Submerged Power Generator Using Falling Weight Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power generation methods using renewable sources like wind and solar are unpredictable and environmentally impactful, while hydropower requires specific geography and alters the environment.
Innovation Solution
A submerged power generator system that utilizes a hull submerged in water, where weighted containers fall to generate electricity through gravitational potential energy, with a secondary system to capture and store energy, and a mechanism to change buoyancy for efficient retrieval and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wind or solar energy is used for power generation, then environmental impact is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to unpredictability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameter from environmental dependence (wind speed, sunlight) to gravitational potential energy (water depth, container weight). This allows reliable power generation by controlling the descent distance and weight of containers, while maintaining environmental friendliness by using water as the medium instead of land-based infrastructure.
2Reliability
If hydropower is used for power generation, then reliability is improved, but environmental harm increases due to geographical requirements and environmental alteration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the core principle of hydropower (using water's gravitational potential energy) while removing the harmful environmental alterations associated with traditional hydropower. Instead of damming rivers and altering landscapes, the system uses a submerged hull that can be deployed in various water bodies without significant environmental modification, taking only the gravitational energy from water.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by using a localized submerged hull system rather than large-scale river damming. The hull creates a contained operational environment where weighted containers are cycled through a controlled chamber, allowing reliable power generation in specific locations without altering the broader environmental system.
3Power
If traditional hydropower infrastructure is built, then power generation capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to geographical constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves universality by designing a submerged hull system that can be deployed in various water bodies (lakes, rivers, oceans) without requiring specific geographical features like large elevation drops. The same basic design can generate power in different locations, making the system versatile and adaptable to various environments while maintaining power generation capability.
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
This system provides a reliable and environmentally friendly method for power generation, capable of operating independently of environmental conditions and adaptable to various locations, with efficient energy conversion and storage.
Implementation Method 1
convert energy lost by the weighted container as it is drawn downward by gravity into electricity
Implementation Method 2
a hull configured to enclose an air space, the hull configured to be submerged in a body of water
Data Source
AI summary
A submerged power generator comprises a hull that defines an air space. A weighted container is allowed to fall within the air space during a power generating stroke. The container interacts with an apparatus so as to drive a generator during the power stroke. After the power stroke the container is ejected from the hull into the surrounding body of water. The container is made buoyant and thus floats upwardly during a buoyant stroke. The buoyant container is retrieved as it approaches the top of the hull and reintroduced into the hull for another power generating cycle.