The present invention is a fish passage system for use at dams. It may incorporate one or more reversible pump-turbines for controlling and generating power from downstream flow of water and fish and for pumping water and fish upstream. For low head embodiments the system may use water stored at above headwater elevation in lieu of a reversible pump turbine for moving fish and water from tailwater to headwater.

A reversible pump-turbine and also a guide vane for a reversible pump-turbine with a guide vane body, a pivot for rotating the guide vane body around an axis of rotation and two end faces. The guide vane body has a turbine leading edge facing the turbine flow and a turbine trailing edge facing away from the turbine flow, where the individual guide vanes come into contact with one another along closing edges when the wicket gate is closed, where the guide vanes each have two flow-guiding surfaces on either side of the axis of rotation and opposite one another that are limited by the two end faces. These two flow-guiding surfaces have different flow profiles.

An underwater pumped storage power plant that includes: an accumulator system with pressure vessels fillable with water and; a water outlet for water flow out of the system into a surrounding ocean against hydrostatic water pressure (PT) corresponding to water depth (T); a pump at the water outlet to pump water out of the system by converting electrical energy into potential energy corresponding to a displaced water column PT; a water inlet to allow water flow into the system from the surrounding ocean; a common generator at the water inlet, to convert the potential energy back into electrical energy when water flows in; electric lines to transport the electrical energy from the ocean surface to the power plant and back, wherein the pressure vessels are pressure-resistant and resistant to deformation from the PT at the ocean floor.

An underwater pumped storage power plant that includes: an accumulator system with pressure vessels fillable with water and; a water outlet for water flow out of the system into a surrounding ocean against hydrostatic water pressure (PT) corresponding to water depth (T); a pump at the water outlet to pump water out of the system by converting electrical energy into potential energy corresponding to a displaced water column PT; a water inlet to allow water flow into the system from the surrounding ocean; a common generator at the water inlet, to convert the potential energy back into electrical energy when water flows in; electric lines to transport the electrical energy from the ocean surface to the power plant and back, wherein the pressure vessels are pressure-resistant and resistant to deformation from the PT at the ocean floor.

This method for stabilizing the rotation speed of a hydraulic machine having S-characteristic and comprising a distributor (9) is adapted to modify a water flow, so that the machine can be coupled to a grid. The method comprises the steps of calculating an orientation of the distributor (9); and orienting the distributor according to the calculated orientation. The method further comprises the steps of providing an electric torque to the machine so as to reach a target speed.

This installation for converting a hydraulic energy into electrical energy comprises a hydraulic adapted to be operated either in a pump mode or in a turbine mode. It further comprises means (25) for applying an electric torque to the rotor to control the rotation speed of the machine during transitions between the pump mode and the turbine mode.

The method allows stabilizing the rotation speed of a hydraulic machine with S-characteristics. It is implemented by means of a control loop feedback system having a controller for calculating an orientation to affect guide vanes of the machine. It includes steps of calculating a set of internal states associated with the operating point of the machine, establishing a linearized transfer function in function of the set of internal states, calculating characteristics parameters of the controller in function of the established transfer function so that the control loop feedback system is stable, measuring the rotation speed of the hydraulic machine, comparing the measured rotation speed with a target rotation speed, and adjusting the orientation affected to the guide vanes so as to reduce the speed difference between the calculated rotation speed and the target rotation speed.

A hydropower system for generating and storing energy is disclosed. The system comprises an upper (1) and a lower (2) level reservoir, and an electromechanical system (12) arranged in the lower level reservoir and in hydraulic connection with the upper level reservoir. A related method generating and storing energy is also disclosed.

A hydropower system for generating and storing energy is disclosed. The system comprises an upper (1) and a lower (2) level reservoir, and an electromechanical system (12) arranged in the lower level reservoir and in hydraulic connection with the upper level reservoir. A related method generating and storing energy is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a flow controller configured to selectively act as a pump or as a flow regulator. The flow controller comprises: an inlet for a fluid; an outlet for the fluid; a pump assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet and configured to pump the fluid through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet; a hydro electrical generator assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the hydro electrical generator assembly configured to allow the fluid flow through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet and to generate electricity by transforming flow energy of the fluid flowing through the flow controller into electricity; and a mode controller configured to selectively set the flow controller in a pumping mode or in an electricity generating mode.