US4408452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pumping-up hydroelectric power plants
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1980-12-02
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Granted: 1983-10-11
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Expires: 2000-12-02
Abstract
Abstract In a pumping-up hydroelectric power plant comprising a single speed main pump/turbine and a booster pump operable in series in a pumping operation between an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, a water head shared by said booster pump is varied depending on a variation in the static head between the two reservoirs for maintaining the operation of the main pump/turbine always in a maximum efficiency range.
Inventors
- 👤 Sachio Tsunoda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:15
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/06; F03B3/00; F03B3/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/16; Y10; Y10S; Y10S415/00; Y10S415/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a pumping-up hydroelectric power plant comprising a single speed reversible pump/turbine operable as a pump at a constant speed between an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, and a booster pump provided in a water passage of the single speed reversible pump/turbine to be operable in series therewith only when the pump/turbine is operated as a pump, the improvement comprising a driving device directly coupled with said booster pump for driving the same at a variable speed, means for detecting water levels in said two reservoirs, means for providing a control signal corresponding to a difference between the water levels thus detected, and a control device for controlling the rotating speed of said driving device in response to said control signal so that said pump/turbine is operated at its maximum pumping efficiency regardless of variations in the water levels in said two reservoirs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a pumping-up hydroelectric power plant comprising a single speed reversible pump/turbine operable as a pump at a constant speed between an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, and a booster pump provided in a water passage of the single speed reversible pump/turbine to be operable in series therewith only when the pump/turbine is operated as a pump, the improvement comprising a driving device directly coupled with said booster pump for driving the same at a variable speed, means for detecting water levels in said two reservoirs, means for providing a control signal corresponding to a difference between the water levels thus detected, and a control device for controlling the rotating speed of said driving device in response to said control signal so that said pump/turbine is operated at its maximum pumping efficiency regardless of variations in the water levels in said two reservoirs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A pumping-up hydroelectric power plant as set forth in claim 1 wherein a degree of opening of a water passage on the discharge side of said reversible pump/turbine when it is operating as a pump, is made controllable depending on the difference beween the water levels in the upper reservoir and the lower reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pumping-up hydroelectric power plant as set forth in claim 2 wherein the control of the degree of opening of the water passage is effectuated by controlling guide vanes provided for the reversible pump/turbine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-10 | 1987-04-11 | 1987-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-10 | 1991-04-11 | 1991-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-10 | 1995-04-11 | 1995-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |