CA2527217A1 - Low head, dynamic variable pitch, submersible hydro generator - Google Patents

Abstract

A hydroelectric generator system (14) including a rotor (22) mounted for rotation about its axis on a base (10), and a plurality of hinged vanes (28) mounted to and extend radially outward from the rotor (22). The vanes (28) are designed to open to a fully extended position on the upstream side during a portion of rotation of the rotor (22) and to closed to a nested position during a portion of rotation of the rotor (22), wherein the flow of water from the upstream side to the downstream side impinges upon the vanes (28) and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor (22). The rotor (22) or the vanes (28) may be completely submerged.

Description

LOW HEAD, DYNAMIC VARIABLE PITCH, SUBMERSIBLE HYDRO GENERATOR
Claim of Priority This application claims priority under the United States Provisional Application No.
60/473,717, filed on May 27, 2003.
Background of the Invention Field of the Invention. The subject invention is generally related to systems for generating and distributing hydro-electric power and is specifically directed to a micro-hydro-electric power generating system for producing electricity from low flow sfireams and the like.
Discussion of the Prior Art. Hydroelectric sites are broadly categorized 'as "low" or "high" head. Low head typically refers to a change in elevation of less than 10 feet (3 meters). In the past, a vertical drop of less than 2 feet (0.6 meters) generally rendered a hydroelectric system unfeasible. A high flow rate can compensate for low head, but a larger and more costly turbine will be necessary. Typically, prior art turbines do not operate efficiently under very low heads and low flow.
The amount of power available depends on the dynamic head, the amount of water flow and the efficiency of the turbine/generator combination. To get an idea about available power in watts, multiply the head in feet, times flow in GPM, times 0.18 times efficiency. Turbine efficiency ranges from 25% to 50%, with higher efficiency at higher heads. To get a rough idea, use 0.30 (representing 30%) as a multiplier for efficiency.
An even more desirable and heretofore unachievable objective is to harness the natural flows of rivers and streams without impeding the flow via a dam or no more than a low dam (less than 6 meters high) to create an artificial head. The problem is that natural flows in rivers and streams are highly variable. In certain areas during the driest months of the year, river flows are one-tenth of the flows during the wettest months of the year, on the average.
Thus, the small hydroelectric plant has been found to have little worth as a source of dependable power capacity.
Achieving full utilization of all of the annual river flow is not a simple matter when synchronous generation is involved at small sites. There is a lower limit of machine capability which must be accounted for during operation of hydraulic turbines at low river flow discharges, which often results in an inefficient, poorly defined and often rough performance. In the past, such operation over long periods is not recommended nor guaranteed by manufacturers of electromechanical components.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) In the case of low head turbines, those having heads less than 15 meters in magnitude, this limit has been fixed at about 40% of the maximum rated machine flow discharge. But if asynchronous (induction) generation is utilized, economic factors then permit splitting the scheduled available hydroelectric potential capacity of a given site between a plurality of equally small powered units which results in a better operative utilization throughout the more important portion of the annual available river flow as well as during the remainder of the year. This potential, instead of being only 50% for just one machine, is about 80% for two identical machines and goes up to 95% when the scheduled power potential is spliced or joined between three identical machines, having the same engineered design.
These requirements are typical for hydrological features of the rivers in the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas of the U.S.A. Economics in asynchronous generation may be fuxther improved if the involved electric generator set is of the capsule-mounted type, either positioned upstream or downstream respective to the turbine runner, and whether in a vertical or horizontal disposition. These generators can be made of the water-cooled type, having water-lubricated sleeve type bearings with the capsule being filled with treated water and substantially fully isolated from the polluting waters of the surrounding media. Before installation, such a machine is filled with clean neutral water. This water lubricates the bearings and also cools the electric windings and the generator can be installed at any depth fully submerged. A
pressure compensating device will guarantee that any expansion of the water filling which takes place when the machine reaches its maximum temperature, is retained and this prevents surrounding contaminated or alkaline water from entering due to the temperature drop when the machine cools after it is stopped.
An early hydro powered bulkhead assembly attempting to utilize natural waterways for the provision of electric power is shown and described in U.S. Patent No.
