Air - water electric generator

[Cloxxki]

I recently saw a similar sytem proposed, where the air was contained in the buckets.
A weight acting as piston or similar feature on each buckets would on the way down be compressing the gas chamber, reducing total bucket volume. On the way up, the weight would be pulling on the air pocket, expanding it.
Adjusted properly, it's easy to thing that as long as the bucket's density is greater than water going down, and less when going up, you'd have perpetual motion.

Could a test with a single bucket already verify the function of the eventual device?
Say, a supple oversided gas-tight cover on a bucket, with a valve to administer extra water as needed. A weight attached to the center of the cover, so it will not remove itself, and use its weight to enhance bucket volume. Submerge, adjust cover size, water content and weight, and see if turning it upside down offers the desired effect.
We'd be looking for the most significant density differences, on either side of 1kg/l.

Using air bubble I'm afraid will not easily work for reasons offered: it needs to be compressed to get tot the required depth. Far-fetched idea such as under-pressurized steam machines come to mind to come up with bubbles of some kind. Not easy, small change of success.

An eventual prototype might need to be enclosed rather than in open water, to channel water flow and reduce viscosity losses.

[lightend]

why not have the water in a massive bucket and have holes in the bottom to fill expandable containers?

makes a bit more sense, why pump air down through water when you can suck it up from the bottom.

[vasik041]

To make it work you need phase transition.
E.g. if you use liquid air or electrolize to create bubles ;-)

[lightend]

currently homless, trying to get back to the uk, will start build once there