Floating Membrane Reservoir for Pumped Hydro Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pumped storage hydroelectric systems face challenges in minimizing environmental impact and capital investment, requiring innovative reservoir designs that are modular, transportable, and adaptable to various sites while being aesthetically and socially acceptable.
Innovation Solution
A modular floating membrane reservoir system with a flexible membrane, buoyed by pontoons and anchored to the shore or streambed, allowing vertical expansion and contraction with water levels, and featuring a walkway structure and structural support for stability and ease of installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional pumped storage hydroelectric systems use conventional reservoir construction, then water storage capacity is achieved, but environmental impact and capital investment increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane as the primary reservoir structure, replacing traditional rigid concrete or earth-filled dam constructions. This flexible membrane can be inflated to create water storage capacity when needed and deflated or removed when not in use, significantly reducing environmental impact while maintaining the required water storage capacity. The membrane acts as a temporary, adaptable containment structure that minimizes disruption to the natural waterbody ecosystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The flexible membrane can be inflated to various volumes depending on energy storage requirements, allowing the system to adapt its water storage capacity dynamically. This dynamic capability enables the system to provide water storage when needed for pumped storage hydroelectric operation while remaining minimal or absent during periods of low demand, thereby reducing continuous environmental impact.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional reservoir construction methods are used, then water storage is achieved, but construction time and capital investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane reservoir components can be pre-manufactured and prepared off-site before deployment. The membrane structure, air supply system, and anchoring mechanisms can be assembled and tested in advance, then quickly installed in the waterbody when needed. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces on-site construction time compared to traditional reservoir methods that require extensive earthmoving and concrete curing periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir utilizes pneumatic inflation through air supply systems to rapidly create water storage capacity. By injecting compressed air into the flexible membrane, the reservoir can be inflated to its operational volume in a matter of hours or days, whereas traditional civil construction would require months or years of continuous work. This pneumatic mechanism enables rapid deployment and quick scaling of storage capacity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed rigid reservoir structures are used, then structural stability is achieved, but adaptability to various site needs and scalability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane reservoir provides structural stability through its ability to dynamically adapt its shape and volume while maintaining structural integrity. The membrane can be inflated to different configurations suitable for various site geometries and waterbody conditions. Anchoring systems secure the membrane to the lake or river bottom, providing stability while allowing the upper portion to flex and expand as needed. This dynamic structural approach enables deployment in diverse locations with varying depth profiles and spatial constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir system can be divided into multiple modular membrane segments or cells that can be independently deployed and connected. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different site configurations by arranging modules in various patterns. Individual modules can be inflated to different volumes based on local requirements, and the modular approach enables scalable expansion by adding or removing segments as energy storage needs change over time.
4Quantity of substance
If conventional reservoir construction is used, then water storage capacity is achieved, but aesthetic and social acceptability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane creates a visually subtle reservoir structure compared to massive concrete dams or earth-filled structures. The thin membrane can be made translucent or semi-transparent, allowing light to pass through and maintaining visibility of the waterbody beneath, which preserves the natural aesthetic of lakes and rivers. The membrane can also be colored or textured to blend with the surrounding environment, reducing visual impact on landscapes and communities.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic nature of the inflatable membrane allows it to be deflated or removed when not in use, enabling the waterbody to return to its natural state for recreational or aesthetic purposes. This temporal separation between energy storage operation and aesthetic/recreational use enhances social acceptability by allowing the same location to serve multiple functions at different times, reducing conflicts between energy infrastructure and community needs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces environmental impact, is cost-effective, and enhances aesthetic and social acceptability by being lightweight, simple to install, and scalable, with reduced construction timelines and minimal disruption.
Implementation Method 1
The floating apparatus maintains the reservoir cell's buoyancy in a waterbody
Data Source
AI summary
An improved system and method of storing water for a closed-loop pumped storage hydroelectric system is provided. The method includes providing a floating reservoir, positioning the floating reservoir in a waterbody, loading the floating reservoir with a volume of water from a source other than the surrounding waterbody, and transferring water from within the floating reservoir to an upper or lower reservoir of a pumped storage hydroelectric system. The floating reservoir includes a flexible membrane defining one or more reservoir cells including a vertically collapsible sidewall, such that each reservoir cell defines a depth varying in proportion to its internal volume of water. Each reservoir cell is buoyed by pontoons adjacent an outer periphery of the reservoir cell and is anchored to the shore or streambed.