4,345,159 wherein the assembly is provided for association with damming or analogous structure defining a water passageway through either non-navigable dams, movable-type dams, chambers at locks defined for navigation procedures, canal drops or auxiliary locks. The system described includes a selectively displaceable body to achieve asynchronous electric generation when disposed in an operative position relative the damming structure. Flow controlling means, such as tainter gates, chanoine wicket gates, miter gates, and the like are included and operable to permit overhauling of the assembly or when in an idle status. A plurality of asynchronous generators may be spliced together in any one bulkhead assembly to enhance the generation quality, dependent upon the requirements imposed by extreme, highly variable hydraulic heads.
U. S. Patent No. 4, 476,396 shows a hydroelectric generating system for use with low-head dam and spillway installations. A vessel in the form of a barge contains ballast tanks, pumps and associated structure permitting the vessel to selectively float or to be submerged at a spillway. The vessel contains a plurality of horizontal penstock and draft tube passages extending therethrough each containing a turbine for generating electricity. The vessel is of such configuration as to be floated into the gate of a dam spillway wherein the water flowing therethrough passes through the vessel passages energizing the turbines to generate electricity.
Anchor apparatus defined adjacent the spillway and complimentarily shaped abutments defined upon the vessel cooperate to maintain the submerged operative position.
A number of dam installations exist in major rivers for flood control purposes, and such dams include a plurality of gated spillways for controlling the water level.
Low-head hydroelectric generating apparatus mounted within such spillways would effectively utilize the water flowing therethrough for electric generation purposes.
It is known to utilize low head systems for hydroelectric generation within rivers having flood control dams and spillways. This has not found widespread usage for a number of reasons.
Low-head generating systems may utilize the flow of the current for motive purposes, and such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,978,345; 4,142,823; 4,163,904 and 4,301,377.
Hydroelectric generating systems of the siphon type also have been used in low-head installations, and a sample of such apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,117,676. However, during the river flood stages which annually occur such hydroelectric generating apparatus would interfere with the flow of water through the spillways, functioning as a gate, and seriously affect the flood control purpose of the dam. For this reason, hydroelectric generating apparatus has not previously been utilized with low-head dams and spillways of the flood control type in view of the problems arising during high water.
There remains a desire and need to provide stable, efficient and economical electrical power to many areas of the world. Use of natural waterways to provide this power continues to be a desirable, but heretofore unattainable, solution. Even in countries with extensive grid electrification, small communities are often not connected because of the high costs of step-down transformers and low revenues. Local hydroelectric systems would provide electrical power with much lower long term costs per kilowatt than solar, wind and diesel systems. However, this market is largely untapped because reliable hydro technology is not available or where available it is generally too expensive and still of dubious reliability.
Summary of the Invention The subject invention is directed to a hydroelectric generator system or hydro generator having a base which is adapted to be installed in a flowing stream of water generally perpendicular to the flow of water for defining an upstream side and a downstream side. A rotor is mounted for rotation about its axis in the base, and a plurality of hinged are vanes mounted to and extend radially outward from the rotor. The vanes are designed to open to a fizlly extended position on the upstream side during a portion of rotation of the rotor and to closed to a nested position during a portion of rotation of the rotor, wherein the flow of water from the upstream side to the downstream side impinges upon the vanes and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor. The rotor or the rotor and vanes may be completely submerged.
In the preferred embodiment, the base includes a vane receptive channel for receiving and collapsing the vanes into a nested, closed position during the portion of the rotor rotation cycle wherein selective of the vanes are in communication with the channel.
Typically, the base includes an upstream wall and a downstream wall and wherein the upstream wall is higher than the downstream wall.
Preferably, the rotor extends the span of the waterway and the vanes extend the length of the rotor. The rotor may include a positive stop for defining the fizlly extended position of the vanes. End caps, mounted on either the rotor or the vase define a closed cavity between adjacent vanes. Preferably, each vane is concave curved relative to the upstream side.
A siphon drain may be included between the upstream side and the downstream side of the base.
An electric generator is provided and a drive shaft for driving the generator is driven by the rotation of the rotor.
In operation, the base and rotor are submerged in a running stream of water, with the rotor horizontally mounted, with a plurality of hinged vanes which open to catch the water as it runs over the top, hold the water as it is lowered during rotation, release the water when it is lowered a predetermined amount, and close to allow for submersed rotation with minimal losses.

