MXPA05012843A - 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

HIDRO SUBMERSIBLE HEAD OF LOW HEAD AND VARIABLE DYNAMIC TILTING Background of the Invention Field of Invention The present invention relates in general to systems for generating and distributing hydroelectric power and refers specifically to a micro-hydroelectric power generating system for producing electricity from low and similar flow streams.

Previous Art Analysis Hydroelectric sites are broadly classified as "low" or "high" head. Low head generally refers to a change in elevation of less than 10 feet (3 meters). In the past, a vertical fall of less than 2 feet (0.6 meters) generally made a hydroelectric system unviable. A high flow velocity can compensate for the low head, but a larger and more expensive turbine will be necessary. Generally, prior art turbines do not operate efficiently under very low heads and low flow.

The amount of energy available depends on the dynamic head, the amount of water flow and the efficiency of the turbine / generator combination. To get an idea about the existing energy in watts, multiply the head in feet, by the flow in GPM, by 0.18 for efficiency. The efficiency of the turbine is in the range of 25% to 50%, with greater efficiency in the higher heads. To have a vague idea, use 0.30 (representing 30%) as the multiplier for efficiency.

An even more desirable and hitherto unattainable goal is to take advantage of the natural flows of rivers and streams without preventing the flow through a dike or no more than a low dike (less than 6 meters high) to create an artificial head. The problem is that the natural flows of rivers and streams are highly variable. In certain areas during the driest months of the year, river flows are, on average, one-tenth of the flows during the wettest months of the year. Therefore, it has been considered that the small hydroelectric plant has little value as a source of safe energy capacity.

Achieving the full utilization of the entire annual river flow is not a simple matter when it comes to synchronous generation in small sites. There is a lower limit of machine capacity that must be justified during the operation of hydraulic turbines in low river discharge, which often results in an inefficient, poorly defined and often uneven performance. In the past, manufacturers of electromagnetic components do not recommend or guarantee this operation for long periods.

In the case of low head turbines, those with heads less than 15 meters in size, this limit has been set at 40% of the flow discharge of the maximum speed machine. But if asynchronous generation (induction) is used, the economic factors then allow dividing the capacity of the existing hydroelectric potential programmed from a given site among a plurality of units charged with equally small energy that results in a better operational utilization until the end of the most important part of the annual flow of the existing river as well as during the rest of the year. This potential, instead of being only 50% for only one machine, is 80% for two identical machines up to 95% when the programmed power potential is spliced or joined between three identical machines, which have the same design created.

These requirements are typical of the hydrological characteristics of the rivers of the New England and Central Atlantic United States. The economy in the asynchronous generation can be further improved if the equipment of the electric generator involved is of the type mounted in a capsule, located up or down with respect to the turbine sheave, and whether it is in a vertical or horizontal arrangement. These generators can be made of the cooled type, with water that has sleeve-type bearings lubricated with water with the capsule that is filled with treated water and isolated in substantially total form from the contaminating waters of the surrounding media. Before installation, that machine is filled with transparent neutral water. This water lubricates the bearings and also cools the electric windings and the generator can be installed at any depth totally submerged. A pressure compensating device ensures that any expansion of the water filling that takes place when the machine reaches its maximum temperature, is stopped and this prevents the contaminated or alkaline water that surrounds it from entering due to the temperature drop when the machine It cools after it stops.

A containment assembly loaded with prior hydropower attempting to utilize natural water courses for the provision of electrical power is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,345,159 where the assembly is provided for association with a dike structure or analogous that defines a water passage through non-navigable dikes, movable-type dams, chambers in locks defined for navigation procedures, channel hatches or auxiliary locks. The described system includes a body selectively movable to achieve asynchronous electrical generation when disposed in an operative position in relation to the dam structure. Means for flow control are included, such as contaminating gates, channel drainage gates, miter gates and the like and function to allow for revision of the assembly or when idle. A number of asynchronous generators can be spliced together in any containment assembly to improve the quality of the generation, which depends on the requirements imposed by extreme, highly variable hydraulic heads.

