Directory:Dickson Hydrosphere
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Invention concept by Richard Dickson would be a new type of enclosed hydroelectric dam that works off pressure differentials in sea or deep lake water at great depths. Dickson claims it would generate up to 500 Megawatts of continuous, non-polluting, renewable energy out of sight in oceans or deep lakes.
- Analysis Result
- No working prototype has been attempted. A look at the math show gaping holes. This is a perpetual motion attempt with no usable input energy source to harness, and is therefore an unworkable idea. (Sterling D. Allan; Nov. 18, 2006)
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About
Official Website
Latest Developments
Feb. 2008
Richard M. Dickson is awarded "honorable mention" from the History Channel and Invent Now.
"Honorable Mention in the 2007 Modern Marvels Invent Now Challence for an exceptional invention idea: Hydrosphere."
See History Channel's Modern Marvels (http://www.history.com/minisite.do?mini_id=1335) page.
- Modern Marvels
- "Celebrating ingenuity, invention and imagination brought to life on a grand scale, MODERN MARVELS tells the fascinating stories of the doers, dreamers and sometime-schemers who created everyday items, technological breakthroughs and man-made wonders."
Invent Now, Inc. is a division of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation.
December 1, 2006
A Canadian firm is showing interest in the invention.
November 28, 2006
Dickson has been contacted by a Canadian firm, which sees the potential of the concept with some revisions, including: (1) Putting the snorkel pipe at the top of the Hydrosphere, and allowing a high fill volume and longer cycle for the wind and buoy generators before direction change. This may increase maintenance cycles by reducing the frequency of direction change for both the buoy and air generators. (2) Running the snorkel pipe to land, which allows ships to pass over the Hydrosphere without problems and resolves hazardous weather issues. The air turbine could be placed on land, and could be sized larger to accept snorkel pipes from a "farm" of Hydrospheres. (3) Changing shape (more oblate than round)/increasing size of the Hydrosphere to accept 4 Tesla pumps and generators at the bottom of each hydrosphere in order to increase electrical power generation output. (4) Increasing the number of water input channels and primary generators in the hydrosphere to feed the 4 Tesla pumps proposed above.
The firm finds the Hydrosphere concept appealing, mainly because of its lack of fuel requirements and no emissions. The proposed changes to the Hydrosphere design mentioned above would increase the power generation output, thereby reducing the area required for Hydrosphere farms (i.e., groups of linked Hydrospheres), and achieve a more flexible maintenance schedule.
The Canadian firm provided a revised preliminary schematic drawing, incorporating the proposed changes to the Hydrosphere as shown below:
The Canadian firm also has contacts with British Commonwealth West Indies island nations, which are seeking sea-based renewable energy electrical power generators to replace expensive fossil fuel plants; and one or more of these small countries may be interested in developing the concept further.
Dickson's earlier contacts/promulgation efforts, included: the Oregon State University, the Nobel Foundation, the World Renewable Energy Council, IdeaLab, and others have been contacted for further evaluation and possible prototype development.
- Rebuttal to Dickson's Earlier Contacts
- A unilateral "contact" does not constitute consent or approval of the concept.
Dickson's Comment: I actually visited OSU's Wave Energy Lab, and held discussions with an Asst. Professor there. Also, I contaced OSU Ocean Renewable Energy Head, Prof. Von Jouanne, by email and received a reply. Mr. Andrew Friendly at Idealab also corresponded with me via email. These are not unilateral contacts. However, the Nobel Foundation and World Renewable Energy Council did not reply to email contacts about the hydrosphere; but comprehensive explanations and drawings were transmitted.Additionally, repersentatives from the Oregwan environmental network were contacted and engaged via email in discussions about the hydrosphere.
Patent filed
U.S. patent filed two years ago (as of Nov. 2006). Patent office refused first version due to "perpetual motion" provision. Presently in "continuation in part" phase, with revised claims.
How it Works
The invention works primarily off hydrostatic pressure, or the weight of water itself, and uses five independent energy inputs. It also utilizes a unique disequilibrium principle, never before seen in an electrical power generator. Currently, ocean or lake renewable energy devices have been confined to wave, tidal, currents, salinity and temperature differences. No inventor has previously thought to use water pressure as a potential source of generating electrical power. As such Mr. Dickson's invention represents breakthrough technology, as it is more of a unique energy conversion device than a traditional electrical power generator, which could someday be exploited to bring cheap, abundant, renewable electrical power to many nations of the world without generating greenhouse gases. Mr. Dickson claims the "Hydrosphere" can be used to generate power in any ocean of the world and deep lakes, except the extreme polar regions; and at various depths.