One useful application of the invention provides for the retrofitting of high head dams to create a ship ladder downstream of the dam where each step of the fish ladder is created by a submersible hydro generator. The fish ladder to allow for the entire flow capacity of the river.
The hydro generator of the subject invention is capable of producing reliable, efficient electrical power in a low head stream. In the preferred embodiment the assembly uses a low vertical drop for providing an efficient, reliable generator without requiring a dam. In one embodiment, a vertical drop of one meter with a rotor length of 10 meters can produce a power output of 0.2 Megawatt. The rotor operates at the same speed as the natural water flow and therefore, is environmentally friendly to certain species such as salmon. The system provides an environmentally desirable, efficient, non-polluting source of reliable power which can be generated close to the point of consumption. This makes the system of the subject invention particularly useful in those regions of the world where power grids are not readily available. The system is also useful in enhancing power generation capacity in grid supported regions for a fraction of the cost of new power plants and without pollution.
In one embodiment, a plurality of units can be placed in a series of one meter drops (or other suitable increment) to provide a fish ladder for migrating salmon while generating power.
This would allow and existing dam to stay in place while providing a solution to the requirement that functional fish ladders be provided. In the example, the fish ladder itself provides power generation.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the includes a base for supporting a substantially horizontal spindle extending the span of the waterway. Vanes are attached to the spindle using hinges. A power shaft is supported by the spindle. In the preferred embodiment the vanes are concave curved on the upstream side. The assembly is placed in the waterway and spans the breadth of the waterway such that this causes a level rise on the upstream side. The water is forced to flow over the top of the unit, sweeping the hinged vanes upward and away from the spindle. This causes the vanes to extend upward and outward from the spindle via the hinge until it reaches a positive stop. The vane then transmits the flow energy to the spindle and causes it to turn. Once each vane passes over center and is on the downstream side, it may be partially collapsed toward the spindle by a constriction plate. This prevents the water carried by each vane from being carried back by the vane to the upstream side and maximizes the efficiency of the system.
s In the preferred embodiment a siphon break is provided for allowing air into the ends of the rotor assembly.
The vans rotate at the speed of the natural current and are spaced to permit salmon to swim upstream through the assembly.
The preferred assembly comprises a horizontally mounted cylinder rotor with a plurality of hinged vanes attached to the rotor to swing in the same radial direction.
Means are provided, for operating the vanes to catch water in trapped channels as it flows over the system to permit the rotor to rotate while fully submersed. The rotating rotor is used to provide power for generating electricity.
Brief Descriution of the Drawings Fig. 1 shows the working mechanism of the hydro generator and the base above which the rotor will mounted.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the assembly with the action of water upon the mechanism by the flow arrow.
Fig. 3 shows the end caps, which will contain the bearings supporting the rotor above the base.
Fig. 4 shows one version of the spindle to which the hinged vanes will be attached.
Fig. 5 shows a front view sketch that includes the generator, rotational power transfer module, shaft seals, drain annulus, bearings, and coupling flange.
Fig. 6 shows a single hinged vane, which would attach to the spindle in Fig.
4.
Fig. 7 depicts the a cross section of the operation of a hydro generator with fish present to illustrate how the unit would operate without harm to fish.
Fig. 8 shows a system which would use the hydro-generators to retrofit a hydroelectric dam.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The basic working assembly is shown in Fig. 1. A base 10 is provided and is adapted to be mounted on the floor of the water way. The longitudinal axis of the base extends the breadth or span of the waterway and is perpendicular to the direction of flow. In the preferred embodiment the base is constructed of a heavy inert material such as rebar reinforced concrete.
The base could also be formed of high strength plastic, being hollow for fill with concrete at the point of installation. The base include a formed channel 12 for accepting spindle and vane assembly 14. The upstream side 16 of the base is higher than the downstream side 18 and with the vane assembly assures that the water enters the system above the rotating axis 20 of the spindle 22. An axial power shaft 24 is attached to the spindle. Then arrow 26 indicates the direction of rotation.
Typically, the spindle 22 is made of a material with high rigid strength and high fracture toughness, such as fiberglass composite, high strength plastic, or corrosion resistant metal. The spindle consists of a central cylinder as seen in Fig. 1 or, in the alternative as shown in Fig. 4, of a cylindrical core shaft 33, extending radial plates 32, and axial water containment plates as or end walls 31. The spindle must be constructed of material of sufftcient strength to bear the forces applied by the water.
As shown in Fig. 1, the vanes 28 extend the length of the spindle and are concave curved toward the upstream side 16 of the base. The vanes are made of a high strength material which is buoyant in water at standard temperature and pressure conditions, and can be molded into the required shape or otherwise manufactured to meet their shape, strength and buoyancy requirements. The concave curve is designed to let the vanes nest against the spindle as shown in Fig. 1 when the vanes are in the base channel 12.
