A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM LIGHTNING = the complete specification

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY

FROM LIGHTNING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of electrical energy generation from the atmosphere in general. In particular, it relates to a system for converting a small part of the electrical energy of lightning into standardized electricity and then conducting it via transmission-cables to places of need and utilization.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The incidence and occurrence of electric energy is natural. Electric energy forms in the clouds due to cloud activity.  It then follows the shortest path to the earth by the available conductors.  This form of electricity is termed lightning. 

These conductors could be a tree, a tall building or something specially designed. 

It has been estimated that lightning strikes the surface of the Earth about 100 times every second, albeit in different locations. Lightning bolts are triggered when a negatively charged cloud base meets a positive charge from the ground, thereby forming a pathway for the discharge of the collected electrical energy.

A single bolt of lightning carries a large amount of electrical energy. It has been estimated that an average lightning bolt carries current in the order of 30,000 amperes.

The electrical energy from lighting can be harnessed and used as a form of energy.

There have been several attempts in the past to harness electrical energy from lightning. However, finding the right materials to capture the high power involved in lightning bolts and sending it to electrical grids have turned futile.

Another major hurdle faced by many researchers in this area is finding the right storage device to convert high-voltage electrical power to the lower-voltage power that can be stored and extracted at a later stage.

A method of  harnessing the electrical energy from lightning by means of a tower and a means of shunting off a large portion of the incoming energy, and a capacitor to store the rest of the electrical energy have also turned unsuccessful.

Whereby it is desirable to provide a new electrical phenomenon that allows the conversion of lightning into electrical energy in a way which overcomes the shortcomings of prior art. 

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the basic object of the present invention to provide a system for harvesting a small amount of electric-energy from naturally occurring lightning either on land where the frequency of lightning is usually frequent enough, or on the sea.

It is another object of this invention to harvest only a small part of the electric-energy of the lightning, and allow the major part of the lightning to flow into the earth or sea, so as to maintain the functionality of lightning for the earth or sea, to rejuvenate it.

It is another object of this invention to provide a large pool, of the order of at least a kilometer in radius, into which the lightning is directed so as to charge this pool, while allowing the major part of the lightning flow into the earth or sea, as the case may be.

It is another object of this invention to pick-up electric-energy by introducing a circuit with appropriate resistance.

It is another object of this invention to have safety-units that will check the specifications of the electric-energy picked up and to convert/correct it to standard specifications, as required.  For example, to the specifications required for long-distance transmission of the electricity via transmission lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for converting lightning into electrical energy comprising:

One or more lightning-rods;

One or more earthing-units;

One or more lightning-beds;

One or more conductors;  

One or more safety-units; and

One or more transmission-cables;

Wherein the lightning-rod (1) channels bolts of lightning from the sky to the lightning-beds (2 and 2c);

Wherein the lightning-beds (2 and 2c) are water-proof trenches at-least one kilometer long in radius from the lightning-rod, filled with water and optionally also, volcanic-glass;

Wherein the lightning-beds (2 and 2c) are all earthed to allow most of the lightning-charge to flow into the earth;

Wherein the safety-unit further comprises of pattern-recognition-detector (4), input-wire (7), first-switch (8a), second-switch (8b), and Convertor (9),

Wherein the Conductor (3) provided into the lightning-bed is part of a circuit with appropriate resistance so as to draw out only necessary electric-charge from the momentarily-charged-lightning-bed;

Wherein the outputs (3c) of the conductors(3) provided in the lightning-bed are connected to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4),

wherein the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4) samples the incoming electric-charge from the conductor-wire(3c) and recognises the voltage-current [Vi, Ii] specifications,

wherein the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4) recognises the incoming voltage-current [Vi, Ii] specification and determines which first-switch (8a) and which second-switch (8b) should be thrown, so that a circuit is completed to the appropriate Convertor (9) which can be used to convert the incoming-voltage-current [Vi, Ii] specification to the required-voltage-current [Vo, Io] specifications;

wherein the first-switch (8a) is thrown based on the input voltage-current  [Vi, Ii] recognised in the pattern-recognition-detector;

wherein the second-switch (8b) is thrown based on the required output voltage-current [Vo, Io];

wherein the appropriate Convertor(9) is a circuit that converts/corrects the incoming-voltage-current [Vi, Ii] electric-charge-specification to required output-voltage-current [Vo, Io] electricity-specification;

wherein there are many Convertors(9) set up and the appropriate Convertor(9) is selected by the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4)which decides which first-switch (8a) and which second-switch (8b) should be thrown so as to route the electric-charge to the appropriate Convertor (9);

wherein the converted required output-voltage-current [Vo, Io] electricity is sent out from the Convertor on the output-wire(10),

 and

wherein the long-distance-transmission-cable (11)  is used to conduct the electricity from the convertor-output-wire (10) to places of storage and utilization.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the lightning-beds (2, 2c) are filled with volcanic glass (optional) covered with water (necessary).

