A floating electrical power generator having a three-dimensional (3D) flow passageway configured for increasing the water flow on the paddle wheel to increase the power output.

System and method for controlling operation of a hydroelectric production system comprising electrical actuators operably connected at opposite positions of a gate operating ring for rotating the wicket gates to a desired position. The system receives a single control signal designed for a hydraulic system comprising hydraulic actuators operably connected to a single fluid reservoir and configured to work in tandem to produce simultaneous and opposite axial movements. The system comprises a control interface adapted to produce new control signals, each new signal being intended to a different electrical actuator to cause the electrical actuators to have axial movements which are identical in speed and in opposite directions to substantially imitate the exact movement of the hydraulic actuators onto the gate operating ring. The system is configured to introduce a dampening effect to reduce sudden acceleration and deceleration which is purposely used in hydraulic systems to overcome friction and static effects.

System and method for controlling operation of a hydroelectric production system comprising electrical actuators operably connected at opposite positions of a gate operating ring for rotating the wicket gates to a desired position. The system receives a single control signal designed for a hydraulic system comprising hydraulic actuators operably connected to a single fluid reservoir and configured to work in tandem to produce simultaneous and opposite axial movements. The system comprises a control interface adapted to produce new control signals, each new signal being intended to a different electrical actuator to cause the electrical actuators to have axial movements which are identical in speed and in opposite directions to substantially imitate the exact movement of the hydraulic actuators onto the gate operating ring. The system is configured to introduce a dampening effect to reduce sudden acceleration and deceleration which is purposely used in hydraulic systems to overcome friction and static effects.

The present invention is directed to a nonlinear controller for nonlinear wave energy converters (WECs). As an example of the invention, a nonlinear dynamic model is developed for a geometrically right-circular cylinder WEC design for the heave-only motion, or a single degree-of-freedom (DOF). The linear stiffness term is replaced by a nonlinear cubic hardening spring term to demonstrate the performance of a nonlinear WEC as compared to an optimized linear WEC. By exploiting the nonlinear physics in the nonlinear controller, equivalent power and energy capture, as well as simplified operational performance is observed for the nonlinear cubic hardening spring controller when compared to an optimized linear controller.

A hydrokinetic turbine system with dynamic tuning capabilities is disclosed. Individual hydrokinetic turbine units are dynamically tuned to accommodate changes in height and flow velocity corresponding to water in a waterway. Dynamically tuning the turbine units to accommodate waterway changes optimizes power generation output. Dynamically tuning a turbine system includes raising or lowering turbine blade height, extending or retracting turbine blade length, and narrowing or widening a turbine mouth, channel, and exit through which water flows. The hydrokinetic turbines may be arranged in an array along a waterway, and each hydrokinetic turbine in the array is connected over a controls system configured to adjust turbine characteristics at each turbine unit in the array for optimizing power generation output for the waterway in which the turbine array is installed.

A hydrokinetic turbine system with dynamic tuning capabilities is disclosed. Individual hydrokinetic turbine units are dynamically tuned to accommodate changes in height and flow velocity corresponding to water in a waterway. Dynamically tuning the turbine units to accommodate waterway changes optimizes power generation output. Dynamically tuning a turbine system includes raising or lowering turbine blade height, extending or retracting turbine blade length, and narrowing or widening a turbine mouth, channel, and exit through which water flows. The hydrokinetic turbines may be arranged in an array along a waterway, and each hydrokinetic turbine in the array is connected over a controls system configured to adjust turbine characteristics at each turbine unit in the array for optimizing power generation output for the waterway in which the turbine array is installed.

A hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in a channel that carries a flow of a fluid, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a controller that performs a first control. The channel includes a first channel located on an inflow side of the water turbine. The controller controls, in the first control, a flow rate or a head of the water turbine so that any one of a pressure of the fluid in the first channel, a flow rate of the fluid in the first channel, and a liquid level of the fluid in a first reservoir from which the fluid flows out to the first channel approaches a first target value.

A hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in a channel that carries a flow of a fluid, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a controller that performs a first control. The channel includes a first channel located on an inflow side of the water turbine. The controller controls, in the first control, a flow rate or a head of the water turbine so that any one of a pressure of the fluid in the first channel, a flow rate of the fluid in the first channel, and a liquid level of the fluid in a first reservoir from which the fluid flows out to the first channel approaches a first target value.

A system for generating power from a flow of liquid having at most fifty feet of head and a flow rate of at most 300 cubic feet per second, includes: an axial-flow turbine, a penstock, an intake, a generator, and a control circuit. Each blade of the turbine runner is releasably coupled to the hub and each blade: 1) is configured to extract energy from liquid flowing through the runner by rotating the hub when the flow of liquid contacts the blade, and 2) has a pitch that is adjustable. The length of the penstock is adjustable. The generator is operable to generate electric power from rotation of the turbine. The control circuit to determines changes in the flow of liquid and in response modifies at least one of the following: 1) the speed of the axial-flow turbine's hub, and 2) the flow of liquid that the runner receives.

A system for generating power from a flow of liquid having at most fifty feet of head and a flow rate of at most 300 cubic feet per second, includes: an axial-flow turbine, a penstock, an intake, a generator, and a control circuit. Each blade of the turbine runner is releasably coupled to the hub and each blade: 1) is configured to extract energy from liquid flowing through the runner by rotating the hub when the flow of liquid contacts the blade, and 2) has a pitch that is adjustable. The length of the penstock is adjustable. The generator is operable to generate electric power from rotation of the turbine. The control circuit to determines changes in the flow of liquid and in response modifies at least one of the following: 1) the speed of the axial-flow turbine's hub, and 2) the flow of liquid that the runner receives.