Adjustable weir for hydroelectric dam installations

Abstract

A system for controllably adjusting spent water levels in the tailrace pool area of a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway. The system comprises: (a) a controllably adjustable weir device installed into a downstream portion of the waterway adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area. The controllably adjustable weir device is configured for controllably impeding egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area, (b) an apparatus provided with operative components configured for manipulating the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase and decrease the impediment therewith of spent water egress from the tailrace pool area. The operative components are serviceable from above the spent water, and (c) a control device configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for manipulating the controllably adjustable weir therewith. The controllably adjustable weir device may be optionally installed into an excavation provided downstream adjacent to the tailrace pool area.

1 . A system for controllably adjusting spent water levels in the tailrace pool area of a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway, the system comprising:
 a controllably adjustable weir device installed into a downstream portion of the waterway adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area, said weir device configured for controllably impeding the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;   an apparatus provided with operative components configured for manipulating said controllably adjustable weir device for controllably increasing and decreasing the impediment therewith of spent water egress from the tailrace pool area, said operative components serviceable from above the spent water; and   a control device configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for manipulating the adjustable weir therewith.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controllably adjustable weir device is installed into an excavation provided downstream of the tailrace pool area, said excavation having a proximal end about the distal end of the tailrace pool. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of excavations are provided downstream of the tailrace pool area, a first of said plurality of excavations having a proximal end about the distal end of the tailrace pool, wherein at least one controllably adjustable weir device is installed into the plurality of excavations. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein an excavation having said controllably adjustable weir device installed therein, is additionally provided with a secondary excavation configured to completely house therein said controllably adjustable weir device when said device is manipulated into a fully un-impeding mode. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein one end of said controllably adjustable weir is attached to one side of the downstream portion of the waterway. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein one end of the controllably adjustable weir is attached to one side of the downstream portion of the waterway, and the other end of the controllably adjustable weir is attached to other side of the downstream portion of the waterway. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controllably adjustable weir comprises a plurality of bladders, said bladders tethered-together to form a line of bladders, said bladders controllably inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein each bladder is additionally tethered to at least one support structure imbedded into the waterway therefor. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein each bladder from said plurality of bladders is separately controllably inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of bladders is controllably inflatable by a compressed air supply. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein said control device is configured for manipulably controlling a compressed air supply to said plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controllably adjustable weir comprises a plurality of sets of stacked bladders, said sets of stacked bladders tethered-together to form a line of sets of stacked bladders, each set of stacked bladders controllably inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein each set of stacked bladders is additionally tethered to at least one support structure imbedded into the waterway therefor. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of bladders is controllably inflatable by a compressed air supply. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein said control device is configured for manipulably controlling a compressed air supply to said plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said controllably adjustable weir device comprises at least one gated structure comprising:
 a framework;   a gate element configured for sealing engagement with said framework; and   operative elements cooperating with said framework and said gate element, said operative elements configured for controllably engaging, partially disengaging, and completely disengaging said framework and said gate element, wherein   the gated structure impedes the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area when the framework and gate element are sealingly engaged, and partially impedes the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area when the framework and gate element are partially dis-engaged.   
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the control device is configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for mechanically manipulating the adjustable weir therewith. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the control device is configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for hydraulically manipulating the adjustable weir therewith. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control device comprises a microprocessor and manipulable software provided therefore, said microprocessor and software configured for at least one of:
 (a) monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area;   (b) calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam; and   (c) communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase or decreases the impediment provided therewith to the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area.   
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein said control device is housed in a facility provided therefore on a bank of the waterway downstream from the hydroelectric power-generating dam. 
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein said control device is housed in a facility provided therefore in the hydroelectric power-generating dam. 
     
     
         22 . A method for controllably adjusting spent water levels in the tailrace pool area of a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway, the method comprising:
 providing a controllably adjustable weir device installed into a downstream portion of the waterway adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area, said weir device configured for controllably impeding the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;   providing an apparatus provided with operative components configured for manipulating said controllably adjustable weir device for controllably increasing and decreasing the impediment therewith of spent water egress from the tailrace pool area, said operative components serviceable from above the spent water;   providing a control device configured for communicating and cooperating with apparatus for manipulating the adjustable weir therewith, for monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area, for calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam, and for communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase or decrease the impediment provided therewith to the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;   monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area;   calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam; and   communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase or decrease the impediment provided therewith to the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area.   
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one excavation is provided for installation therein of at least one controllably adjustable weir device. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein one end of said controllably adjustable weir is attached to one side of the downstream portion of the waterway. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein one end of the controllably adjustable weir is attached to one side of the downstream portion of the waterway, and the other end of the controllably adjustable weir is attached to other side of the downstream portion of the waterway. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the controllably adjustable weir comprises a plurality of bladders, said bladders tethered-together to form a line of bladders, said bladders controllably inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein each bladder is additionally tethered to at least one support structure imbedded into the waterway therefor. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein each bladder from said plurality of bladders is separately controllably inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein said plurality of bladders is controllably inflatable by a compressed air supply. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said control device is configured for manipulably controlling a compressed air supply to said plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the controllably adjustable weir comprises a plurality of sets of stacked bladders, said sets of stacked bladders tethered-together to form a line of sets of stacked bladders, each set of stacked bladders controllably inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein each set of stacked bladders is additionally tethered to at least one support structure imbedded into the waterway therefor. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said plurality of bladders is controllably inflatable by a compressed air supply. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said control device is configured for manipulably controlling a compressed air supply to said plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said controllably adjustable weir device comprises at least one gated structure comprising:
 a framework;   a gate element configured for sealing engagement with said framework; and   operative elements cooperating with said framework and said gate element, said operative elements configured for controllably engaging, partially disengaging, and completely disengaging said framework and said gate element, wherein   the gated structure impedes the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area when the framework and gate element are sealingly engaged, and partially impedes the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area when the framework and gate element are partially dis-engaged.   
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the control device is configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for mechanically manipulating the adjustable weir therewith. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the control device is configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for hydraulically manipulating the adjustable weir therewith.