Systems and methods for hydroelectric systems

A method for operating a hydroelectric system comprising:

• providing a hydroelectric system including;
• (a) a module including;
• (i) a protective housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the protective housing is greater than the height of the protective housing;
• (ii) a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the turbine housing is greater than the height of the turbine housing;
• (iii) a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the substantially horizontal central shaft of the turbine has an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow direction during operation;
• and
• (iv) a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid;
• (b) a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, wherein the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping;
• and
• (c) a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being operably coupled with the fluid circuit, wherein the shoreline generator is driven by the high pressure fluid that is pumped by the fluid pump in response to the rotation of the turbine;
• positioning the module adjacent a low head dam such that the module is substantially parallel to the low head dam, wherein a fluid is flowing over the low head dam;
• rotating the turbine with the fluid flowing over the low dam, wherein the turbine is substantially perpendicular to the flow of the fluid;
• pumping the high pressure fluid with the fluid pump in response to the rotation of the turbine;
• and
• driving the shoreline generator with the high pressure fluid to produce electricity.

A hydroelectric system for a low head dam comprising:

• (a) a module including;
• (i) a protective housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the protective housing is greater than the height of the protective housing;
• (ii) a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the turbine housing is greater than the height of the turbine housing;
• (iii) a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the substantially horizontal central shaft of the turbine rotates in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid during operation;
• (iv) a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid;
• (v) a mounting platform, wherein the protective housing is detachably coupled with the mounting platform;
• and
• (vi) at least one mounting point coupled with the mounting platform, wherein the at least one mounting point selectively couples the module adjacent a low head dam such that the module can be easily attached and removed;
• (b) a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, wherein the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping;
• and
• (c) a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being operably coupled with the fluid circuit, wherein 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.

A hydroelectric system for a low head dam comprising:

• (a) a selectively detachable module including;
• (i) a protective housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the protective housing is greater than the height of the protective housing, wherein the protective housing of the selectively detachable module is configured to be selectively detachable from a platform,
• (ii) a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the turbine housing is greater than the height of the turbine housing, the turbine housing including an upper inlet portion at a first end facing in a generally upward direction, a substantially tubular portion, and a lower outlet portion at a second end facing in a generally downward direction, the upper inlet portion being positioned above the lower outlet portion;
• (iii) a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the turbine is configured to be substantially submerged during operation and wherein the substantially horizontal central shaft of the turbine rotates in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid during operation;
• and
• (iv) a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid;
• (b) a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, wherein the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping;
• and
• (c) a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being operably coupled with the fluid circuit, wherein 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.

A method for operating a hydroelectric system comprising:

• providing a hydroelectric system including;
• (a) a selectively detachable module including;
• (i) a protective housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the protective housing is greater than the height of the protective housing, wherein the protective housing of the selectively detachable module is configured to be selectively detachable from a platform,
• (ii) a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the turbine housing is greater than the height of the turbine housing, the turbine housing including an upper inlet portion at a first end facing in a generally upward direction, a substantially tubular portion, and a lower outlet portion at a second end facing in a generally downward direction, the upper inlet portion being positioned above the lower outlet portion;
• (iii) a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the turbine is configured to be substantially submerged during operation and wherein the substantially horizontal central shaft of the turbine rotates in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid during operation;
• and
• (iv) a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid;
• (b) a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, wherein the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping;
• and
• (c) a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being operably coupled with the fluid circuit, wherein the shoreline generator is driven by the high pressure fluid that is pumped by the fluid pump in response to the rotation of the turbine;
• positioning the selectively detachable module adjacent a low head dam such that the selectively detachable module is substantially parallel to the low head dam, wherein a fluid is flowing over the low head dam such that the selectively detachable module is substantially submerged;
• rotating the turbine with the fluid flowing over the low dam, wherein the turbine is substantially perpendicular to the flow of the fluid;
• pumping the high pressure fluid with the fluid pump in response to the rotation of the turbine;
• and
• driving the shoreline generator with the high pressure fluid to produce electricity.

A hydroelectric system for a low head dam comprising:

• (a) a selectively detachable module including;
• (i) a protective housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the protective housing is greater than the height of the protective housing, wherein the protective housing of the selectively detachable module is configured to be selectively detachable from a platform,
• (ii) a turbine housing retained within the protective housing, the turbine housing having a height and a width, wherein the width of the turbine housing is greater than the height of the turbine housing, the turbine housing including an upper inlet portion at a first end facing in a generally upward direction, a substantially tubular portion, and a lower outlet portion at a second end facing in a generally downward direction, the upper inlet portion being positioned above the lower outlet portion;
• (iii) a turbine retained at least partially within the turbine housing, the turbine including a plurality of blades coupled with a substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the turbine is configured to be substantially submerged during operation and wherein the substantially horizontal central shaft of the turbine rotates in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid during operation;
• (iv) a fluid pump, the fluid pump being coupled with the substantially horizontal central shaft, wherein the fluid pump is configured to pump a high pressure fluid;
• (v) a mounting platform, wherein the protective housing is detachably coupled with the mounting platform;
• and
• (vi) at least one mounting point coupled with the mounting platform, wherein the at least one mounting point selectively couples the selectively detachable module adjacent a low head dam such that the module can be easily attached and removed;
• (b) a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including piping, wherein the high pressure fluid is retained within the piping;
• and
• (c) a shoreline generator, the shoreline generator being operably coupled with the fluid circuit, wherein 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.