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the lightning-beds (2, 2c) are earth-wired (1a) to the land for those Lightning-Harvesters that are on land, using the earthing-units(1a).

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the Conductor (3) essentially consists of conducting-rods connected to circuits with appropriate resistance, which draws out some electric-energy from the lightning-bed via the conducting-rods.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the electric-charge from the conductor-output-wire(3c) flows to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4) which recognises the voltage-current  [Vi, Ii] of that particular electric-energy.

It is another aspect of the present invention, where there is a first-switch-box (8a) with many switches, each leading to a set of second-switch-boxes (8b) each with many switches, each leading to a Convertor (9) which will each convert/correct input voltage-current of [Vi, Ii] to a standardised specification of [Vo, Io], where o = 1, 2, 3 .. n  --  (V2-I2 or V3-I3 ....) Vn-In. 

It is a another aspect of the present invention, where the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4) recognises the input voltage(Vi)-current(Ii) from the input-wire (3c), and it is also informed what the required voltage(Vo)-current(Io) should be.  So it decides which switch in the first-switch-box(8a) and which switch of the corresponding second-switch-box(8b) should be thrown.  The decided-upon switches are thrown, and this completes a circuit to the appropriate convertor(9). 

It is another aspect of this present invention that each convertor(9) is wired to convert the incoming voltage(Vi)-current(Ii) electric-charge to a particular output voltage(Vo)-current(Io) electricity.

It is another aspect of the present invention, where the  converted electric-charge is sent from the Convertor-output-wire (10) as electricity to the long-distance-transmission-wires (11) which transmit it to places of utilisation and need.

In another aspect of the present invention, i.e. adaptation to Lightning-Harvesting from a sea-location, there is provided an onshore-and-offshore (land and sea-based) system for converting lightning into electrical energy comprising:

an offshore (sea) system comprising:

one or more lightning-rods  (1);

one or more lightning-rigs (2a);

one or more lightning-nets (2b);

one or more Conductor (3);

one or more output-wires (3a) from the Conductors (3);

one undersea-transmission-cable (3b);

and an onshore system comprising:

one or more safety-units; and

long-distance-transmission-cables (11),

wherein the lightning-rod(1) is mounted on the lightning-rig(2a) and goes right through with insulated-minimum-contact-with-the-rig, to the sea water below,

wherein the lightning-rig(2a) is surrounded by the lightning-net(2b),

wherein the lightning-net(2b) is fitted with the conducting-rods(3);

wherein the conducting-rods(3) are comprised of circuits with appropriate resistance to draw electric-energy from the briefly charged sea water,

wherein the electric-energy drawn from the momentarily-charged sea-water is sent to the Conductors-output-wires(3a), and all these output-wires(3a) are consolidated into a single undersea-transmission-cable (3b),

wherein the undersea-transmission-cable (3b) is rolled out as the distance from the sea-shore increases,

and wherein the undersea-transmission-cable (3b), when it reaches the safety-unit on the sea-shore is separated into individual wires (3c) which are sent to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4),

wherein the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4) onward is the same as for a land-based Lightning-Harvester.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein non-conducting ropes(1ba) are attached to this sea-based-system so that it can be towed by a ship (1bb).

It is another aspect of the present invention version that the lightning is conducted via the lightning-rod(1) into the sea, which gets instantly charged and automatically a little electric-energy is picked-up and sent to the safety-units onshore via the undersea-transmission-cable(11), and the sea then dissipates the rest of the electric-charge from the lighting-attracting-rod.

It is another aspect of the present invention version, that the sea acts as the earthing-unit.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the ship (1bb) that tows the lighting-rig (2a) and lightning-net (2b) is remotely controlled so as to minimise human-presence in the vicinity of the lightning-strikes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1: Illustrates the Lightning-rod(1) connected to a rectangular lightning-bed(2) with earthing(1a) and Conductors(3) and conducting-rod-wires(3c).

Figure 2: Illustrates pattern-recognition-detector-switch-convertor in the system according to the present invention.

Figure 2a:  Illustrates detail from Figure 2.

