Hydroelectric powerplant

Abstract

A hydroelectric turbine and a method of using the turbine in an open body of water to produce electric power is described. A turbine has a large opening to allow a stream of water to pass through. The turbine is supported by a plurality of rubber tires such that a reaction force from the stream of water holds against the tires. A frame with a floatation chamber is used to lower the turbine into position in the stream of water, and to raise the turbine to a horizontal position on the surface of the body of water. The floatation chamber is partially filled with water to lower the turbine in the body of water such that an air pocket exists in the chamber to orient the turbine in a vertical position. When the chamber is purged of water, the turbine is raised to the surface. Rotation of the turbine drives the tires, which drive pumps to pump fluid to a motor, which drives an electric generator to produce power.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hydroelectric turbine which: 
       has no central shaft;  
       transfers rotational energy from it's outer rim to synthetic rubber tires;  
       has an open area through it's center larger than the area occupied by it's blades;  
       has no bearings, bushings or friction load handling devices but depends on an external means to hold it in position.  
     
     
       2. A hydroelectric power plant for use in a body of water, comprising: 
       a turbine having a plurality of blades extending in a radial direction;  
       an outer and inner rim encircling the blades;  
       a plurality of rubber tires supporting the turbine in a vertical orientation during rotation of the turbine, and in a horizontal orientation during non-rotation of the turbine;  
       an electric generator enclosed in a generator enclosure, the generator being rotationally connected to at least one of the tires;  
       whereby a flow of water produces a rotation of the turbine, the rotation of the turbine produces a rotation of the tires, and the rotation of at least one of the tires produces a rotation of the generator which produces an electric power.  
     
     
       3. The hydroelectric power plant of  claim 2  wherein the turbine has an open area through it's center which allows an unrestricted flow of water. 
     
     
       4. The hydroelectric power plant of  claim 2  wherein the turbine is supported by rubber tires which are supported by a frame. 
     
     
       5. A method of stopping and starting a rotation of a turbine in a body of water, comprising the steps of: 
       providing a turbine having a plurality of blades extending in a radial direction;  
       providing an outer and inner rim encircling the blades;  
       providing a plurality of rubber tires to support the turbine in both a horizontal position and a vertical position;  
       providing a flotation chamber encircling the turbine;  
       filling the flotation chamber substantially with air to raise the turbine to a surface of the body of water such that a rotational axis of the turbine is perpendicular to the surface;  
       filling the flotation chamber substantially with water such that the heavier-than-air water comes to rest on a bottom of the flotation chamber and pulls the turbine under the surface of the water and pivots the turbine such that the rotational axis is directed parallel to the surface;  
       whereby a flow of water under the surface is directed along the rotational axis of the turbine to produce a rotation thereof.  
     
     
       6. A method of turning a generator in a body of water, comprising the steps of: 
       providing a hydraulic turbine of  claim 5 ;  
       providing an electric generator enclosed in a generator enclosure;  
       providing at least one hydraulic motor being rotationally connected to an electric generator;  
       providing at least one hydraulic pump being rotationally connected to a plurality of rubber tires;  
       whereby the rotation of the turbine produces as rotation of the rotation of at least one rubber tire produces the rotation of at least one hydraulic pump which produces rotation of at least one hydraulic motor which produces rotation of an electric generator which produces an electric power.  
     
     
       7. A method of supporting a turbine in a body of water, comprising the steps of: 
       providing a turbine having a plurality of blades extending in a radial direction;  
       providing an outer and inner rim encircling the blades;  
       providing a plurality of rubber tires secured to a frame;  
       providing a frame with a flotation chamber secured to the bottom of the body of water and buoyed off bottom;  
       whereby a turbine which rotates is supported in every direction by rubber tires.  
     
     
       8. A hydroelectric turbine which: 
       
         has an open area through its center, comprising:  
       
       
         a means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine; and  
       
       
         a means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity, wherein said means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades;  
       
       
         at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of a fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate;  
       
       
         an additional plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one additional rim to which each of said additional plurality of blades is connected, wherein said at least one rim and said at least one additional rim are in a common plane, and wherein flow of the fluid passing over said additional plurality of blades causes said additional plurality of blades and said at least one additional rim to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of said at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected. 
       
     
     
       9. A hydroelectric turbine which: 
       
         has an open area through its center, comprising:  
       
       
         a means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine; and  
       
       
         a means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity, wherein said means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         an inner rim to which an inner end of each of said plurality of blades is connected, and an outer rim to which an outer end of each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of a fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said inner rim and said outer rim to rotate,  
       
       
         and wherein said inner rim defines a boundary of said open area through the center of said hydroelectric turbine. 
       
     
     
       10. The hydroelectric turbine according to  claim 9 , wherein said inner rim defines an inner area greater than an outer area defined between said inner and outer rims. 
     
     
       11. The hydroelectric turbine according to  claim 9 , wherein the hydroelectric turbine has no central shaft. 
     
     
       12. A hydroelectric turbine which: 
       
         has an open area through its center, comprising:  
       
       
         a means for raising and lowering said turbine within a body of water, wherein said means for raising and lowering said turbine within a body of water also functions to rotate said turbine such that a plane containing said at least one rim rotates from a vertical to a horizontal position or rotates from a horizontal to a vertical position,  
       
       
         a means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine; and  
       
       
         a means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity, wherein said means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of a fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate. 
       