The vanes 28 are each individually attached to the spindle 22 by a hinge 30, as shown in Fig. 6. The hinges could be of separate construction and bolted or riveted to the spindle and vanes, or molded into the ends of the spindle extending plates and the butt ends of the vanes for single pin assembly, in the manner that traditional pinned hinges are constructed. The vanes might have a small section with an opposite concavity 34 on the vane tip, as shown in Fig 6, in order to assist the water in sweeping the vane away from the spindle. The vanes shown in Fig. 6 are shown attached to the plate type spindle of Fig. 4, as attached to each individual plate 32.
However, it should be understood that the vanes would be similar attached to any configuration of the spindle.
The drive shaft 24 (Fig. 1), may be a separate keyed-in piece or an integral part 33 of the spindle assembly as seen in Fig. 4 The cross section of the basic working mechanism is shown in Fig. 2. This illustrates that when the vanes 28 are hinged onto the spindle plates 32, they must be done so in a manner that provides a backstop or positive stop 40 for the vanes. In Fig 2 the hinges 30 are shown being attached on the upstream side (concave) side of the vanes so that the butt of the vane must stop against the end of the spindle extension plates to provide the positive stop..
As shown in Fig. 2, the water flows into the assembly from the upstream side and hits the first nested vane 28a. This forces the water up, and above the axis of the spindle, and drives the spindle clockwise as indicated by arrow 42. As the spindle 28a is released from the upper edge 44 of the channel 12, the water forces the spindle to the fully extended position as indicated at spindles 28b, 28c and 28d. The spindles will stay in the fully extended position until forced to nest in the channel 12 of the base, as shown at spindles 2~e, 28f, 28g and 28h. This forces any water in the spindle cavity outward from the assembly in the direction of the flow. It also assures that any debris or animal life in the assembly is expelled without damage to the life or the assembly as the spindles rotate back to the position of spindle 28a.
The rotor assembly includes end caps 53 as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 7. The rotor shaft 51 (Fig. 3) extends through the end caps and be supported with bearings 52 of sufficient rating to support the weight of the rotor assembly, the forces acting upon it from the weight of the water, and the impulse of the water current. In the preferred embodiment, the bearings are mounted into the end caps. The end caps should be made of a material of high strength, such as fiberglass composite, high strength plastic, or corrosion resistant metal. The end caps should have integrated into them, a siphon break channel 54 extending from the top 56 of the end cap to an area 58 just below the core shaft area of the spindle. The siphon break is open only at the top 56 of the end cap and at the area 58 below the core shaft 51 of the spindle. The opening at 58 is to the interior of the assembly, or in the cavity occupied by the rotating vanes.
The front view complete spindle assembly without the base front wall 16 being visible is shown in Fig. S. The complete assembly has two bearings 66, 67 on the generator end. The use of two bearings at this end may or not be necessary. The use of a drain annulus 74 with dual shaft seals is located between the power transfer module 59, shown here as a shaft 60, pulley drum 69, and synthetic cord type, but it could be gears or belts, or sprockets and chain, and the rotor assembly. The drain annulus, drum casing, and generator casings are constructed by welding plates into the box shapes shown at 68. The dimensions of the entire assembly will vary with the desired electrical output. Drum and synthetic cord assembly 69 is shown here because it is known as the most corrosion resistant, quietest running power transfer system.
s Multiple cords may be necessary to transfer power in large magnitudes, and the cord 64 is generally constructed of high strength synthetic material. The drums 63 and 69 are sized in diameter to give proper running speed for the generator 62. The generator assembly is also mounted in a plate box 61. The generator housing 61 is shaft sealed to prevent moisture from entering the generator assembly.
On the end of the assembly opposite that where the generator is driven, there is a coupling flange 73 which is keyed onto the shaft of the rotor assembly, and allows for additional rotor assemblies to be connected in series to the same generator. The coupling shaft would have a bolting pattern to match the next units coupling flange.
Operation. With reference to Figs. 2, 5 and 7, the theory of operation is and 5. In these figures, the elementary principle of operation is visible. The base 10 is installed in a river, aqueduct, or fish ladder. The rotating assembly comprising generally the spindle 22 and the vanes 28 is mounted on the base 10. Provided the banks of the river meet with the ends of the hydro generator, the unit will cause a level rise on the upstream side (Fig.
7), and temporarily, a lowering of level on the downstream side. The banks of the river must be high enough to accommodate the rise in river level upstream. Since this unit is designed to be modular, having one or more coupling flanges 73, see Fig. 5, permit the total length of the hydro generator to be varied to come as close as possible to the width of the river or stream.
When the water is forced to flow over the top of the unit (Fig. 7), the current of the river or flow energy, will sweep the buoyant, hinged vanes 28 upward and away from the spindle 22 (Fig. 2 and Fig 7). The vanes extend outward until the butt end 40 (Fig. 2) comes against the spindle plate 32. At this point, the vane is held in the fully extended position by the force of the water against it. Once the vane of concern moves past the top center point or "12 O'clock"
