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.

Description

BACKGROUND

Power is often extracted from moving water by either damming the water (i.e., effectively stopping the water) and taking advantage of a flow of water downward from the dam, or by using a turbine within a water flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One problem with the former solution is that power is most efficiently extracted from moving water by not having to stop and then re-accelerate the water. One problem with the latter solution is that harsh water environments (such as silt, mud, salt, etc.) often cause fouling and regular maintenance of the turbines. The present invention aims to solve at least one of these and other problems.

In one embodiment, a hydroelectric power plant comprises: 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.

In one aspect, at least a portion of the fluid path inside the wedge is approximately vertical. In one aspect, the upper and lower surfaces are angled with respect to each other by approximately 30° to 60°. In one aspect, 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.

In one aspect, 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.

In one aspect, 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. In one aspect, 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.

In one aspect, the plant further comprises: 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.

In one aspect, the plant further comprises a second fluid engine inside the wedge and located between the fluid intake and the fluid exhaust in the fluid path. In one aspect, 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.

In one aspect, 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.

In one aspect, the plant further comprises an electrical generator located substantially above the wedge and connected to the rotors of the tangential fluid engine and the axial fluid engine.

In one aspect, 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 tile wedge and connected to the rotor of the axial fluid engine.

In one aspect, the plant further comprises an approximately vertically oriented funnel located in the fluid path. In one aspect, the first fluid engine is located after the funnel in the fluid path. In one aspect, the first fluid engine is located in the funnel. In one aspect, the funnel comprises ridges to induce a preferred flow of fluid inside the funnel.

In one aspect, the lower surface is approximately horizontal. In one aspect, the fluid exhaust is shaped to expel fluid in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of fluid along the lower surface.

In one embodiment, a method of generating electricity comprises: 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.

In one aspect, 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.

In one aspect, 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. In one aspect, the step of inserting comprises inserting the plant into the body of water so that the lower surface is approximately flush with a floor of the body of water.

In one aspect, 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a shows a side view of a power plant according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1 b shows a side view of a power plant according to another embodiment.

FIG. 1 c shows a side view of a power plant according to another embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a power plant according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a power plant according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 a shows a perspective view of a power plant according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 b shows a side view of the power plant shown in FIG. 4a.

FIG. 4 c shows a perspective view of a power plant according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a fluid engine according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the use of “a,” “an,” or “the” can refer to the plural. All examples given are for clarification only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1a, a power plant 2 comprises a wedge 3 connected to a generating station 18 via a shaft 20. The generating station 18 includes at least one electrical generator 19, such as a generator that converts rotational energy to electricity, as known in the art. The wedge 3 is located within a body of water having a Body Floor and a Water Level, and comprises an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 14, the surfaces 12, 14 angled with respect to each other by angle Θ. The body of water has a current having a fluid flow 15. The angle Θ may be at least approximately 15°, preferably ranges from approximately 30 to 60°, and more preferably ranges from approximately 40 to 50°. The upper surface 12 may be adjustable with respect to the lower surface 14 so that the angle Θ can be changed, such as from 40° to 50° upon a slowing of the speed of fluid flow 15. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how to make surfaces 12, 14 adjustable with respect to each other. For example, wedge point 13 could be hinged and a hydraulically acting piston connecting opposing ends of the upper and lower surfaces 12, 14 could raise or lower one with respect to the other.

The wedge 3 further comprises a fluid intake 4 and a fluid exhaust 6, and at least one engine 8, 9 located between the fluid intake 4 and the fluid exhaust 6 in a fluid path 10 inside the wedge 3. The wedge 3 is shaped to divide the fluid flow 15 of the body of water into at least a first flow portion 16 and a second flow portion 17, and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion 16 in the fluid intake 4.

The wedge 3 is located in the body of water a height h2 from the Body Floor, which height h2 may range from approximately 5 to 30 feet, and more preferably from about 10 to 20 feet. The wedge 3 has a height h that ranges from approximately 10 to 100 feet, and more preferably from approximately 20 to 30 feet. The ratio of the height h of the wedge 3 to a depth d of the body of water may range from approximately 0.2 to 0.8, and more preferably from approximately 0.4 to 0.6.

