Adjustable weir for hydroelectric dam installations

A method for maximizing and/or maintaining an effective net head in a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway having a natural riverbed and opposing riverbanks by controllably adjusting spent water levels in a tailrace pool area in the natural river bed adjacent to the hydroelectric power-generating dam, the method consisting of steps:

• providing a plurality of adjustable weir devices for controllably impeding egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area, said plurality of adjustable weir devices comprising a plurality of bladders tethered together to form a line of bladders, said bladders controllably inflatable and deflatable, said a plurality of adjustable weir devices installed into and across a downstream portion of the natural riverbed adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area;
• providing an apparatus for manipulating the plurality of adjustable weir devices, said apparatus having operative components for manipulating said devices to increase or decrease the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;
• providing a device for controllably manipulating the operative components of the apparatus for monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area, for calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam, and for communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase or decrease the impediment provided therewith to the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;
• monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area;
• calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam;
• and
• communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the plurality of adjustable weir devices to increase or decrease the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area.