A sluice gate for a hydropower station, a method of operating a sluice gate and a hydropower station. The sluice gate includes rollers via which the sluice gate can be movably mounted on rails and a sealing surface having a seal with which an upstream water can be sealed off from a downstream water. Lubricant lines are provided through which lubricant can be fed to the rollers and lubricant return lines are connected to the rollers. Via the lubricant return lines, used lubricant can be guided from the rollers to one or more collection locations in order to be able to collect and properly dispose of used lubricant.

(1) Technical field of the invention described in the claims: natural laws regarding water flowing from a high place to a low place, and fluid dynamics regarding potential energy of water. (2) Technical objectives to be solved by the invention: A. Simultaneously producing electric power and pumping up water; B. Installing hydroelectric power stations in unlimited places, that is, guaranteeing that hydroelectric power stations can be installed anywhere; C. Guaranteeing that electricity is produced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; D. Ending thermal power generation, nuclear power generation, photovoltaic power generation, and wind power generation. (3) The gist of a method for resolving the technical objectives: to guarantee that, in the course of water at a high level falling into a pipe, multiple generators installed in the pipe are operated, thereby producing electric power, that is, the gist is to increase the total amount of produced electric power. This is because the total amount of produced electric power can be increased as desired, while electric power (that is, cost) necessary for pumping up water that has fallen to the original high level is fixed. That is, the number of generators installed in the pipe can be increased as desired (to 100 or 1,000). (4) Important use of the invention: creation of a new-concept pumped-storage hydroelectric power station.

A hydrodynamic electrification system that generates electricity from water moving from a high side to a low side and around a structure that divides the low side from the high side generally includes a water transport system that directs the water from the high side presenting a hydraulic head, over the structure, and to the low side. The system includes a power extraction system having a wheel that receives the water from said water transport system and a mounting system having a high side anchor that connects near an intake to the water transport system at the high side and having a low side anchor that connects to the power extraction system at the low side.

A fluid monitoring apparatus for deployment within a pipe arrangement, includes a measurement device configured to measure data indicative of a fluid property, and an energy harvesting system including a turbine configured to be rotated by a flow of fluid through the pipe arrangement, and a generator coupled to the turbine and configured to generate electrical energy. The fluid monitoring apparatus is configured to use the electrical energy to power the measurement device.

A fluid monitoring apparatus for deployment within a pipe arrangement, includes a measurement device configured to measure data indicative of a fluid property, and an energy harvesting system including a turbine configured to be rotated by a flow of fluid through the pipe arrangement, and a generator coupled to the turbine and configured to generate electrical energy. The fluid monitoring apparatus is configured to use the electrical energy to power the measurement device.

A pumped-storage hydropower generation tower employing conduit turbines installed in multiple stages, according to the present invention, comprises: a pump (400) disposed in a pumping-up pipe (410) so as to pump up water that fills a lower reservoir (300) to an upper reservoir (200); a water-guide pipe channel (500) having an inlet water-guide conduit (510) connected to the bottom surface on one side of the upper reservoir (200) so as to extend to the position of the lower reservoir (300) along a helical sloping channel (100) such that a flow rate for power generation passes therein; and a conduit turbine unit (600) comprising a driving shaft (2) extending through the center of a conduit (22) through which the flow rate passes, conduit support bodies (4) installed so as to rotate freely while supporting the driving shaft (2), the conduit support bodies (4) having arms (6) extending toward the inner surface of the conduit (22), a propeller (7) fixed to the driving shaft (2) between the conduit support bodies (4) so as to be rotated by movement of the flow rate, and a generator (10) configured to receive rotational power from the driving shaft (2) and to generate electricity, wherein at least two conduit turbine units (600) are disposed in multiple stages along the water-guide pipe channel (500).

A pumped-storage hydropower generation tower employing conduit turbines installed in multiple stages, according to the present invention, comprises: a pump (400) disposed in a pumping-up pipe (410) so as to pump up water that fills a lower reservoir (300) to an upper reservoir (200); a water-guide pipe channel (500) having an inlet water-guide conduit (510) connected to the bottom surface on one side of the upper reservoir (200) so as to extend to the position of the lower reservoir (300) along a helical sloping channel (100) such that a flow rate for power generation passes therein; and a conduit turbine unit (600) comprising a driving shaft (2) extending through the center of a conduit (22) through which the flow rate passes, conduit support bodies (4) installed so as to rotate freely while supporting the driving shaft (2), the conduit support bodies (4) having arms (6) extending toward the inner surface of the conduit (22), a propeller (7) fixed to the driving shaft (2) between the conduit support bodies (4) so as to be rotated by movement of the flow rate, and a generator (10) configured to receive rotational power from the driving shaft (2) and to generate electricity, wherein at least two conduit turbine units (600) are disposed in multiple stages along the water-guide pipe channel (500).

A kinetic fluid energy conversion system comprises one or more hubs which rotate about a central hub carrier, each including one or more independently controlled articulating energy conversion plates (“ECP”). An articulation control system rotates each ECP independently of all others to control its orientation with respect to the fluid flow direction between an orientation of 90° perpendicular to the fluid flow, while traveling in the direction of the flow and 0° minimal drag parallel position to the flow, while traveling in the direction against the flow or blocked from it. Each hub can be operably coupled to another hub to form one or more counter-rotating hub and ECP assemblies whereby the mechanical energy is transferred through the hubs, to one or more clutch/gearbox/generator/pump assemblies thereby permitting such assemblies to be land-based when the system is air-powered, and above or near the surface, when the system is water-powered.

A kinetic fluid energy conversion system comprises one or more hubs which rotate about a central hub carrier, each including one or more independently controlled articulating energy conversion plates (“ECP”). An articulation control system rotates each ECP independently of all others to control its orientation with respect to the fluid flow direction between an orientation of 90° perpendicular to the fluid flow, while traveling in the direction of the flow and 0° minimal drag parallel position to the flow, while traveling in the direction against the flow or blocked from it. Each hub can be operably coupled to another hub to form one or more counter-rotating hub and ECP assemblies whereby the mechanical energy is transferred through the hubs, to one or more clutch/gearbox/generator/pump assemblies thereby permitting such assemblies to be land-based when the system is air-powered, and above or near the surface, when the system is water-powered.

An electrical power generation system comprising a tube comprising a plurality of upper curves and a plurality of lower curves and forming a loop, the upper curves located at a higher vertical height than the lower curves and a plurality of electric generators external to the tube, each electric generator comprising a generator wheel having a magnet thereon, the plurality of electric generators positioned proximal to an external wall of the tube and electrically connected to a power grid. A plurality of buoyant torpedoes comprising a magnet travels through the tube and turns the wheel of the electric generator in response to the magnetic interaction between the magnet on the torpedo and the magnet on the generator wheel. At least a portion of the plurality of lower curves of the tube may comprise a check valve.