In FIG. 1a, fluid intake 4 allows at least a portion of the first flow portion 16 to flow approximately horizontally into a first fluid engine 8. The first fluid engine 8 may be a tangential fluid engine having a rotor and an approximately vertical axis (i.e., vertical as shown in FIG. 1a), whereby the engine 8 is configured to convert kinetic energy of a fluid impinging tangentially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor. Another feature of a tangential fluid engine may be that the rotor spins on an axis that is approximately perpendicular to a vector of the moving fluid. One such tangential fluid engine is a Pelton wheel, as known in the art, but other examples of tangential fluid engines are within the scope of the present invention.

Engines 9 may comprise axial fluid engines, each having a rotor having an approximately vertical axis (i.e., vertical as shown in FIG. 1a), whereby the axial fluid engine is configured to convert kinetic energy of water impinging axially on the rotor to rotational kinetic energy of the rotor. Another feature of an axial fluid engine may be that the rotor spins on an axis that is approximately parallel to a vector of the moving fluid. One such axial fluid engine is an axial turbine, but other examples, such as the suction propeller described with reference to FIG. 5, are within the scope of the present invention.

The engines 8, 9 in FIG. 1a are shown sharing a common shaft or axle 20, connecting the engines to the electrical generator 19. In one embodiment, the rotors of each of engines 8, 9 are directly connected to each other via the axle 20, but in other embodiments: a) rotors of some engines are connected to each other via gears and/or gear boxes, so that differential rotation rates of the respective rotors can be accommodated; or b) the power plant includes multiple axles (such as will be discussed with reference to FIG. 2), and only some of the rotors are directly connected to each other.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the fluid path 10 inside the wedge 3 is substantially or approximately vertical, so that the fluid (in this case, water of the body of water) flows downward at some points in the wedge 3.

The fluid exhaust 6 may be located at a back end 7 of the wedge 3, where a lower pressure is induced by suction caused by first and second flow portions 16, 17 flowing around the wedge 3 (along upper and lower surfaces 12, 14, respectively). Alternatively or in addition, the fluid exhaust 6′ may be located at a distal region (i.e., opposite the wedge point 13) of the lower surface 14, where a lower pressure is induced by the fast moving flow of the second flow portion 17.

The fluid intake 4 may have a width (in a direction perpendicular to the page of FIG. 1a) that spans approximately the entire width of the wedge 3, or only a portion of the width of the wedge 3, such as 10% to 50%.

Further, any combinations of engines 8, 9 (such as using one or more of each of tangential fluid engines and axial fluid engines in any order along fluid path 10) is within the scope of the present invention. Further, engines 8, 9 may include any engines capable of extracting power from a fluid having static and/or dynamic pressures (i.e., not moving or moving).

In one embodiment, wedge 3 is pivotable along a vertical axis (vertical as shown in FIG. 1a), such as along the axis of axle 20, to allow the wedge point 13 to be pointed in a direction parallel to but opposite the vector of fluid flow 15, thus maximizing efficiency of the power plant 2.

In operation, the power plant 2 produces electricity in the following manner. Wedge 3 (if rotatable about an axis) is rotated so that wedge point 13 faces a direction that is approximately parallel but opposite to the vector of fluid flow 15. If the angle Θ is adjustable, then at least one of surfaces 12, 14 is adjusted so that the optimal angle Θ is achieved, depending on the flow speed (and perhaps other factors) of the fluid flow 15. Fluid flow 15 is broken into first and second portions 16, 17, by the wedge 3, causing at least one of the portions 16, 17 to speed up relative to fluid flow 15 (due to a reduction in cross sectional area through which a constant mass flow rate of fluid can pass). At least a portion of the first portion 16 enters into fluid intake 4, the portion having a high total pressure (sum of static and dynamic pressures), and first engine 8 extracts power from the fluid and converts the power to rotational power transferred to the electrical generator 19 via axle 20. The fluid continues along the fluid path 10 to second fluid engines 9, in which more power is extracted from the fluid and power is converted to rotational power transferred to the electrical generator 19 via axle 20. Finally, the fluid is exhausted via fluid exhaust 6 (or 6′) into the body of water.