position, or the respective plate 32 is vertically outward from the spindle shaft 22, the vane becomes isolated from the impulse force of the rivers current, but now experiences the downward force exerted by the weight of the water, or potential energy.
The vanes are mounted on the spindle in a manner that promotes the best containment of the water between the vanes as it moves down the elevation drop. Additionally, the end caps 53 (Fig. 5) prevent the water from running out of the edges of the vanes. The potential energy of the water is converted directly into rotational mechanical energy of the rotor assembly. When the vane of concern reaches the lower water elevation, it will discontinue adding energy to the rotor assembly, but as other vanes are now at peak conversion levels, the rotor assembly will continue to turn. Being hinged at 30 (Fig. 2), the vane now folds back against the spindle as it moves around to the upstream side again.
In order to prevent large losses of potential energy from being wasted, there is a siphon break 54 (Fig. 3) that allows air to the ends of the rotor assembly just below and to the downstream side of the core shaft. This allows the water contained between the spindle extension plates to exit, preventing it from being sucked back around with the rotating spindle and vanes.
The rotating rotor assembly is connected directly to the shaft 60 will be used to drive an electrical generator 62 (see Fig. 5). As most electrical generators are not designed to be immersed, it is necessary to mount the generator above the highest water level. Since the driven shaft is below the level of the water, the gear system or belt and pulley system 63, 64, 69 (Fig. 5) is provided to permit locating the generator above the water level.
In the preferred embodiment, and as shown in Fig. 5 a drum and cord type pulley system is use, this being free of a need for lubricants, quieter than gears, and less likely to slip than belts.
The gears, drum and cord, or belt and pulley will all need to be kept dry. To accomplish this, shaft seals 62 are provided to prevent ingress of water into the pulley compartment. The use of the interstitial drain annulus 61, pumped by a small electric pump (not shown), or drilled to drain to the downstream side of the generator, will provide an extra level of protection. The drums of the drive shaft and the driven shaft of the electrical generator can be sized in diameter to provide the optimum shaft speed for the generator. The generator housing is shaft sealed to keep out rain and flood water.
Fig. 8 shows a system which would use the hydro-generators to retrofit a hydroelectric dam. The dam 80 creates a reservoir 82 on the upstream side of a flowing waterway 84. The illustrated example is a high head system with a dam of sufficient height to preclude fish from scaling the dam from the downstream 86 to the upstream side 82. The present invention can be used to provide a fish ladder 88 wherein a series of low head steps are created by placing a plurality of the hydro generator assemblies 90a,b,c...n of the present invention in series along the ramp 92, creating a ship ladder of the configuration illustrated in Fig. 7.
From the foregoing it can be seen that the subject invention is directed to a hydroelectric generator system or hydro generator having a base which is adapted to be installed in a flowing stream of water generally perpendicular to the flow of water for defining an upstream side and a to downstream side. A rotor is mounted for rotation about its axis in the base, and a plurality of hinged are vanes mounted to and extend radially outward from the rotor. The vanes are designed to open to a fully extended position on the upstream side during a portion of rotation of the rotor and to closed to a nested position during a portion of rotation of the rotor, wherein the flow of water from the upstream side to the downstream side impinges upon the vanes and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor. The rotor or the rotor and vanes may be completely submerged.
In the preferred embodiment, the base includes a vane receptive channel for receiving and collapsing the vanes into a nested, closed position during the portion of the rotor rotation cycle wherein selective of the vanes are in communication with the channel.
Typically, the base includes an upstream wall and a downstream wall and wherein the upstream wall is higher than the downstream wall.
Preferably, the rotor extends the span of the waterway and the vanes extend the length of the rotor. The rotor may include a positive stop for defining the fully extended position of the vanes. End caps, mounted on either the rotor or the vase define a closed cavity between adjacent vanes. Preferably, each vane is concave curved relative to the upstream side.
A siphon drain may be included between the upstream side and the downstream side of the base.
An electric generator is provided and a drive shaft for driving the generator is driven by the rotation of the rotor.
In operation, the base and rotor are submerged in a running stream of water, with the rotor horizontally mounted, with a plurality of hinged vanes which open to catch the water as it runs over the top, hold the water as it is lowered during rotation, release the water when it is lowered a predetermined amount, and close to allow for submersed rotation with minimal losses.
One useful application of the invention provides for the retrofitting of high head dams to create a ship ladder downstream of the dam where each step of the fish ladder is created by a submersible hydro generator. The fish ladder to allow for the entire flow capacity of the river.
While certain embodiments and features of the invention have been described in detail herein, it should be readily understood that the invention encompasses all improvements, modifications and enhancements within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims (25)

