Hydroelectric power plant and method of generating power

Abstract

A hydroelectric power plant includes a wedge having a fluid intake and a fluid exhaust. and a first fluid engine inside the wedge and located between the fluid intake and the fluid exhaust in a fluid path inside the wedge. The wedge includes at least upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other by at least approximately 15°. The wedge is shaped to divide a fluid flow into at least first and second flow portions and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the fluid intake.

1 . A hydroelectric power plant, comprising: 
 a wedge comprising a fluid intake and a fluid exhaust; and    a first fluid engine inside the wedge and located between the fluid intake and the fluid exhaust in a fluid path inside the wedge,    wherein the wedge comprises at least upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other by at least approximately 15°,    wherein the wedge is shaped to divide a fluid flow into at least first and second flow portions and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the fluid intake.    
   
   
       2 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid path inside the wedge is approximately vertical.  
   
   
       3 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower surfaces are angled with respect to each other by approximately 30° to 60°.  
   
   
       4 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper and lower surfaces is adjustable so that the angle at which the upper and lower surfaces are angled with respect to each other is adjustable.  
   
   
       5 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant comprises a plurality of fluid intakes. 
 wherein the wedge is shaped to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the plurality of fluid intakes,    wherein the plant further comprises at least one tangential fluid engine associated with each of the plurality of fluid intakes, each tangential fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the each tangential fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging tangentially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor.    
   
   
       6 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid engine comprises a tangential fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the first fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging tangentially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor.  
   
   
       7 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid engine comprises an axial fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the first fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging axially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor.  
   
   
       8 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of tangential fluid engines, each tangential fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the each tangential fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging tangentially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor; and    a plurality of axial fluid engines, each axial fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the each axial fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging axially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor.    
   
   
       9 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second fluid engine inside the wedge and located between the fluid intake and the fluid exhaust in the fluid path.  
   
   
       10 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second fluid engine comprises an axial fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the second fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging axially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor.  
   
   
       11 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first fluid engine comprises a tangential fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the first fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging tangentially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor, and 
 wherein the rotor of the tangential fluid engine is directly connected to the rotor of the axial fluid engine via a shaft.    
   
   
       12 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising an electrical generator located substantially above the wedge and connected to the rotors of the tangential fluid engine and the axial fluid engine.  
   
   
       13 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first fluid engine comprises a tangential fluid engine having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis, whereby the first fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging tangentially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor, and 
 wherein the plant further comprises: a first electrical generator located substantially above the wedge and connected to the rotor of the tangential fluid engine; and a second electrical generator located substantially above the wedge and connected to the rotor of the axial fluid engine.    
   
   
       14 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising all approximately vertically oriented funnel located in the fluid path.  
   
   
       15 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first fluid engine is located after the funnel in the fluid path.  
   
   
       16 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first fluid engine is located in the funnel.  
   
   
       17 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the funnel comprises ridges to induce a preferred flow of fluid inside the funnel.  
   
   
       18 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface is approximately horizontal.  
   
   
       19 . The hydroelectric power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid exhaust is shaped to expel fluid in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of fluid along the lower surface.  
   
   
       20 . A method of generating electricity, comprising: 
 providing a hydroelectric power plant, the plant comprising: 
 a wedge comprising a fluid intake and a fluid exhaust; and  
 a first fluid engine inside the wedge and located between the fluid intake and the fluid exhaust in a fluid path inside the wedge,  
 wherein the wedge comprises at least upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other by at least approximately 15°,  
 wherein the wedge is shaped to divide a fluid flow into at least first and second flow portions and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the fluid intake; and  
   inserting the plant into a body of water.    
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the step of inserting comprises inserting the plant into the body of water so that at a location of the insertion, a maximum height of the wedge is approximately 30% to 70% a depth of the body of water at the location.  
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the step of inserting comprises inserting the plant into the body of water so that the lower surface is at least approximately ten feet above a floor of the body of water.  
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the step of inserting comprises inserting the plant into the body of water so that the lower surface is approximately flush with a floor o f the body of water.  
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the plant further comprises an electrical generator, and 
 wherein the step of inserting comprises inserting the plant into the body of water so that the electrical generator is above a water level of the body of water.