U.S. Patent No. 4,476,396 shows a hydroelectric generator system for use with low head and relief channel installations. A boat in the shape of a barge contains ballast tanks, pumps and associated structure that allow the ship to float selectively or submerge in a relief channel. The ship contains a number of cargo channel passages and extraction tubes that extend through it each containing a turbine to generate electricity. The boat has such a configuration that it floats on the damper of a levee-relieving channel where the water that flows through it passes through the passages of the ship, charging the turbines with energy to generate electricity.

The defined anchor apparatus adjacent to the relief channel and the complementarily formed splices defined in the vessel cooperate to maintain the submerged operating position.

There are numerous facilities on major rivers for flood control purposes, and those dikes include a number of relief channels with gates to control the water level. The low head hydroelectric generators mounted within these relief channels efficiently use the water that flows through them for power generation purposes.

It is known to use low head systems for hydroelectric generation within rivers that have flood control dams and relief channels. This has not been widely used for many reasons.

Low head generating systems can utilize the flow of current for motor purposes, and those devices are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,978,345; 4,142,823; 4,163,904 and 4,301,377.

Siphon-type hydroelectric generating systems have also been used in low head installations, and a sample of those apparatuses is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,117,676. However, during the flood stages of the rivers that occur annually, these hydroelectric generating devices interfere with the flow of water through the relief channels, functioning as a gate and seriously affecting the flood control purpose of the dike. For this reason, the hydroelectric generator apparatus has not previously been used with low head dams and relief channels of the flood control type in view of the problem that arises during the flooding of water.

The desire and the need to provide efficient and economical electric power to many areas of the world subsist. The use of natural watercourses to provide this energy is still a desirable solution but until now unattainable. Even in countries with wide network electrification, small communities are often not connected due to the high costs of reducing transformers and low rents. The local hydroelectric systems would provide electric power with much lower long-term costs per kilowatt than solar, wind and diesel systems. However, this market mostly without derivation because the reliable hydro technology does not exist or when it exists is generally too expensive and still of doubtful reliability.

In the preferred embodiment, the base includes a fan receiving channel for receiving and sinking the blades in a locked, closed position during the part of the rotation cycle of the rotor where the selective blades are in communication with the channel. Generally, the base includes a wall above and a wall below and where the top wall is higher than the wall below.

Preferably, the rotor extends over the water course and the blades extend along the rotor. The rotor may include a positive retainer to define the fully extended position of the blades. End caps, mounted on the rotor or on the base define a closed cavity between adjacent blades. Preferably, each blade is concave in relation to the upper side.

A siphon drain can be included between the upper side and the lower side of the base.

An electric generator is provided and the rotation of the rotor drives a drive shaft to drive the generator.

In operation, the base and the rotor are immersed in a stream of running water, with the rotor mounted horizontally, with a number of articulated vanes that open to capture the water while running over the upper part, containing the water while it is being lowered. during rotation, release water when it is lowered by a predetermined amount, and close to allow submerged rotation with minimal losses.

A useful application of the invention provides for the backward adjustment of the high head dykes to create a ship ladder downstream of the dike where a submersible hydro generator creates each step of the fish ladder. The fish ladder to allow the full flow capacity of the river.

The generator hydro of the present invention is capable of producing reliable, efficient electric power in a low head stream. In the preferred embodiment the assembly uses a vertical drop to provide 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 an output power of 0.2 Megawatts. The rotor operates at the same speed as the natural water flow and, consequently, is environmentally friendly for certain species such as salmon. The system provides a reliable, non-polluting, efficient, environmentally desirable energy source that can be generated near the point of consumption. This makes the system of the present invention particularly useful in those regions of the world where energy networks are not readily available. The system is also useful to improve the power generation capacity in regions sustained by the network for a fraction of the cost of new power plants and without pollution. In one embodiment, a number of units can be placed in a series of one meter drops (or other suitable increment) to provide a ladder of fish to migrate salmon while generating energy.