1. A hydroelectric generator system comprising:
a. a base adapted to be installed in a flowing stream of water and generally perpendicular to the flow of water for defining an upstream side and a downstream side;
b. a rotor of predetermined length and having outer ends and diameter mounted for rotation about its axis in the base; and c. a plurality of hinged vanes mounted to and extending radially outward from the rotor the vanes adapted to open to a fully extended position on the upstream side during a portion of rotation of the rotor and closed to a nested position during a portion of rotation of the rotor, wherein the flow of water from the upstream side to the downstream side impinges upon the vanes and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor is completely submerged.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor and vanes are completely submerged.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base includes a vane receptive channel for receiving and collapsing the vanes into a nested, closed position during the portion of the rotor rotation cycle wherein selective of the vanes are in communication with the channel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor extends the span of the waterway:

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vanes extend the length of the rotor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor further includes a positive stop for defining the fully extended position of the vanes.

8. The system of claim 1, further including end caps at the outer ends of the rotor for defining a closed between adjacent vanes.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the end caps are mounted on the base.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the end caps are mounted on the rotor.

11. The system of claim 1, further including a siphon drain between the upstream side and the downstream side of the base.

12 The system of claim 1, wherein each vane is concave curved relative to the upstream side.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein an electric generator is provided and a drive shaft for driving the generator is driven by the rotation of the rotor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the base includes an upstream wall and a downstream wall and wherein the upstream wall is higher than the downstream wall.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor is cylindrical and the vanes are connected directly to the outer, curvilinear wall of the rotor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is segmentally incised for defining a plurality of plates extending the length thereof, and wherein the vanes are each connected to a plate on the rotor.

17. A hydroelectric generator system wherein a water driven rotor is used for driving an electric generator for producing electricity, the system comprising:
a. a base adapted to be installed in a flowing stream of water and generally perpendicular to the flow of water for defining an upstream side and a downstream side;
b. a submerged rotor of predetermined length and having outer ends and diameter mounted for rotation about its axis in the base; and c. a plurality of hinged vanes mounted to and extending radially outward from the rotor the vanes adapted to open to a fully extended open position on the upstream during a portion of rotation of the rotor and to closed to a nested position during a portion of rotation of the rotor, wherein the flow of water from the upstream side to the downstream side impinges upon the vanes and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor.
d. a channel in the base for receiving and maintaining the vanes in the nested position for a portion of the rotation cycle.
e. end caps out the outer ends of the rotor for defining a closed cavity between adjacent vanes and the end caps.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor further includes a positive stop for defining the fully extended position of the vanes.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the end caps are mounted on the base.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the end caps are mounted on the rotor.

21. The system of claim 17, further including a siphon drain between the upstream side and the downstream side of the base.

22 The system of claim 17, wherein each vane is concave curved relative to the upstream side.

23. A method of generating electrical power, comprising submersing in a running stream of water, a device comprising of a horizontally mounted, rotatable, cylindrically shaped device with a plurality of hinged vanes which open to catch the water as it runs over the top, hold the water as it is lowered during rotation, release the water when it is lowered a predetermined amount, and close to allow for submersed rotation with minimal losses.

24. The method of claim 23, further including the step of creating a water level change of predetermined height.

25. A method of retrofitting hydroelectric dams comprising:

a. creating fish ladders downstream of the dams where each step of the fish ladder is created by a submersible hydro generator;
b. sizing the fish ladder to allow for the entire flow capacity of the river;
and c. directing water flow over the dam and down the fish ladder through a series of hydro generators.