Cost
Dickson claims that the technology would dramatically lower the cost of generating electrical power worldwide, and help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Scoop (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0601/S00002.htm); Jan. 3, 2006)
Independent Evaluation
Dickson claims that: "The concept was previously validated by the German firm of Howaldsdeutschewerke (HDW AG) of Kiel, Germany and Florida Hydro, Inc. of Palatka, Florida USA." (Scoop (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0601/S00002.htm); Jan. 3, 2006)
Reply from HDW AG via email after evaluating Dickson's calcs and invention:
"Nelte, Hans-Christian" <CHRISTIAN.NELTE@hdw.de> wrote: Dear Mr. Dickson,
we now have finished our examinations about your invention S.H.P.S. Our engineers have proved it seriously and it seemed to b e an interesting solution for them. But finally we can´t see any use for our projects in the nearer future. We feel sorry for this negative reply and wish you all the best for your further marketing activties.
Kind regards
Christian Nelte
Christian Nelte
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG
Abt.: MK-Patente Tel.:+49 431 700 3744
Werftstr. 112-114 Fax:+49 431 700 2021
24143 Kiel &nbs p;
E-Mail:christian.nelte@hdw.de
Germany"
- Rebuttal
- What is being called "validation" turns out to be rejection letters for collaboration, with a polite mention favorable mention of the endeavor, but without any reference to mathematical analysis and approval of the math. -- Sterling D. Allan
- Here is one of the two letters, to illustrate this point.
NEC Review
Not an energy source
On November 16, 2006, New Energy Congress member, Ken Rauen, wrote:
There is not enough information on his website to describe it even in general. It sounds like an unworkable perpetual motion machine idea. Rick must submit substantial data to us. I don't see an energy source from his description.
I am OK with theory, but it it must be spelled out in detail. Science is done in the details.
Looks like an energy sink, not generator
On November 16, 2006, New Energy Congress member, Robert Indech, PE wrote:
I too am having signficant difficulty ascertaining just where the net output power of this design would be derived from. From the online description, water at pressure "X1" enters the top of the sphere. It passes through a primary hydroelectric generator (?turbine type design) and presumably would then have pressure "X1-Y1". A Tesla pump at the base of the device repressurizes the water, now at pressure "X1-Y1+Z". This pressurized water then powers a secondary hydroelectric generator, exiting at a pressure "X1-Y1-Y2+Z". The exit pressure must match the pressure at the depth in which it is exiting, presumably "X1+X2", for the water to exit and not back up into the unit. The online description figure indicates that the exiting water occurs at a lower level than the input water, hence the increased pressure (i.e. "X2>0"). Thus: "X1-Y1-Y2+Z"="X1+X2" or "Z-Y1-Y2"="X2" or "Z=X2+Y1+Y2". As the volume of water does not change in the process steps, the energy extracted or inputted is proportional to pressure change in each process step. Clearly, for any "Y1>0" or "Y2>0" and for "X2>0", then the energy input to the Tesla pump, proportional to "Z", must be greater than the sum of the extracted energy "Y1+Y2". Thus, static pressure alone cannot produce usable power in this scheme. The system, as configured, must always be a net power user, not a producer.
However, as another part of his device involves a movable float, then some usuable power can be derived from the wave action on the float. Outside of this wave action usable power, the remainder of the device cannot contribute usable net output. However, if this is the case, his device does not differ significantly from any other wave action device, except for the requirement of it being anchored at some constant depth, with respect to the ocean floor.
I would be interested to see calculations showing output power that are not derived solely from wave action.
- Reply from Dickson
- "I will fax you my calcs, drawings and letters from the two engineering firms.
- "Also, the analysis [above] is incorrect. Robert Indech is ignoring the five energy inputs to the system. Again I have had trouble with other people visualizing this concept. Perhaps, the problem is the device is more an energy converter, than traditional power generator. In any case,here are the inputs: (1) hydroelectric generator at top of sphere, (2) hydroelectric generator, Tesla pump and repressurizer at base of sphere, (3) float generator in middle of sphere, (4) two-way (i.e., reversible...generates electricity on exhale of air from sphere and again on inhale of air into sphere via snorkel pipe) air turbine in snorkel pipe, and (5) wave power generator in snorkel buoy. Together these five inputs produce net output of electricity for the system. The fact that the float generator, air turbine, and wave power generator generate energy from just the residual effects of the main system with no additional energy input is quite significant. I no of know other system that hybridizes all available energy, including passive parasitic power harvesting in such a manner.
