How to bring a "Modified Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant"

[James Finley]

How to bring a "Modified Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant" into production.

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I have a idea for a Modified Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant that does not have a devastating impact on the environment by using a small fraction of the space of a Conventional Pumped Storage Facility. Also the diversity of the plant allows it to be built in otherwise unsuitable locations for dam plants of comparable production capacity.

I have read what I can about every conceivable dam, hydro plant facility, fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic fluids, turbine theory, and anything to do with construction materials and techniques.

I've built a crude proto-type and my theory is sound and viable, but I need to find engineers, and people versed in fluid physics to assist in the building of a full scale mycrohydroelectric 1 megawatt facility, so that a complete feasibility study can be assurtained.

Long story short, where can I find such innovative people? And funding for such a study?

Thank you,

[Joe Blake]

Long story short, where can I find such innovative people? And funding for such a study?

Thank you,


The eternal questions, eh? I guess it depends on what country you live in. I'd probably poke around universities, and perhaps inquire discreetly where THEIR finance comes from. Sometimes the financiers like to have advertising all over the place, then it's easy.

I guess money is where you find it. If you've got it covered by a patent, then perhaps you may consider setting up a demonstration in a public place and just simply ask for money.

Sometimes a charity funder like lotteries might come to the party.

Have you Googled "Technology Development Finance"?

You've made a start by getting onto a board like this one, just keep going in that direction.

Are there any "Inventor" type TV programs you can contact?

Good luck in your search.

Joe

[James Finley]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the info.... I am from Denver, CO.... As for the patent, I plan to file for a Provintual Patent, but I don't want to jump the gun by to much because of the 12 month time frame.

You have given me a lot to think about as for future financing, but other good thing is there are a few States that will invest in the project once I have a scaled down working proto-type.

One other good thing! You are right about the message boards, a great source of information.

Take care,
Jim

[Mark Parsons]

Greetings Jim,

Does your prototype working model need to be 1MW in size? I believe 'micro' hydro by definition tops out at about 100kW.

I have a keen interest in microhydro and a couple of sites for 'pico' sized working model tests.

Regards,
Mark

[James Finley]

Hi Mark,

The pilot plant can be smaller in production capacity, however, thru my calculations the construction cost for a 100 kw facility and a 1 mw facility is only a 27% increase in cost for 10 times the production rate. However, to prove the system, a substantially smaller pilot plant can be constructed.

It was my understanding from many sources that plants less than 1 mw were considered micro, however, it is just a term and does not detract from the process.


Thanks for the reply, look forward to exchanging further dialog.
Take Care,
James

[Mark Parsons]

Hi Jim,

Certainly, economies of scale favour the larger installations.

I've built a crude proto-type and my theory is sound and viable,

there are a few States that will invest in the project once I have a scaled down working proto-type.

Does your crude prototype meet the criteria required by States and potential investors to prove the technology feasible and economical?

Be prepared for a tough haul in bringing your novel idea to fruition. It takes an incredible amount of persistence. I'm sure that many very good ideas and inventions that would do society a great deal of good are laying dormant due to the amount of fortitude it takes to get them marketed.:(

I am interested in learning about your novel idea. If you feel this forum is too public and may possibly jeopardize your potential provisional patent pending status (chances are slim), send me an e-mail to mark(at)mptinc(dot)com if you are comfortable sharing and discussing your idea.

Regards,
Mark

[James Finley]

I will be in contact with you...

Tell me of your background and some of your projects?

Thanks,
James

[Mark Parsons]

Hi Jim,

My academic training peaked with an Electronics Engineering Diploma in the early 1980's.

My practical engineering skills have been honed managing and growing my custom engineered, automated industrial manufacturing solutions company for the last 18 years or so. We concept, estimate, engineer the mechanical and controls system design, construct, program and commission many projects per year in the $100k to $1.5M range. We are a full service provider with engineers and technologists, tool and die makers, millwrights, welders and electricians, a machine shop, fabrication shop, and a panel shop under one roof in southern Ontario, Canada. We mainly service the Multi-National Tier 1 Automotive Parts supplier manufacturers. For more info on my company our web site is www.mptinc.com

My personal interest in renewable energy was focused upon purchase of a 100 acre recreational parcel in eastern Ontario a decade ago and building a log home cottage a few years ago with the decision to stay off-grid. Our parcel has a fast flowing creek that we built the cottage beside. I enjoy DIY RE projects to keep my mind and hands busy and to provide the cottage with RE power, light, water and heat. I've designed and built a microhydro Banki turbine that supplies some of the electrical power and designed and developed a unique microhydro sling pump system (see Paddlewheel Power thread under Hydro) that provides my cottage with pressurized running water. I've designed and built small horizontal and vertical wind turbines (see Savonius Picoturbine'ish thread under DIY) for site testing and supplying some of the electrical power. I have been enjoying the challenge of making the cottage very comfortable with the modern conveniences using as much of the available natural energy and sustainable resources as required. It is still a work in progress with a number of RE projects planned.

