Patent Application for Energy Generation from Waste Water in Tall Buildings Filed by IBM

A recent patent application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes a novel method for generating electrical power from waste water in tall buildings. The application, submitted by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), aims to utilize two or more reservoirs to capture and harness the energy from falling liquids such as rainwater, gray water, and black water. This innovative system would replace traditional methods of generating power, which often rely on turbines or impellers, and could potentially provide a sustainable and efficient solution for energy production in high-rise buildings.

Key Takeaways:

• The patent application, titled "RECLAIMING ENERGY FROM WASTE WATER IN TALL BUILINGS," was filed by IBM and has been published by the USPTO on December 26, 2013.
• The proposed system involves using two or more reservoirs to capture and harness the energy from falling liquids such as rainwater, gray water, and black water.
• The system operates by filling one reservoir while emptying the other, then dropping the filled reservoir to impart mechanical energy to an electrical generator and raise the empty reservoir.
• The cycle is repeated to generate continuous electrical power without the liquid contacting or passing through a turbine or impeller.
• The inventors of the system are Mark B. Stevens from Austin, TX, and John D. Wilson from Houston, TX.
• The patent application was filed on June 20, 2012, under application number 20130341935.

Statistics:

• The patent application was published on December 26, 2013.
• The system proposes to generate electrical power from waste water in tall buildings.
• The system involves two or more reservoirs to capture and harness the energy from falling liquids.
• The energy is generated by imparting mechanical energy to an electrical generator when the filled reservoir is dropped.