This would allow an existing dike to remain in place while providing a solution to the requirement to provide functional fish ladders. In the example, the fish ladder itself provides the generation of energy. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a base for supporting a substantially horizontal spindle extending over the water course. The blades are mounted to the spindle using hinges. A power shaft is supported by the spindle. In the preferred embodiment the blades are concave on the upper side. The assembly is placed in the water course and extends over the width of the watercourse in such a way that it produces an elevation of the level of the upper side. Water is flowing over the top of the unit, sweeping the hinged blades up and out of the spindle. This causes the blades to extend up and out from the spindle through the hinge until it reaches a positive retainer. The blade then transmits the flow energy to the spindle and rotates it. Once each blade passes over the center and is on the upper side, it can partially sink towards the spindle with a taper plate. This prevents the water transported by each blade from being transported backwards by the blade to the upper side and maximizes the efficiency of the system.

In the preferred embodiment, a siphon break is provided to allow air to reach the ends of the rotor assembly.

The blades rotate at the speed of the natural current and are separated to allow the salmon to swim upstream through the assembly.

The preferred assembly comprises a horizontally mounted cylindrical rotor with a number of articulated vanes mounted to the rotor to oscillate in the same radial direction. Means are provided to operate the blades so that they capture water in trapped channels while flowing over the system to allow the rotor to rotate while fully submerged. The rotating rotor is used to provide power to generate electricity.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows the operating mechanism of the generator hydro and the base above which the rotor will be mounted.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the assembly with the action of water on the mechanism by the flow arrow.

Figure 3 shows the end caps containing the bearings that hold the rotor above the base.

Figure 4 shows a version of the spindle to which the articulated blades are mounted.

Figure 5 shows a front view drawing including the generator, the rotational energy transfer module, shaft seals, drain ring, bearings, and coupling flange.

Figure 6 shows a single hinged blade, which would be mounted to the spindle of Figure 4.

Figure 7 shows a cross section of the operation of a hydro generator with fish present to illustrate how the unit would work without harming the fish.

Figure 8 shows a system that would use hydro-generators for the backward adjustment of a hydroelectric dam.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The basic operating assembly is shown in Figure 1. A base 10 is provided and is adapted to be mounted on the floor of the watercourse. The longitudinal axis of the base extends over the width or over the water course and is perpendicular to the direction of flow. In the preferred embodiment the base is constructed of a solid inert material such as reinforced concrete.

The base could also be constructed of high-strength plastic, and be hollow to fill with concrete at the point of installation. The base includes a channel 12 formed to accept the spindle and blade assembly 14. The upper side 16 of the base is higher than the lower side 18 and with the blade assembly ensures that water enters the system above the axis of rotation 20 of the spindle 22. An axial power shaft 24 is mounted on the spindle. Then the arrow 26 indicates the direction of rotation.

Generally the spindle 22 is made of a material with high rigid strength and high breaking strength, such as for example a glass fiber composite, high strength plastic, or corrosion resistant metal. The spindle comprises a central cylinder shown in Figure 1 or, in the alternative shown in Figure 4, a cylindrical core axis 33, radial plates extending 32, and axial water containing plates or walls end 31. The spindle must be constructed of a material strong enough to withstand the forces applied by the water. As shown in Figure 1, the blades 28 extend along the spindle and are concave towards the upper side 16 of the base. The blades are made of a high strength material that is buoyant in water under normal temperature and pressure conditions and can be molded into the required shape or otherwise manufactured to meet your requirements for shape, strength and buoyant character. The concave curve is designed to allow the blades to fit against the spindle as shown in Figure 1 when the blades are in channel 12 of the base.