The increase in velocity of the first portion 16 due to the wedge 3 is useful in extracting power from the fluid (and increasing efficiency over a comparable system that does not increase the velocity of the fluid). Further, the suction created at the fluid exhaust 6 (6′) further increases the velocity of the fluid passing through the fluid path 10, thus allowing the system to extract more power and increase efficiency. In other words, in one embodiment, the fluid is “pushed” into the fluid intake 4 at a velocity higher than in the absence of the wedge 3, and “pulled” from the fluid exhaust 6 at a velocity higher than otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1b, a power plant 2′ has been modified somewhat. Power plant 2′ is similar to power plant 2 in FIG. 1a, except for the following differences: it includes a wedge 3′ having a funnel 30 that serves as the fluid intake 4′; and a tangential fluid engine may (or may not) be lacking. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first portion 16 enters into fluid intake 4′ and then immediately funnels downward into the funnel 30 toward fluid engines 9, which may be axial fluid engines. The combination of a high total pressure of the first portion 16 above upper surface 12 and a low pressure at the fluid exhaust 6 (6′) induces a high velocity flow of fluid along fluid path 10′ and through engines 9, allowing power to be extracted and transferred to the electrical generator 19 via axle 20. In this embodiment, fluid flowing along path 10′ may flow approximately vertically at some points.

In one embodiment, one or more fluid engines 9 may be located along the fluid path 10′ in a substantially horizontal region just preceding the fluid exhaust 6.

Referring now to FIG. 1c, a power plant 2″ has been modified somewhat. Power plant 2″ is similar to power plant 2′ in FIG. 1b, except for the following differences: it includes a wedge 3″ having a funnel 30′ that protrudes upward from the upper surface 12 and approaches the Water Level of the body of water; fluid flows into the fluid intake 4″ and takes a fluid path 10″ that may rotate around the inside of funnel 30′ and eventually proceeds downward toward and through engines 9, and finally out fluid exhaust 6 (6′). In FIG. 1c, the fluid flowing into funnel 30′ may take on the form of a cyclone inside the funnel 30′. The funnel 30′ may or may not include ridges or protrusions about the inside of the funnel 30′ that are configured to induce the water to flow in a predetermined fashion. The ridges may take on a screw shape or any other shape.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a power plant 21 comprises a wedge 27 having a plurality of fluid intakes 25, a funnel 28, a plurality of tangential fluid engines 22 each having an approximately vertical axis of rotation, and a plurality of axial fluid engines 24 each having an approximately vertical axis of rotation and located after the funnel 28 along the fluid path. The power plant 21 further comprises a generating station 25 having a plurality of electrical generators 26 connected to engines 22, 24 via axles 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor of exactly one of the tangential fluid engines 22 is directly connected to exactly one electrical generator 26 via exactly one axle 23, the rotor of another one of the tangential fluid engines 22 is directly connected to another one of the electrical generators 26 via another one of the axles 23, and the rotor of another one of tangential fluid engines 22 is directly connected to another one of the electrical generators 26, as well as the rotors of all three axial fluid engines 24, via the remaining axle 23.

In FIG. 2, the plant 21 comprises at least one tangential fluid engine 22 (i.e., the upper two, as shown in FIG. 2) for each of the plurality of fluid intakes 25. Further, the lower tangential fluid engine 22 is located within the funnel 28 to take advantage of the speed of water rotating inside the funnel 28. The axial fluid engines 24 then take advantage of the speed of water flowing downward from the lower portion of the funnel 28.

In operation, at least a portion of water flowing LIP the upper surface of the wedge 27 enters the fluid intakes 25 at high velocity. The high velocity fluid then impinges tangentially on the cups or blades of each respective tangential fluid engine 22, causing the rotor of each respective tangential fluid engine 22 to rotate, thus powering respective electrical generators 26 via respective axles 23. Next, water flows cyclonically and downward in a predetermined rotation direction within the funnel 28 toward the lower tangential fluid engine 28, which then extracts further energy from the water as the water pushes the cups, blades, etc. of the lower tangential fluid engine 28. The energy extracted by the rotor of the lower tangential fluid engine 22 is transferred to the respective electrical generator 26 via respective axle 23.

