guide the floats to maintain a generally upright posture as they rise through the riser.

6. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, Each of the aforementioned floats includes a hollow body defining an internal cavity, and the internal cavity is configured to be filled with air or other gas to adjust the buoyancy of the float.

7. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, The power generation assembly includes a rotating member configured to contact the float descending through the descent duct, a transmission mechanism connected to the rotating member, and a power generator driven by the transmission mechanism.

8. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, The plurality of floats are configured to be stacked one after another in the descent duct so that the power generation assembly is continuously driven by the plurality of floats.

9. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, The external renewable energy source includes at least one energy storage battery.

10. The energy conversion device as described in claim 1, wherein, It also includes a controller configured to control the actuation of the electric actuator based on at least one of the following: the detected position of any of the floats, the rotational state of the power generation component, or the available power from the external renewable energy source.

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