Figure 3 : Illustrates a number of rectangular-lightning-rods(2) connected to a single Lightning-rod(1) with the space inbetween for non-human occupation -for example, trees in single-fruit-orchards, with a beehive in the center of each orchard.

Figure 4:  This illustrates the flow of electric-charge from a Lighting-rod(1) to a circular-lightning-bed(2c) through conductors (3) to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(4) to the input-wire(7) to the Switches (8 = 8a and then 8b) and then to the convertor(9) and then to the output wire (10).  This also illustrates safe-paths (12) for personnel to approach the lightning-rod(1) for maintenance purposes.

Figure 5: Illustrates the configuration of another embodiment (the Sea-Lightning-Harvester(SLH)) with the Lightning-Rod(1), the lightning-rig (2a), the symbolic lightning-bed (2d), the lightning-net(2b), the conductors (3), the sea-transmission-wire-output(3a) of the conductors, the consolidated undersea-transmission-wire(3b), all being towed by non-conducting-ropes(1ba) by a remote-controlled-ship(1bb) .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

As already described, the invention is directed towards a system and method for harvesting electrical energy from lightning. The converted electrical energy is then conducted via long-distance-transmission-lines to places of utilization and need.

Reference is now made to accompanying figures 1 to 4 illustrating the system of the present invention comprising one or more lightning-rods (1); one or more earthing-units (1a); one or more lightning-beds (2); one or more conductors (3);  one or more safety-units (comprised of 4, 7, 8a, 8b and 9); output-wires (10) and transmission-cables (11).

The Lightning-rod(1) is connected to a lightning-bed(2) by a very strong conducting cable or rod in the case of a number of rectangular lightning-beds being connected to the Lightning-rod(1).  In the case of a circular lightning-bed(2c), the Lightning-rod(1) is right in the center and is constructed in the middle of the lightning-bed(2c).

Each of the rectangular lightning-beds (2) are at least one kilometer long.  The circular lightning-bed (2c) has a radius of at least one kilometer.  The lightning-beds are filled with with water (necessary) and volcanic glass (optional) which is a conductor of electric-charge.  The lightning-beds are earthed to the land using the earthing-units (1a).  The conductors (3) essentially consist of conducting-rods in a circuit with appropriate resistance to conduct a small amount of electricity from the lightning to the output-wire(3c) and then to the safety-unit(4, 7, 8a, 8b, 9, 10).

The safety-unit comprises of the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD) (4), the input-wire (7),  switches (8a and 8b), and one or more convertors (9).

The conducting-rod-output (3c) is connected to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD) (4).  The PRD detects the incoming voltage(Vi)-current(Ii) specification.  Based on this finding, and the data of the required voltage(Vo)-current(Io) specification, the PRD decides which switches to throw in the first-switch-box(8a) and second-switch-box(8b).  The electric-charge is routed to the first-switch-box(8a), where the switch determined in the PRD(4) is thrown, which causes the electric-charge to be routed to the appropriate second-switch-box(8b).  The switch determined in the PRD is thrown in this second-switch-box(8b),, which causes the electric-charge to be routed to a convertor(9), which will convert the input-voltage(Vi)-current(Ii) specification to the required output-voltage(Vo)-current(Io) specification.  The electric-charge has thus been converted to standardised electricity which is then transmitted by the output-wires (10) to the transmission lines(11) that will carry this electricity to places of need and utilisation.

There is a single first-switch(8a).  When the Pattern-Recognition-Detector PRD (4) determines the switches that should be thrown based on the (Vi-Ii, Vo-Io) feature, the first-switch(8a) switch is based on (Vi-Ii).  The second-switch(8b) is based on (Vo-Io).  Thus a circuit is dynamically-defined based on the input and output voltage-current-specifications.  This dynamic-circuit will route the electric chare from the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4) through the first-switch(8a), the second-switch(8b) and then to the convertor(9).

The flow of the electric-charge is from the Lightning-Rod(1) through the lightning-bed(2 or 2c), to the conducting-rods(3) to the conducting-rod-output(3c) to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4) to to the input-wire-to-the-first-switch(7), the first-switch(8a), then the second-switch(8b) and then to the convertor (9), from which the produced electricity flows through the output-wires(10) to the long-distance transmission-wires (11) to the places of need and utilisation.

 

The lightning-bed could be rectangular, with a number of lightning-beds(2) connected to one lightning-rod(1) (Figure 3), or it could be circular(2c) (Figure 4), with the lightning-rod(1) at the centre. A single lightning-rod can be the harvester for atleast 3 - 4 rectangular lightning-beds.