Next, water flows downward from the funnel 28 toward the fluid exhaust (not shown) of the wedge 27, passing through a plurality of axial flow engines 24, which extract energy from the downward flow of the water. This energy is transferred to the respective electrical generator 26 via respective axle 23.

Any of the features of FIG. 2 may be mixed, matched, added, or eliminated to suit design requirements. For example, each fluid engine 22, 24 may have its own associated axle 23 and/or electrical generator 26. Alternatively or in addition, any set of fluid engines 22, 24 may share an axle 23 and/or electrical generator 26. For example, in one embodiment, rotors of all fluid engines 22, 24 are directly connected to each other via a single axle 23 that transfers power to the generating station 25. Further, any fluid engine 22, 24 may comprise a gear box or other gearing mechanism to allow for differential preferred rotation rates of the various elements of plant 21—e.g., to allow the rotor of an axial fluid engine 24 to rotate much more quickly than the rotor of an electrical generator 26 to which it is connected.

Further, the plant 21 may include only a single fluid intake 25 or several, and may include only one tangential fluid engine 22 or a plurality, or one axial fluid engine 24 or a plurality, etc. The plant 21 may include any type of fluid engine capable of extracting usable energy from a fluid having dynamic and/or static pressure. Further, the funnel 28 (and/or the lower tangential fluid engine 22 that makes use of the cyclonic fluid flow induced by the funnel 28) may be eliminated or modified. Further, the rotors of any or all of the engines 22, 24 may rotate at different rates.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a power plant 42 comprises a generating station 46 and a wedge 48 connected via an axle 60. The wedge 48 comprises an upper surface 50 and a lower surface 52, and a funnel 54 having a fluid intake 56, an elbow 62, and a fluid exhaust 58. The wedge 48 further comprises at least one fluid engine (not shown), which may be located inside the funnel 54, the rotor of which is connected to the axle 60 and transfers power extracted from the moving water to an electrical generator (not shown) inside the generating station 46.

In operation, water flowing toward the wedge point of the wedge 48 divides along the upper and lower surfaces 50, 52, and thus accelerates along these surfaces. Because of the higher velocity of water flowing along surfaces 50, 52 and eventually past the wedge 48, a total fluid pressure along back surface 44 (and at fluid exhaust 58) is lower than the total fluid pressure of the water before reaching the wedge point. Thus, a Suction is induced, causing water to be sucked into the fluid intake 56, through the funnel 54 and corresponding fluid engine(s), and out the fluid exhaust 58. Power is extracted from this high velocity fluid and transferred to the generating station 46 via axle 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 4a and 4b, a power plant 72 comprises a generating station 76 and a wedge 78, the wedge 78 having upper and lower surfaces 80, 82 and a funnel 84 having a fluid intake 86, a fluid exhaust 88, an elbow 92, and at least one fluid engine (not shown) connected to the generating station 76 via axle 90. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b is similar to that shown in FIG. 3, with several differences. First, the fluid intake 86 allows approximately horizontally flowing water to flow into a fluid engine (such as a tangential fluid engine) so that the water does not need to substantially change directions before power is extracted from it. Further, the lower surface 82 includes a curvature or contoured shape 83 to help smoothly direct and accelerate the flow of water to and around the fluid exhaust 88. Further, the upper surface 80 may also or alternatively include such a curvature or contoured shape (not shown) to help smoothly direct and accelerate the flow of water into the fluid intake 86. The curvatures (if implemented) may be convex or concave, depending on the design requirements. Either of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, or 4a/4b may have a smoother elbow than shown, to allow for a more laminar flow of water through the wedge.

