This disclosure includes various embodiments of apparatuses for encapsulating and stopping a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) to extract the kinetic energy from the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of systems comprising a plurality of the present apparatuses coupled together and/or one or more of the present apparatuses in combination with one or more flow resistance modifiers (FRMs). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of methods of extracting kinetic energy from a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) by stopping the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes embodiments of mechanical energy-storage or accumulation devices.

Embodiments of a hydroelectric system for a low head dam can include a module including a protective housing, a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing including an upper inlet portion at a first end, a substantially tubular portion, and a lower outlet portion at a second end, the upper inlet portion being positioned above the lower outlet portion, a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a central shaft, and a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the central shaft, where the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid, a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, where the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping, and a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being coupled with the fluid circuit, where the offsite generator is driven by the high pressure fluid that is pumped by the fluid pump in response to the rotation of the turbine.

Embodiments of a hydroelectric system for a low head dam can include a module including a protective housing, a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing including an upper inlet portion at a first end, a substantially tubular portion, and a lower outlet portion at a second end, the upper inlet portion being positioned above the lower outlet portion, a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a central shaft, and a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the central shaft, where the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid, a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, where the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping, and a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being coupled with the fluid circuit, where the offsite generator is driven by the high pressure fluid that is pumped by the fluid pump in response to the rotation of the turbine.

The invention is directed to a device and to a method for utilizing groundwater, comprising two wells whose well water levels are at different elevations, a connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells, a hydraulic motor, or a pump that is operable as a generator, inside the connecting line, and an electrical generator that is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic motor or to the pump that is operable as a generator.

The invention is directed to a device and to a method for utilizing groundwater, comprising two wells whose well water levels are at different elevations, a connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells, a hydraulic motor, or a pump that is operable as a generator, inside the connecting line, and an electrical generator that is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic motor or to the pump that is operable as a generator.

Disclosed herein is a novel method for operating a hydropower reservoir which is an improvement over the existing single-parameter (the current month) USACE Rule Curve approach, the improvement comprising the consideration of a second parameter, namely the water level of the reservoir at the beginning of the month, in the decision-making process for operation of the reservoir.

Disclosed herein is a novel method for operating a hydropower reservoir which is an improvement over the existing single-parameter (the current month) USACE Rule Curve approach, the improvement comprising the consideration of a second parameter, namely the water level of the reservoir at the beginning of the month, in the decision-making process for operation of the reservoir.

A system for generating hydrokinetic power from a subcritical channel is disclosed. The system comprises a power channel diverted from the subcritical channel for generating hydrokinetic power by changing one more flow parameters of water, wherein the power channel includes an intake section, one or more slope section, one or more power section and a recovery section, an intake spillway at the intake section of power channel, connecting the subcritical channel with the power channel for enhancing the velocity of water, wherein the intake spillway is designed based on rate of discharge of water to be drawn from the subcritical channel and an array of turbines located in the power channel for generating power using the diverted water from the subcritical channel, wherein the number of turbines are based on the length of the power channel.

A system for generating hydrokinetic power from a subcritical channel is disclosed. The system comprises a power channel diverted from the subcritical channel for generating hydrokinetic power by changing one more flow parameters of water, wherein the power channel includes an intake section, one or more slope section, one or more power section and a recovery section, an intake spillway at the intake section of power channel, connecting the subcritical channel with the power channel for enhancing the velocity of water, wherein the intake spillway is designed based on rate of discharge of water to be drawn from the subcritical channel and an array of turbines located in the power channel for generating power using the diverted water from the subcritical channel, wherein the number of turbines are based on the length of the power channel.

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.