The method of converting lightning into electric energy is explained with reference to figures 1 to 4. The lightning rod (1) at a high level channels a bolt of lightning from the sky to the lightning beds (2). The conducting-rods (3) are placed into the conducting-mixture from above, where they are held in place by a non-conducting-grill.  When lightning hits the lightning-rod(1), it is conducted to the lightning-bed(2 or  2c), and then the lightning-bed (2 or 2c) is momentarily charged.  During this moment, a small amount of electric-charge is drawn by the conducting-rod(3).  It is then sent from the conducting-rod(3) via its output-wire(3c), to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4).

In the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4), there is a defined range of current-voltage specifications forming features, and the test-sample is recognized as belonging to a particular set of features.  Each feature is a set of 4 values -

          *  the input-voltage(Vi),

          *  the input-current(Ii),

          *  the output-voltage(Vo), and

          *  the output-current(Io).

Based on the feature, built as (Vi, Ii, Vo, Io), a particular switch is thrown in the first-switch(8a) based on (Vi, Ii) and another switch is thrown in the second-switch(8b)-leading-from-that-first-switch(8a) based on (Vo, Io). 

Based on this a switch is thrown in the first-switch (8a), which causes the electric-charge from the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4) to traverse a particular circuit through to the second-switch(8b). 

Based on this a switch is thrown in the second-switch(8b), which causes the electric-charge from the first-switch(8a) to traverse through to the convertor (9). 

So thus the electric-charge traverses that onward circuit and it flows into the convertor which is hard-wired to convert the input current-voltage into the output current-voltage.

The safety-unit thus checks all the incoming electric-charge and converts them or tweaks them so that they convert exactly to required-specifications. 

Each convertor has input of a particular range of voltage and current. There are many permutations and combinations of input-voltage, input-current, output-voltage and output-current specifications. 

The first-switch(8a) is based solely on the input-voltage-current specification, so that the super-set of the convertors that handle only that input-voltage-current specification is chosen..

The second-switch(8b) is based solely on the output-voltage-current specification, so that the exact convertor that handles the conversion of that input-voltage-current specification to that output-voltage-current-specification is chosen.

The Convertor (9) converts the electric-charge of input voltage-current [Vi, Ii] to the required output voltage-current [Vo, Io] electricity.

The output-wires (10) from the convertor(9) transmit the electricity to the transmission-wires(11) which transmit the electricity to the storage and utilization facilities.

All electric-units are safely earthed (1a) so that the electricity flows safely into the ground.  Earthing is for the safety of the ground as well as the system.  The ground needs the lightning and the system should be protected from the abundant-bountiful nature of unhandle-able lightning. 

There may be about a 100 plug-in conductors(3) per lightning-bed(2).  For a kilometre-long lightning-bed, there could be a conducting-rod every 10 metres, which makes it about a 100 per kilometre (or 101) on each side. The conducting-rods(3) would extract electricity from the lightning-bed(2, 2c) and send it through the wires(3c) to the Pattern-Recogntion-Detector (PRD)(4) and onward.

Because the amount of energy in the lightning-bolts is very large and could cause damage to humans if they stay near it, the area in-between the lightning-beds can be used for cultivation particularly for fruit-tree orchards with a bee hive in the center of each orchard as shown in Figure 3. This pattern can be repeated across the area that is lighting-prone. 

The system is provided with a safe-path (12) for operating-personnel, from the outside of the radius of the lightning-bed to the lightning-conducting-rod, for purposes of maintenance as shown in Figure 4.

In another embodiment, there is provided an off shore system for harvesting lightning as illustrated in figure 5.  The system comprising

          one lightning-rod (1);

          one lightning-rig (2a);

          one lightning-bed (2d);

          lightning-net (2b);

          one or more conductors (3), each connected to a transmission-cable (3a); 

          all the transmission-cables (3a) are connected to one consolidated transmission-cable (3b);

          one or more non-conducting ropes (1ba) that pull the lightning-rig (2a) with its associated lightning-net (2b);

          a remote-controlled ship(1bb) that pulls the lightning-rig(2a) and lightning-net(2b); 

          one or more safety-units (PRD(4), 7, 8a, 8b, 9) on the sea-shore; and

          the equipment onward from there. 

The lightning-rod (1) is mounted on the lightning-rig (2a).  The lightning-rig is surrounded by the lightning-net (2b). A ship (1bb) tows the rig using non-conducting rope (1ba) and follows the storm to be near the lightning, as per need. 

