System and method for converting potential energy into kinetic energy using buoyancy

1 . A system for converting potential energy into kinetic energy, comprising:

a water body, comprising a water surface level;

a water column, comprising a bottom end arranged within the water body and a top end arranged above the water surface level;

a buoyant body, shaped and sized to float through the water column from the bottom end of the water column to the top end of the water column to acquire potential energy;

a hoist mechanism, configured to seize the buoyant body at a first position at or near the top end of the water column, and to transport the seized, buoyant body from the first position to a second position away from the water column, and to allow the buoyant body to fall from said second position to a third position due to gravity;

a cable, configured to transmit a force exerted thereon by the buoyant body falling from said second position to said third position;

a generator shaft, operatively engaged with said cable such that the generator shaft is rotatable by said force transmitted by said cable; and

a transport mechanism, configured to engage the buoyant body and displace the engaged, buoyant body from the third position to the bottom end of the water column, and further configured to disengage the buoyant body at said bottom end of the water column to release said buoyant body into said water column through said bottom end, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the engaged, buoyant body from the third position to the bottom end of the water column by gravity.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a structure defining boundaries of the water body; and

a buoyancy tube containing the water column, the buoyancy tube secured in place with respect to the structure.

3 . The system of claim 1 , comprising at least one valve arranged along the water column, wherein each valve of the at least one valve is selectively arrangeable in an open position allowing the buoyant body to flow upward therethrough and a closed position preventing water from flowing downward therethrough.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second position is arranged horizontally spaced apart from the first position.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second position is arranged vertically lower than the first position.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the water column is arranged vertically lower than the third position.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hoist mechanism is configured to transport the seized, buoyant body from the first position to the second position by gravity.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hoist mechanism is configured to unseize the buoyant body in the second position.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hoist mechanism is automatically arrangeable in the first position when not seizing the buoyant body.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transport mechanism is configured to disengage from the buoyant body at the bottom end of the water column.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transport mechanism is automatically arrangeable in the third position when not engaging the buoyant body.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lifting mechanism configured to lift the buoyant body out of the water column and to the first position.

13 . A method for converting potential energy into kinetic energy, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a system comprising:

a water body, comprising a water surface level,

a water column, comprising a bottom end arranged within the water body and a top end arranged above the water surface level,

a buoyant body, shaped and sized to float through the water column from the bottom end of the water column to the top end of the water column,

a hoist mechanism, configured to selectively engage and disengage the buoyant body,

a cable,

a generator shaft, and

a transport mechanism, configured to selectively engage and disengage the buoyant body;

b) allowing the buoyant body to float through the water column from the bottom end of the water column to the top end of the water column to acquire potential energy;

c) engaging the hoist mechanism to the buoyant body at a first position at or near the top end of the water column;

d) transporting the buoyant body, using the hoist mechanism, from the first position to a second position away from the water column;

e) allowing the buoyant body to fall from said second position to a third position due to gravity with the cable connected to the buoyant body such that a pulling force is exerted by the buoyant body on the cable;

f) transmitting at least part of said pulling force to the generator shaft via the cable, thereby causing the generator shaft to rotate;

g) disengaging the hoist mechanism from the buoyant body at the third position;

h) engaging the transport mechanism to the buoyant body at the third position;

i) carrying the buoyant body, by the transport mechanism, from the third position to the bottom end of the water column, wherein the step of carrying the buoyant body comprises displacing the transport mechanism by gravity;

j) disengaging the buoyant body from the transport mechanism at the bottom end of the water column;

k) allowing the buoyant body to enter the column of water through the bottom end; and

l) cyclically repeating steps a) through k).

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

after step g) and prior to subsequent step c), automatically displacing the hoist mechanism back to the first position.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

after step j) and prior to subsequent step h), automatically displacing the transport mechanism back to the third position.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of transporting the buoyant body comprises displacing the hoist mechanism by gravity.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

between step b) and subsequent step c), lifting the buoyant body out of the water column and to the first position.

18 . A method for converting potential energy into kinetic energy, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a system comprising:

a water body, comprising a water surface level,

a water column, comprising a bottom end arranged within the water body and a top end arranged above the water surface level,

a buoyant body, shaped and sized to float through the water column from the bottom end of the water column to the top end of the water column,

a hoist mechanism, configured to selectively engage and disengage the buoyant body,

a cable,

a generator shaft, and

a transport mechanism, configured to selectively engage and disengage the buoyant body;

b) allowing the buoyant body to float through the water column from the bottom end of the water column to the top end of the water column to acquire potential energy;

c) engaging the hoist mechanism to the buoyant body at a first position at or near the top end of the water column;

d) transporting the buoyant body, using the hoist mechanism and by gravity, from the first position to a second position away from the water column, the second position arranged lower than the first position;

e) allowing the buoyant body to fall from said second position to a third position due to gravity with the cable connected to the buoyant body such that a pulling force is exerted by the buoyant body on the cable;

f) transmitting at least part of said pulling force to the generator shaft via the cable, thereby causing the generator shaft to rotate;

g) disengaging the hoist mechanism from the buoyant body at the third position;

h) engaging the transport mechanism to the buoyant body at the third position;

i) carrying the buoyant body, by the transport mechanism and by gravity, from the third position to the bottom end of the water column, the bottom end arranged lower than the third position;

j) disengaging the buoyant body from the transport mechanism at the bottom end of the water column;

k) allowing the buoyant body to enter the column of water through the bottom end; and

l) cyclically repeating steps a) through k).