I look forward to learning more of your idea.

What is your background?

Regards,
Mark

[James Finley]

I was, and always have been somewhat of an adventurer, I have done many things in my life from starting and running several restaurants, to my present vocation in the Telecommunications industry.

I have always had this niche for building and inventing new concepts. I see a problem that must be solved, and I work on it until it is solved. Some years ago I was most intrigued with power generation, a virtual inexhaustible supply of power, but untapped, and constrained within the confines of conventional thinking... Hahahah... as you can imagine, I am one that truly thinks outside the box! But grounded in reality.

I look at fossil fuels and its affect on the environment and people in general, and I know we have to developed a better way, and hopefully my contribution will help. What makes me an expert, nothing except this overwhelming desire to see my idea put into production.


I look forward to explaining my idea in more detail...

Take care,
Jim

[Dave Turpin]

I'd like to know what this untapped and inexhaustible supply of energy is. Hope it isn't magnet motors again.

[James Finley]

To me this is a serious topic! But obvious not to everyone that use this forum,,,,

[Dave Turpin]

Call me a cynic. But you are trying to find engineering and monetary support for a project that you give no explanation of. How does it make power? Bernoulli states that energy can be extracted from fluid adiabatically either by reducing its height, velocity or pressure.

Once as an undergrad I ran into a guy that came up with a unique way to extract power from a dam for free, using bouyancy. The theory went like this: A ball on a chain is pushed through the face of a dam. The ball, now underwater, floats to the top. Now put lots of these balls on the chain (like a dog tag chain) and it will continually drive a generator on the top of a dam for free. He had a working prototype and it would operate when pushed for a little while. He swore once he reduced the friction of pushing the ball through the sphincter in the dam that it would produce endless energy. But he didn't do his math. It didn't take more than a simple energy balance to show that his prototype would NEVER work because it violated the laws of thermodynamics.

Now I am not saying this is what you did, but it is just an example of a unique idea that didn't pan out for a lack of fundamentals.

[James Finley]

I understand your cynical nature; most people are to include myself! I was seeking assistance to get this project off the ground sometime ago and come to the conclusion that I did not wish to give the majority of my idea away for the sake of seed capital to "Vulture Capitalist" so I stopped seeking funding and decided to proceed on my own at a slower pace.

As for my idea, I am not creating a new technology, but simply a new way to harness existing kinetic energy by manipulating conventional sources. My numbers are proven by hundreds if not thousands of years of practical use.

Thus if I were still seeking financial assistance I would have been compelled to divulge my knowledge, however now I simply wish to keep all technical information to myself until the first working model is completed.

Thanks

[Dave Turpin]

Hmm. Tantalizing. Can't wait to see the working prototype.

[James Finley]

Over the past few years I have encountered a number of medical problems that have delayed my project implementation substantially. However that being said, I have made some headway on acquiring property in an area largely devoted to “Wind Power” production in Las Angeles County; thus, this area is not otherwise suitable for hydroelectric production.
It can be said that this area was selected for a number of practical reasons; the first and foremost being the impending overwhelmingly dramatic future power demands for the entire Southern California Region.
Further, I also plan to file for a patent in the upcoming months, and with luck, I will be able to share schematics, along with other details about my project and I would welcome input about the project.

Thanks,
Jim

[Rob Beckers]

James, welcome back!
When you file the patent (provisional or otherwise) please post the number, so anyone interested can just look it up. I'm still curious what you're planning to make...

-RoB-

[Peter Mckinlay]

I was, and always have been somewhat of an adventurer, I have done many things in my life from starting and running several restaurants, to my present vocation in the Telecommunications industry.

I have always had this niche for building and inventing new concepts. I see a problem that must be solved, and I work on it until it is solved. Some years ago I was most intrigued with power generation, a virtual inexhaustible supply of power, but untapped, and constrained within the confines of conventional thinking... Hahahah... as you can imagine, I am one that truly thinks outside the box! But grounded in reality.

I look at fossil fuels and its affect on the environment and people in general, and I know we have to developed a better way, and hopefully my contribution will help. What makes me an expert, nothing except this overwhelming desire to see my idea put into production.


I look forward to explaining my idea in more detail...

Take care,
Jim

Hello Jim,

By thinking outside the box, a thing you say your given to, DaS Energy appears to have created a hydro turbine power generator that requires less Kws to run than it produces.

Its only by seeing what others have that one gains concepts for something new.

Would like to hear of that you have!.

Cheers

Peter