- "I am not sure others see that the float generator and air turbine could not operate with just a wave power generator in the buoy alone. My hydrosphere is in fact a system. As such it is the sum of its parts: hydroelectric generators, float generator in the sphere, air turbine generator, and wave power generator in the buoy. The system will not operate without its individual component units, and all operating at peak efficiency as facilitated by the computer, process controllers, sensors and small servo motors." (Nov. 17, 2006)
Energy Balance Problems
On the evening of Nov. 17, 2006, Richard faxed a copy of some drawings, some math, and a copy of the two letters from the two entities from whom the supposed confirmation of the math were given. The letters turned out to be polite rejections of overtures to collaborate, and cannot be considered statements of endorsement of the math.
New Energy Congress member, Ken Rauen reviewed the documents and said,
- "Turn out the lights and go home! The attachment makes it perfectly clear to me, without reading it in its entirety, that the inventor is not paying attention to energy balance. When he says the water that has passed through the Tesla turbine is repressurized and sent back out to the ocean, this directly indicates the inventor has blatantly ignored the energy of pressurization!"
New Energy Congress member, Robert Indech, PhD PE also reviewed the document. He concurred:
- Having read the engineering disclosure presented, my original comments about this proposed device stand. As Mr. Rauen has said, there is scant attention to overall energy balance, the crux of the entire device. Outside of the wave action energy extraction, which is valid provided one can provide anchoring to the ocean bottom or other method to maintain fixed position of the hydrosphere, there is only net energy loss not gain. Utilizing a dynamic process does not, in itself, produce net power. Further, the attached "engineering support letters" are not support but polite dismissals.
Richard Dickson responded that his math does account for the repressurization (in fact he estimates 20% of power output would be used for repressurization of the water in the sphere, before it is extruded back into the marine/lake environment), as well as friction and head losses in the pipes and system, while still allowing for harnessing net energy from the deep pressure and secondary generators. The problem is he sent NEC two summary calculation sheets, but he will send NEC clearer, more detailed and definitive calculations as soon as possible. He maintains that the concept is sound, and requests that his math be thoroughly reviewed.
On Nov. 23, 2006, New Energy Congress member, Robert Indech, PhD PE, wrote:
- I have had the opportunity to look over the attachment of mathematical calculations supporting the claim of the hydrosphere to be a net energy producer. While a majority of the detailed calculations appear to be correct, as regards calculation of volume, flow rates, theoretical output power given the geometry, etc., there is still the lack of fundamental understanding of just what pressure gradients are driving the assumed flows. It is critical to consider the input and output pressures of the water flows through the primary generator and secondary generator. As I suggested in my previous gross analysis, the quantity of energy needed for repressurization will exceed the amount gained by the generators, leading to a net energy loss, except for power generated from bobbing wave action. This type of overall, energy based or power based calculation for the entire cycle is incomplete in the disclosure. The author assumes 20% of power of secondary generator need for repressurization; I suggest that greater that 100% of output power will be needed for this step, considering the pressure gradients needed to be overcome. The author's calculations on 18 inch pipe characteristics under flow are correct; it is only the assumption of actual flow in the direction wanted, stemming from a pressure gradient across the pipe that is lacking.
- In sum, any device that attempts to derive net energy from a static pressure gradient, without inducing a chemical or nuclear change in the environment, is by definition a perpetual motion machine. The scale of construction is irrelevant and only concerned with size of energy transfers in each step of the process. This proposal is of one such device (without the wave action contribution), and thus, cannot work as advertised.
Mr. Dickson's final response: I wish to thank the NEC for their valuable analysis and advice. However, while I agree with some of their observations, I believe they are overlooking the parasitic passive power harvesting aspect of the invention. This is no reflection on them at all, as I believe this is entirely new technical ground. In fact I believe parasitic, passive power harvesting needs to be studied more.