Referring now to FIG. 4c, a power plant 72′ is similar to power plant 72 shown in FIG. 4a, including a wedge 78′ similar to wedge 78 in FIG. 4a, with an exception that the wedge 78′ may include, alternatively or in addition, a vertically aligned fluid intake 96 that allows water to flow into funnel 84 (and/or any fluid engine located therein) in an approximately vertical direction.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows one possible embodiment of a suction propeller type fluid engine. The fluid engine 100 comprises an outer casing 102 and a rotor 104 having rotor blades 106. The fluid engine 100 may be located inside any of the funnels discussed with respect to previous embodiments. Thus, the outer casing 102 may or may not correspond to such funnels. The rotor 104 may be connected to an electrical generator via an axle (not shown), and/or may be connected to rotor(s) of other fluid engine(s). In operation, a flow 108 of water from the top of the engine 100 (top as shown in FIG. 5) impinges on blades 106, causing the rotor 104 to rotate. The suction propeller type fluid engine 100 shown in FIG. 5 may be used alone, in conjunction with one or more tangential-type, axial-type, or other known fluid engines, or may be omitted altogether, in any of the power plant embodiments previously discussed.

Most of the embodiments described herein have represented simple versions for clarity of explanation. As understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, many of the features and/or aspects of the embodiments described herein may be “mixed and matched” to the extent physically possible to satisfy individual design requirements. As merely an example of such allowable mixing and matching, an axial fluid engine may be used in place of a tangential flow engines particularly where a device (as known in the art) is used to change the axis of rotation of the axial fluid engine's rotor (such as allowing a rotor having a horizontal axis to rotate a vertical axis). Any fluid engine known in the art (e.g., Pelton, Francis, Kaplan, etc.) may be used with the present invention. Further, any of the fluid intakes described herein may include a screen or other known device for preventing fish and other debris from entering fluid engines of the power plant. Further, in all embodiments shown, the lower surface is approximately horizontal. However, this need not be the case. For example, the upper surface and lower surface may both be angles with respect to the horizon. For example, the upper surface may be angled positively relative to the horizon at, say, 15°, the lower surface may be angled negatively relative to the horizon at, say, 20°, thus resulting in a relative angle between the upper and lower surfaces to be 35°. The fluid exhaust may exhaust fluid in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of fluid flow along the lower surface (e.g., see FIGS. 3 and 4b), or may exhaust the fluid in a direction substantially angled with respect to the direction of fluid flow along the lower surface (e.g., exhaust 6′ in FIG. 1b).

As another example, the word “wedge” as used herein is not limited to an object having two flat surfaces that are angled with respect to each other, or an object that is perfectly triangular in cross section. Both upper and lower surfaces (e.g., 12 and 14 in FIG. 1a) may be curved, contoured, rounded, or shaped other than as flat surfaces. More generally, a “wedge” used herein is a device used to separate fluid flow 15 (FIG. 1a) into first and second flow portions, and preferably reduces or limits turbulence that may arise from such separation. In other words, preferably, the wedge divides the fluid flow 15 into two portions having substantially smooth or laminar flow. The wedge may, for example, be an incline. As one possible example in which at least one surface of the wedge is not flat, the upper surface may be curved concave so that angle Θ is very shallow (e.g., less than 5° or 10°) near the wedge point 13, and increases (e.g., to greater than 30°) further from the wedge point.

As another example, one or more fluid engines may be located in a substantially horizontal region just preceding (in the fluid path 10′ in FIG. 1b) the fluid exhaust 6. In other words, instead of or in addition to fluid engines 9 being located in a substantially vertical region of the fluid path 10′, fluid engines may be located in a substantially horizontal region of the fluid path 10′. As another example, the portion of the fluid path (e.g., 10 in FIG. 1a) that is substantially vertical may, e.g., be at an angle of between 75° and 105° with respect to the body floor.

The present invention also includes a method of generating electricity, including providing any of the power plants described herein and inserting said plant(s) into a body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, a river, a sea, or any other body of water. The method may include selecting a body of water and a location within the body such that a ratio of a height of the wedge (h in FIG. 1a) relative to a depth of the body (d in FIG. 1a) falls within a particular range, such as approximately 20% to 80%, and more preferably 30% to 70%, and more preferably 40% to 60%, and more preferably approximately 50%. The method may include inserting the plant(s) into the water body such that the lower surface is approximately flush with, or at least approximately 10 feet above, or at least approximately 20 feet above, or at least approximately 30 feet above, the floor of the water body. The method may include placing the generating station above the water level of the water body.

Claims

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.