The blades 28 are each individually mounted to the spindle 22 with a hinge 30, as shown in Figure 6. The hinges can be constructed separately and nailed or riveted to the spindle and blades, or molded into the ends of the spindle extension plates and the blade stops for a single-pin assembly , in the way traditional hinged hinges are built. The blades can have a small cut with an opposite concavity 34 at the tip of the blade, as shown in Figure 4, to help the water sweep the blade off the spindle. The blades shown in Figure 6 are shown mounted to the plate type spindle of Figure 4, mounted to each individual plate 32.

However, it should be understood that the blades would be assembled in a manner similar to any spindle configuration.

The drive shaft 24 (Figure 1) can be a separate driveway or an integral part 33 of the spindle assembly shown in Figure 4. The cross section of the basic operating mechanism is shown in Figure 2. This illustrates that when the blades 28 are articulated on the spindle plates 32, they must be made in such a way as to provide a rear seal or a positive seal 40 for the blades. In Figure 2 the hinges 3 are shown assembled from the upper (concave) side of the blades so that the blade stopper must stop against the end of the spindle extension plates to provide the positive retainer.

As shown in Figure 2, water flows into the assembly from the upper side and hits the first engaged blade 28a. This pushes the water upwards, and above the axis of the spindle, and drives the spindle clockwise as indicated by arrow 42. When the spindle 28a is released from the upper edge 44 of channel 12, the water pushes the spindle to the fully extended position as indicated in the spindles 28b, 28c and 28d. The spindles are kept in the fully extended position to fit into the channel 12 of the base, as shown in the spindles 28e, 28f, 28g and 28h. This pushes all the water that is in the spindle cavity outwards from the assembly in the direction of the arrow. It also guarantees that all the remains or animal life that are in the assembly are expelled without damaging the life or the assembly while the spindles rotate back to the position of the spindle 28a.

The rotor assembly includes end hubs 53 as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 7. The rotor shaft 51 (Figure 3) extends through the end ferrules and is supported with bearings 52 of sufficient rating. to support the weight of the rotor assembly, the forces acting on it from the weight of the water and the impulse of the water stream. In the preferred embodiment, the bearings are mounted on the end caps. Endcaps should be made of a high strength material, such as fiberglass composite, high strength plastic, or corrosion resistant metal. The end ferrules must have built-in a siphon break channel 54 that extends from the top 56 of the end cap to the area 58 immediately below the area of the spindle drive shaft. The siphon break opens only in the upper part 56 of the end cap in the area 58 below the core axis 51 of the spindle. The opening at 58 is towards the inside of the assembly, or into the cavity occupied by the rotating blades.

The front view of the complete spindle assembly without showing the front wall of the base 16 is shown in Figure 5. The complete assembly has two bearings 66,67 on the end of the generator. The use of two bearings at this end may or may not be necessary. The use of a drain ring 74 with the double shaft seals is located between the energy transfer module 59, which is shown here as the shaft 60, a pulley drum 69, and a type of synthetic cable, but can be gears or tapes, or wheels and chains, and rotor assembly. The drain ring, drum shell, and generator wraps are constructed by welding plates into the box shapes shown at 68. The dimensions of the complete assembly vary with the desired electrical output power. The drum and synthetic cable assembly 69 is shown here because it is known as the less noisy, more corrosion resistant operating energy transfer system.

Several cables may be necessary to transfer energy in large quantities, and the cable 64 is generally constructed of a high strength synthetic material. The drums 63 and 69 are dimensioned in a diameter to give the correct operating speed for the generator 62. The generator assembly is also mounted in the plate case 61. The generator housing 61 has the shaft sealed to prevent moisture from entering. to generator assembly.

At the end of the assembly opposite that where the generator is driven, there is a coupling flange 73 which is fitted to the axis of the rotor assembly, and allows additional rotor assemblies to be connected in series to the same generator. The coupling shaft has a nailed design to match it to the next coupling flange on the unit.

