Gravity Energy Storage Using Massive Concrete Weights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage technologies like pumped hydro face challenges in scalability, environmental impact, and cost, making them less suitable for widespread adoption, especially in urban areas and for integrating renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a large storage weight suspended by a link, raised and lowered along a vertical or angled path to store energy as gravitational potential energy, which can be released as needed, with the option to use salt domes for reduced construction costs and increased storage capacity, and aquatic installations for expanded geographical suitability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pumped hydro systems are used for large-scale energy storage, then energy storage capacity is improved, but geographic and environmental constraints worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water-based mechanical system of pumped hydro with a gravity-based system using massive concrete weights. This substitution eliminates the need for water reservoirs and geographic elevation differences, allowing the system to be deployed in diverse locations including urban areas and aquatic environments without the environmental constraints of traditional pumped hydro.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the storage medium from water to concrete weights, and from requiring elevation differences to utilizing vertical shafts of manageable depth. This parameter change enables deployment in locations where traditional pumped hydro would be geographically unsuitable, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining large storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If pumped hydro systems are constructed, then energy storage capacity is improved, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs concrete weights as the storage medium, utilizing a cheap, readily available material. The system design accepts that the concrete weights will eventually wear or need replacement, but this is offset by the low cost of manufacturing new weights compared to the enormous cost of constructing traditional pumped hydro infrastructure with large reservoirs and complex turbine systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for constructing large water reservoirs, which are the most expensive and geographically constrained component of pumped hydro systems. By removing this requirement and using simple vertical shafts with concrete weights, the system dramatically reduces construction costs while maintaining energy storage capacity.
3Reliability
If conventional energy storage systems are deployed, then energy supply reliability is improved, but environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of concrete production (a heavy industry with environmental footprint) into a benefit by using concrete weights as the core storage medium. The concrete is placed in confined vertical shafts where it does not occupy surface habitat, and the system operates silently without the environmental disruption of water reservoirs or the visual impact of large-scale civil engineering projects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses thin-walled concrete structures and confined shafts that minimize environmental disruption. The concrete weights are contained within vertical shafts that have minimal surface footprint, allowing deployment in urban areas and near aquatic environments without significant habitat loss or visual impact, thereby reducing environmental harm while maintaining reliable energy supply.
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 provides a reliable, dispatchable energy supply, capable of storing significant amounts of energy efficiently, minimizing environmental impact and reducing construction costs, while enabling energy storage near urban areas and in aquatic environments.
Implementation Method 1
A system that utilizes a large storage weight suspended by a link, raised and lowered along a vertical or angled path to store energy as gravitational potential energy
Implementation Method 2
Energy stored in the system is released as follows. Water 106 is released from the higher reservoir 105 through hydraulic turbine 103 into the lower reservoir 102 to produce mechanical energy
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes at least one body, a link for suspending the body for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, and an electrical energy generator coupled with the body through the link to drive the generator to generate electricity upon movement of the body with gravity from the first to the second elevation position. The at least one body has a mass of at least approximately 100 tonnes; the first and the second elevation positions define a distance therebetween of at least approximately 200 meters; and/or the system further includes an operator configured to operate the link to controllably move the at least one body against gravity from the second to the first elevation position to increase a gravitational potential energy of the at least one body, and to maintain the gravitational potential energy of the at least one body.