The lightning-net (2b) has conductors (3) attached securely to the lightning-net (2b), each with an output-wire (3a).  The output-wires(3a) are consolidated into one undersea-transmission-cable (3b) which transmits the picked-up charge to the safety-units on the shore. 

 The conductors (3) essentially consisting of conducting-rods in circuits with adequate resistance to pick-up electric-charge, and is sent via the undersea-transmission-cables (3a to 3b) to the safety-units (4, 7, 8a, 8b, 9) on the shore.

The undersea transmission cables (3b) can be rolled out as the lightning-net (2b) is towed along with the lightning-rig (2a) by the ship(1b) as it chases the storm.

The lightning-bed (2d) is automatically “earthed” because the lightning-charge is dissipated in the sea safely, while the conductors (3) pick up just as little as they need. 

A remote controlled ship(1bb) is provided for navigating the system i.e, during actual operation in the sea, the process is remotely controlled by personnel on the shore for safety reasons since the ship will be chasing the storm and it could get dangerous.

The method of converting lightning into electric energy is as follows. The lightning rod (1) at a high level channels bolts of lightning from the sky to the lightning bed (2d).

The conducting-rods (3) pick up a little electric-charge and send it to the cable (3a).  The cable (3a) goes to the consolidated cable (3b).  This single undersea transmission cable (3b) transmits all the charge to the safety unit on the sea-shore.

The safety unit on the seashore consists of a number of

          *  Pattern-Recognition-detectors (4)

          *  Input-wire (7) to the first-switch(8a)

          *  First-switch(8a)

          *  Second-switch(8b)

          * Convertor (9)

          * Output-wire (10) from the convertor

          *  Tranmsission cable (11) to places of utilisation and need.

The safety unit is the same as for the land-based Lighting-Harvester.

I CLAIM:

1. A land-based system for converting lightning into electrical energy comprising:

one or more lightning-rods(1);

one or more earthing-units (1a);

one or more lightning-beds (2 or 2c);

one or more conductors (3);  

one wire(3c) from each Conductor (3);

one or more safety-units; and

transmission-cable (11),

wherein the lightning-rod (1) channels bolts of lightning from the sky to the lightning-beds (2, 2c),

wherein the safety-unit further comprises of a Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4), an input(7) to the first-switch(8a),  a first-switch(8a), a second-switch(8b), a convertor(9), and an output-wire(10) from the convertor(9),

wherein the conductors (3) provided in the lightning-bed (2, 2c) are connected to a Pattern-Recognition-Detector(4) via wires(3c),

wherein the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (4) samples the incoming electric-charge from the wires(3c) from the Conductor (3) and determines the input voltage-current specifications.  The PRD is also informed of the required output voltage-current specifications.  It then determines which switch should be thrown in the first-switch (8a) and which switch in the second-switch (8b).  The PRD (4) then sends the electric-charge to the first-switch(8a), where based on the determined voltage-current-specifications the chosen switch is thrown to send the electric-charge to the appropriate second-switch(8b), because there is a choice of second-switches(8b), where based on the required output voltage-current the next-chosen switch is thrown to close the appropriate circuit that will cause the electric-charge to flow to the appropriate convertor(9) where it is converted to the required standardised electric specification, and then it is sent to the convertors(9) output-wire(10),

from where it is sent by long-distance-transmission-wires (11) to places of need and utilisation.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lightning-beds (2 / 2c) are at least one-kilometre long / in-radius.

2a.  The system as claimed in claim 2, where in the lightning-beds(2 / 2c) are filled with water (necessary) and volcanic glass(optional).

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lightning-beds (2 / 2c) are earth wired to the land using the earthing-units (1a) in the case of land Lightning-Harvesters(LH).

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductors (3) essentially consists of conducting-rods connected to circuits with appropriate resistance to draw out the a specified amount of electric-charge from the momentarily-charged lightning-bed.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric-charge from the conductor (3) is made to flow to its output-wires(3c), which route to the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4).

6.  The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Pattern-Recognition-Detector (PRD)(4) recognises the incoming voltage-current specification.  It is informed of the required output voltage-current specification.  Based on these parameters, the PRD (4) decides which switch to throw in the first-switch(8a) and which switch to throw in the second-switch(8b).

7.  The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first-switch(8a) has multiple options and the switch that is thrown is pre-determined by the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4) that preceded it.

8.  The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second-switch(8b) has multiple options and the switch that is thrown is pre-determined by the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4) that preceded the first-switch (8a).