     
     
       13. The hydroelectric turbine according to  claim 12 , wherein said means for raising and lowering said turbine comprises: 
       
         at least two floatation chambers,  
       
       
         wherein said floatation chambers are filled with varying proportions of liquid and gas in order to raise and lower said turbine. 
       
     
     
       14. A hydroelectric turbine which: 
       
         has an open area through its center, comprising:  
       
       
         a means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine; and  
       
       
         a means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity, wherein said means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of a fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate, wherein said means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity comprises:  
       
       
         at least one hydraulically powered generator,  
       
       
         wherein said at least one hydraulically powered generator is powered by hydraulic fluid pressurized by at least one hydraulic pump, and wherein said at least one hydraulic pump is powered by the rotational energy of said turbine,  
       
       
         further comprising at least one means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump, wherein rotation of said shaft pressurizes the hydraulic fluid which powers the generator,  
       
       
         wherein said at least one means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump also functions to maintain said plurality of blades connected to said at least one rim in position with respect to a plane perpendicular with the lateral flow of the fluid while flow of the fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate. 
       
     
     
       15. The hydroelectric turbine according to  claim 14 , further comprising a frame, wherein said means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity is attached to said frame and said pressurized fluid is routed through passages in said frame. 
     
     
       16. The hydroelectric turbine according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump also functions to maintain said plurality of blades connected to said at least one rim in position with respect to an axis of rotation of said plurality of blades connected to said at least one rim. 
     
     
       17. A hydroelectric turbine which: 
       
         has an open area through its center, comprising:  
       
       
         a means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine; and  
       
       
         a means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity, wherein said means for converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of a fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate, wherein said means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into electricity comprises:  
       
       
         at least one hydraulically powered generator,  
       
       
         wherein said at least one hydraulically powered generator is powered by hydraulic fluid pressurized by at least one hydraulic pump, and wherein said at least one hydraulic pump is powered by the rotational energy of said turbine,  
       
       
         further comprising at least one means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump, wherein rotation of said shaft pressurizes the hydraulic fluid which powers the generator,  
       
       
         wherein said at least one means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump frictionally contacts said at least one rim such that said at least one rim rotates said means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump as said at least one rim rotates. 
       
     
     
       18. The hydroelectric turbine according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said at least one means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump comprises: 
       
         a rubber tire,  
       
       
         wherein the rubber tire frictionally contacts said at least one rim such that said at least one rim rotates said means for converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump as said at least one rim rotates. 
       
     
     
       19. A method of converting flow of a fluid into electricity, comprising the steps of: 
       
         converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of a turbine, wherein said turbine has an open area through its center;  
       
       
         powering at least one hydraulic pump by the rotational energy of said turbine, to produce pressurized hydraulic fluid;  
       
       
         powering at least one hydraulically powered generator by said pressurized hydraulic fluid to product electricity,  
       
       
         wherein said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of said fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate, converting flow of the fluid into rotational energy of said turbine,  
       
       
         where said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         an inner rim, to which an inner end of each of said plurality of blades is connected; and an outer rim to which an outer end of each of said plurality of blades is connected, wherein said inner rim defines a boundary of an open area through the center of said hydroelectric turbine. 
       
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said turbine is secured to a bottom of a body of water such that flow of water within said body of water is converted to electricity. 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said inner rim defines an inner area greater than an outer area defined between said inner and outer rims. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 21 , where said means for raising and lowering said turbine within a body of water also functions to rotate said turbine such that a plane containing said at least one rim rotates from a vertical to a horizontal position or rotates from a horizontal to a vertical position. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said turbine further comprises a means for raising and lowering said turbine within a body of water. 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said means for raising and lowering said turbine comprises: 
       
         at least two floatation chambers,  
       
       
         wherein said floatation chambers are filled with varying proportions of liquid and gas in order to raise and lower said turbine. 
       
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said turbine comprises a frame, wherein said at least one hydraulic pump is attached to said frame and said pressurized fluid is routed through passages in said frame. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of powering at least one hydraulic pump by the rotational energy of said turbine comprises the step of converting the rotational energy of said turbine into rotation of a shaft of each of said at least one hydraulic pump, wherein rotation of said shaft pressurizes the hydraulic fluid which powers the hydraulically powered generator. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 19 , 
       
         wherein said turbine has no central shaft. 
       
     
     
       28. A method of converting flow of a fluid into electricity, comprising the steps of: 
       
         converting flow of a fluid into rotational energy of a turbine, wherein said turbine has an open area through its center;  
       
       
         powering at least one hydraulic pump by the rotational energy of said turbine, to produce pressurized hydraulic fluid;  
       
       
         powering at least one hydraulically powered generator by said pressurized hydraulic fluid, to produce electricity;  
       
       
         wherein said turbine comprises:  
       
       
         a plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected;  
       
       
         wherein flow of said fluid passing over said plurality of blades causes said plurality of blades and said at least one rim to rotate, converting flow of the fluid into rotational energy of said turbine,  
       
       
         wherein said turbine further comprises:  
       
       
         an additional plurality of blades; and  
       
       
         at least one additional rim to which each of said additional plurality of blades is connected, wherein said at least one rim and said at least one additional rim are in a common plane, and wherein flow of the fluid passing over said additional plurality of blades causes said additional plurality of blades and said at least one additional rim to rotate, converting flow of the fluid into rotational energy of said turbine, wherein said additional plurality of blades and said at least one additional rim rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of said at least one rim to which each of said plurality of blades is connected.