Functioning With reference to Figures 2, 5 and 7, the theory of operation is 5. In these figures, the elementary principle of operation can be observed. Base 10 is installed in a river, aqueduct or fish ladder. The rotating assembly comprising generally the spindle 22 and the blades 28 is mounted on the base 10. As long as the margins of the river intersect with the ends of the generating hydro, the unit will produce an elevation of the upper side level (Figure 7) and temporarily, a decrease in the level of the lower side. The margins of the river must be high enough to accommodate the elevation of the level of the river above. Since this unit is designed to be modular, having one or more coupling tabs 73, see Figure 5, it allows the total length of the generator hydro to be varied to approach the width of the river or stream as much as possible.

When water is made to flow over the top of the unit (Figure 7), the river current or the flow energy sweeps the buoyant, articulated vanes 28 up and out of the spindle 22 (Figure 2 and Figure 7) . The blades extend outward until the stop 40 (Figure 2) goes against the spindle plate 32. At this point, the blade is held in the fully extended position by the force of the water against it. Once the blade in question moves past the upper center point or the "12 o'clock" position, or the respective plate 32 is vertically outwardly from the axis of the spindle 22, the vane is isolated from the driving force of the shaft. river current, but now experience the downward force exerted by the weight of the water or potential energy.

The blades are mounted on the spindle in a way that promotes the best water containment between the blades while moving downward by the fall of the lift. In addition, end ferrules 53 (Figure 5) prevent water from running off the edges of the blades. The potential energy of the water is converted directly into rotational mechanical energy from the rotor assembly. When the blade in question reaches the lower water elevation, it interrupts the addition of energy to the rotor assembly, but since there are now other blades at the peak conversion levels, the rotor assembly continues to rotate. Being articulated at 30 (Figure 2), the blade now bends back against the spindle while moving around the upper side again.

To prevent large losses of potential energy from being wasted, there is a siphon break 54 (Figure 3) that allows air to reach the ends of the rotor assembly immediately below and to the underside of the core axis. This allows the water contained between the spindle extension plates to escape, preventing it from being sucked back with the rotating spindle and the blades.

The rotating rotor assembly is connected directly to the shaft 60 and used to drive an electric generator 62 (see Figure 5). As most electric generators are not designed to be submerged, it is necessary to mount the generator above the highest water level. Since the drive shaft is below the water level, the gear system or belt and pulley system 63, 64, 69 (Figure 5) is provided to allow the generator to be positioned above the water level.

In the preferred embodiment, and as shown in Figure 5, a drum and cable type system is used, it does not need lubricants, it is less noisy than the gears and it is less likely to slip than the belts.

The gears, drum and cable or belt and pulley all need to stay dry. To make it, axle 62 seals are provided to prevent the entry of water into the pulley compartment. The use of interstitial drainage ring 61, pumped by a small electric pump (not shown), or drilled to drain to the underside of the generator, provides an additional level of protection. The drums of the drive shaft and drive shaft of the electric generator may have a diameter sized to provide the optimum shaft speed for the generator. The generator housing has the shaft sealed to keep out rain and flood water.

Figure 8 shows a system that would be used by hydro-generators to adjust a hydroelectric dam backwards. The dock 80 creates a reservoir 82 on the upper side of a circulating water course 84. The illustrated example is a high head system with a drum of sufficient height to prevent fish from climbing the dike from the lower side 86 to the upper 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 number of generating hydro assemblies 90a, b, c ... n of the present invention in series as length of the ramp 92, creating a ship ladder with the configuration illustrated in Figure 7.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention relates to a hydroelectric generator or hydro generator system having a base that is adapted to be installed in a stream of running water generally perpendicular to the water flow to define an upper side and a lower side. A rotor is mounted to rotate about its axis at the base, and a number of articulated vanes are mounted and extend radially outwardly from the rotor. The blades are designed to open to a fully extended position on the upper side during a part of the rotation of the rotor and to close toward an engaged position during a part of the rotation of the rotor, wherein the flow of water from the upper side to the lower side impacts on the blades and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor. The rotor or rotor and the blades can be completely submerged.