9.  The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit that is thus set from the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4) through the first-switch(8a) and the second-switch(8b) leads to the convertor(9) that is appropriate to convert the input voltage-current specification electric-charge into the required output voltage-current specification electricity.

10.  The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the required voltage-current specification electricity is obtained at the output-wire(10) from the convertor(9).

11.  The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electricity is sent by long-distance-transmission-cables(11) to places of need and utilisation.

12. The system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 11, wherein desired output voltage-current is obtained by the electric-charge being traversed through the lightning-attracting-rod(1), the lightning-bed (2, 2c), the Conductor (3), the Conductors-output-wire(3c), the Pattern-Recognition-Detector(4), the input-wire(7) to the first-switch(8a), the first-switch(8a), the second-switch(8b) and then through the Convertor(9) and then to the output-wire(10) of the Convertor(9). 

From the output-wire(10) the standardised electricity can be conducted away to places of need and utilisation via long-distance-transmission-wires(11).

13. A sea-based system for converting lightning into electrical energy comprising:

one or more lightning-rods(1);

one or more lightning-beds (2d);

one or more lightning-rigs (2a);

one or more lightning-nets (2b);

one or more conductors (3);

one or more conductor-output-wires(3a);

one undersea consolidated-wire(3b);

one or more safety-units; and

transmission-cables (11),

wherein there is a remote-controlled-ship(1bb) to tow a lightning-rig(2a),

wherein the lightning-rod (1) is fixed through the lightning-rig (2a) into the sea water, and surrounded by the lightning-net (2b),

wherein the purpose of the lightning-net(2b) is to hold conductors(3) at well-spaced intervals through the sea to pick up a small amount of the instantaneous charge that is found within the area within the circumference of the lightning-net(2b), with the remaining charge being  dissipated in the sea, when lightning strikes the Lightning-Rod(1),

where in the conductors(3) have an output-wire(3a), and all the output-wires(3a) are consolidated to form one undersea-transmission-cable(3b),

wherein the undersea-tranmsission-cable(3b) transmits the electric-charge to the safety-units on the sea-shore,

wherein the safety-units comprise a Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4), an input-wire (7), a first-switch(8a), a second-switch(8b) and a Convertor(9),

wherein the components of the safety-unit are the same as for the land-based Lightning-Harvester.

14. The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein non-conducting rope (1ba) is attached from a remote-controlled-ship(1bb) to the system for towing.

15.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lightning-rod (1) is fixed through the lightning-rig (2a) into the sea water, and surrounded by the lightning-net (2b).

16.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lightning-bed (2d) is a "virtual" lightning-bed defined by the lightning-net(2b), and it allows the lightning to naturally-dissipate in the water, while the conductors(3) pick-up a little of the charge, obviating the necessity for explicit earthing.

17.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the purpose of the lightning-net(2b) is to hold conductors(3) at well-spaced intervals through the sea to pick up a small amount of the instantaneous charge that is found within the area within the circumference of the lightning-net(2b), with the remaining charge being  dissipated in the sea, when lightning strikes the Lightning-Rod(1).

18.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the conductors (3) consists of conducting-rods connected to a circuit with appropriate resistance to draw a specified amount of electric-charge from the momentarily-charged sea-water.

19.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13,  where in the conductors(3) each have an output-wire(3a), and all the output-wires(3a) are consolidated to form one undersea-transmission-cable(3b).

20.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the undersea-tranmsission-cable(3b) transmits the electric-charge to the safety-units on the sea-shore.

21.  The sea-based system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the safety-units comprise a Pattern-Recognition-Detector(PRD)(4), an input-wire (7), a first-switch(8a), a second-switch(8b) and a Convertor(9), and wherein the components of the safety-unit are the same as for the land-based Lightning-Harvester.

22. The sea-based system  as claimed in anyone of claims 13 to 21, wherein desired output voltage-current electricity is obtained by routing the electric-charge picked up from the charged-lightning-bed(2d) which has been charged by lightning, through the conductors(3), conductor-wire(3a), undersea-transmission-cable(3b), Pattern-Recognition-Detector(4), input-wire(7), first-switch(8a), second-switch(8b), convertor(9) and convertor-output-wire(10).

23. The off shore system as claimed in anyone of claims 7 to 16, wherein a remote controlled ship(1bb) is provided for towing the system with non-conducting ropes (1ba) and navigating the sea.




http://annsinventions.blogspot.in/2013/12/lightning-harvester-complete.html