The law of conservation of energy and other basic physics laws, when related to power production, were never conceived to incorporate the effects from secondary passive parasitic power harvesting. For example in my invention by the normal laws of physics, just generating hydroelectric power from the initial generator and then trying to recover most of it after repressurization via the generator at the base of the sphere makes no scientific sense. Of course I know the reasons for this: energy inputs must equal outputs...that's the basic law of conservation of energy...you can't get more out of a system, energy-wise, than you put into it; and there are losses along the way due to friction and other effects. However, by the process of producing hydroelectricity, water enters the hydrosphere and rises, as the sphere fills up. This process can be used to harvest more electricity via a float generator, whose floating rotor rises and falls about a central stator column with the rising and falling (as water is pumped in and out) inner sphere water level. Additionally, the air under pressure being forced out of the sphere as the inner sphere water level rises and then sucked back in as the water level falls, can also be used to power a two-way air turbine in the snorkel tube. Thus, these two parasitic secondary electrical generators, operating in an entirely passive manner, harvest energy that was not previously available under normal conditions and normal understanding of the law of energy conservation. This does not require a nuclear reaction, as Dr. Indech states. Mathematically, where X=energy output of the sphere, y1=primary hydro generator, y2=float generator, y3=air turbine in snorkel pipe, y4=secondary generator, and y5=output of snorkel buoy wave generator. Z1=friction loss in pipes, Z2=gradient loss, and Z3=system loss due to repressurization. Thus, X=Y1+Y2+Y3+Y4+Y5-Z1-Z2-Z3, where Y2 and Y3 are created passively, as a result of Y1 and Y4 power generation and Y5 power output is created independently of the system.
It is still my belief that this additional electrical power, when combined with the output of the snorkel buoy wave power generator, would overcome the reduction in power output of the second hydroelectric generator in the sphere due to friction losses and the gradient (the exit pipe in the sphere is 30 feet lower than the intake siphon...thus the outside water at that depth is at greater pressure.)Interestingly, this is an interdependent system, so removing any one power generation element would critically impact ability of the entire system to function.
In essence my invention can be thought of as a "contained waterfall" in which passive electrical power is created as a byproduct, and said power is then harvested and contributes to the overall power production of the device. In a sense this energy conversion device looks like a perpetual motion machine, but in reality it is not. No more so than a conventional hydroelectric dam would be considered a perpetual motion machine, but on an entirely different scale.
Ultimately, I believe that only by constructing and testing a prototype can my assumptions about my invention be confirmed.
In any case, this is all very interesting, and I hope other scientists can make use of it.
Sea Solar Power Profile
This company was considering the technology but is no longer interested. (Nov. 18, 2006)
"Sea Solar Power International of Baltimore, Maryland, a division of the Abell Foundation, was evaluating Portland, Oregon resident, Richard M. Dickson’s U.S. patent pending ocean powered hydroelectric generator invention for possible prototyping and eventual production." (Scoop (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0601/S00002.htm); Jan. 3, 2006)
Inventor: Richard M. Dickson
Dickson has been involved in the Navy, and is very aware of the forces exerted out at sea.
Piezo Electric Sea Power Generator
Another technology that Dickson has come up with is a method of embeding an array of piezo electric crystals into areas where undulating water pressure could result in electrical generation. While such a method is sure to work, the question is one of feasilibity. It would likely be expensive to build, and even more expensive to maintain, driving the price point far above other, more affordable renewable energy solutions such as solar or wind and other wave/tide harnessing methods, etc.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS-FEBRUARY, 2008
The Hydrosphere, despite energy balance problems, garnered an honorable mention award in the History Channel's 2007 "Modern Marvels" invention contest.
Mr. Dickson is currently working on a variant of the hydrosphere, utilizing normal water lines in a home, apartment, condo or any building to generate hydroelectricity by cross-utilizing water under pressure, air pressure, and gravity.The device uses elements of the hydrosphere, especially the internal float generator to create what Mr. Dickson terms an "AWG" or "Air-Water-Gravity" electrical generator. The device is provisionally patent pending, and a drawing is posted below. Essentially, the AWG is an efficient, linear water piston,which has few moving parts and has a much higher efficiency rating than a conventional turbine or blade driven mechanical hydroelectric generator.
Also, Mr. Dickson has revised his hydrosphere design to be more like the AWG described above. In fact he terms both inventions, "AWGs" now. The larger, commercial power-producing AWG is shaped like a cylinder with a central columnar stator and float generator rotor, which has a central hole and moves up and down the columnar stator like a free-moving piston, flush with the cylinder walls. Air in the cylinder, above the piston rotor, is at normal surface atmospheric pressure (1 ATM or 32 PSI), while the water outside the cylinder is pressurized, the PSI, depending upon the depth of the cylinder. A siphon is connected to the bottom of the cylinder, which is anchored to the lake or seabed, and oriented vertically. The siphon allows outside water at pressure to enter the cylinder, and immediately fills a small vacuum chamber below the piston rotor, and could conceivably also pass over a hydroelectric turbine (Pelton or other turbine configuration)in the siphon first. The pressurized water enters the base of the cylinder forcing the piston rotor to rise rapidly up the straight columnar stator, generating electricity as it rapidly rises. It compresses the air ahead of it and eventually reaches a metal stop, calibrated at the point where the water cannot pressurize the air any further. At this point, either by mechanical lever device, activated by the rising piston, or by electrical operation, a valve closes on the siphon, preventing water from entering into the cylinder, and another valve opens at the base of the cylinder, allowing the water to exit out under high pressure (from the force of the pressurized air on the piston, and restoring the vaccuum chamber). The water is forced by the de-compressing air to exit out the snorkel at the surface of the body of water, where it forms a geyser. The snorkel is held above the surface of the body of water via a floating buoy. Once the piston rotor reaches a metal stop at the bottom of the cylinder, and the water has been forced out of the cylinder, the process begins again, as the bottom valve closes and the siphon valve opens to allow water into the cylinder again, forcing the rotor up the stator column once more. The process is very much analgous to the operation of pistons inside cylinders in an automobile engine; and indeed the cylinders could possibly be designed to even be linked with a kind of crankshaft and flywheel to generate even more electricity via a conventional mechanical generator at the end of the crankshaft, although this would be more difficult to design, and might reduce efficiency somewhat.
The important improvements the AWG has over the original "hydrosphere" concept are deletion of the need for both a Tesla pump and water re-pressurizer to evacuate water from the device. The Tesla pump and water re-pressurizer used up too much of the electricity produced by the hydrosphere in operation compared with the AWG concept. The AWG utilizes compressed air as a byproduct of the initial process to evacuate depressurized water through a closed snorkel pipe, containing air at normal atmospheric pressure, and then to the surface of the lake or ocean. Thus, no electricity is used for water evacuation from the cylinder, and the water inside the cylinder does not have to be re-pressurized prior to evacuation, since it is now being evacuated at the surface of the lake or ocean where pressure conditions are at 1 ATM.
An additional important feature of the AWG is its ability to desalinate water as a collateral benefit of salt water being forced out of the snorkel pipe under pressure. By inserting an osmotic membrane in the snorkel pipe, and a floating collection tank platform on the surface in lieu of the snorkel pipe buoy, fresh water can be produced and collected during the downstroke of the AWG linear generator. Electrical power produced by the AWG can then be used to power pumps in the floating platform to pipe this freshwater ashore. This could be of great importance to desert regions, such as those in the Mideast, Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern California, Mexico and Australia. Indeed, the Australian Academy of Sciences was contacted about this AWG application, but no response was received.
'I believe my AWG is the world's first true perpetual motion machine, which could open up the world's oceans and deep lakes to electric power production and cheap desalinization. I invite scientists and other inventors to critique its operation. I am designating the process of converting ocean pressure to electricity as OPEC (Ocean Pressure Electric Conversion), since it is similar in basic principles to OTEC (Ocean Thermal Electric Conversion) in that it utilizes differentials. OTEC uses water temperature differentials, while OPEC utilizes water and air pressure differentials to operate.''''
The drawings below show how the AWG concept works (the distance to the surface of the body of water is much less than it would be in reality. The drawings are for conceptual purposes only). It is an improved version of the original hydrosphere concept:
(Click image for enlarged version)
A revised AWG schematic is provided below. It uses a venturi pump to increase water pressure exiting the riser pipe:
Missing image
AWG.jpg/thumb
Image:AWG.jpg/thumb
Kinetic Energy Electrical Generator
Mr. Dickson has also pioneered a unique, simplified patent pending kinetic generator, which works off body motion, or asymmetric vibrations in the environment. It utilizes a very unusual split rotor with an orbiting, satellite component. See "Dickson's human kinetic energy generator" on this website. The device could be used to power small, trickle-cell battery chargers worn on the wrists or around the legs of people and pets, or even integrated directly into portable electronics devices, such as Ipods, radios, etc. which could be strapped to the wrists or worn strapped to the legs with velcro. Larger versions could be used on airplanes, motor vehicles, and ships to harvest ambient vibrating motion from the environment and convert it to electricity.
In the News
- Ocean Powered Hydroelectric Generator Invention (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0601/S00002.htm) - (Scoop; Jan. 3, 2006)
http://www.beyondfossilfuel.com; Interview with Rick
Dickson,AWG Inventor; 3/11/08)
Contact
Richard M. Dickson
3430 SE Harrison Street, A-1
Milwaukie, Oregon 97222 USA.
Tel. 971-227-9085
email: hydroman1213@yahoo.com (mailto:hydroman1213@yahoo.com?subject=Hydrosphere_mentioned_at_PESWiki.com)
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