In the preferred embodiment, the base includes a receiver channel of the blades to receive and sink the blades in a locked, closed position during the part of the rotation cycle of the rotor where selective blades are in communication with the channel. Generally, the base includes an upper wall and a lower wall and wherein the upper wall is higher than the lower wall.

Preferably, the rotor extends over the water course and the blades extend along the rotor. The rotor may include a positive retainer to define the fully extended position of the blades. End caps, mounted on the rotor or base, define a closed cavity between adjacent blades. Preferably, each blade is concave in relation to the upper side.

A siphon drain can be included between the upper side and the lower side of the base.

An electric generator and a drive shaft are provided to drive the generator that is driven by the rotation of the rotor. In operation, the base and the rotor are submerged in a circulating water stream, with the rotor mounted horizontally, with a number of articulated vanes that open to capture the water while running over the top, containing the water while it is being lowered. during rotation, they release water when it is lowered by a predetermined amount, and close to allow submerged rotation with minimal losses.

A useful application of the invention provides for the backward adjustment of high head dykes to create a ship ladder below the dike where each step of the fish ladder is created with a submersible hydro generator. The fish ladder allows the full flow capacity of the river.

While certain embodiments and features of the invention have been described in detail here, it should be readily understood that the invention encompasses all improvements, modifications and extensions 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 circulating water stream and generally perpendicular to the water flow to define an upper side and a lower 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 number of articulated vanes mounted and extending radially outwardly from the rotor the vanes are adapted to open to a fully extended position on the upper side during a portion of the rotation of the rotor and close to an engaged position during a portion of the rotor rotation, where the water flow from the upper side to the lower side impacts on the blades and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor.

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

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor and the blades are completely submerged.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a fan receiving channel for receiving and sinking the blades in a closed position, engaged during the part of the rotation cycle of the rotor where selective blades are in communication with the channel .

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor extends over the water course.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blades extend along the rotor.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor further includes a positive retainer to define the fully extended position of the vanes.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising end ferrules at the outer ends of the rotor to define a closed between adjacent blades.

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

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

11. The system according to claim 1, further including a siphon drain between the upper side and the lower side of the base.

12. The system according to claim 1 (wherein each blade is concave in relation to the upper side.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein an electric generator and a drive shaft are provided to drive the generator driven by the rotation of the rotor.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base includes an upper wall and a lower wall and wherein the upper wall is higher than the lower wall.

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

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder has segmented incisions to define a number of plates extending along it and wherein the blades are each connected to a rotor plate.

17. A hydroelectric generator system where a water driven rotor is used to drive an electric generator to produce electricity, the system includes: a. a base adapted to be installed in a circulating water stream and generally perpendicular to the water flow to define an upper side and a lower side; b. a submerged rotor with a predetermined length and having outer ends and diameter mounted for rotation about its axis at the base; and c. a number of articulated vanes mounted and extending outwardly from the rotor the vanes are adapted to open to a fully open position on the upper side during a portion of the rotation of the rotor and to close towards an engaged position during a portion of the rotor rotation, where the water flow from the upper side to the lower side impacts on the blades and opens them to the fully extended position to drive the rotor, d. a channel in the base to receive and maintain the blades in the engaged position during a part of the rotation cycle, e. end ferrules outside the outer ends of the rotor to define a closed cavity between adjacent blades and the end ferrules.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor further includes a positive retainer to define the fully extended position of the vanes.

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

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

21. The system according to claim 17, further including a siphon drain between the upper side and the lower side of the base.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein each blade is concave in relation to the upper side.

23. A method of generating electric power, comprising submerging in a stream of running water, a device comprising a cylindrical, rotating, horizontally mounted device with a number of articulated vanes that open to capture water while running on top , contain water while lowering during rotation, release water when a predetermined amount is lowered, and close to allow submerged rotation with minimal losses.

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

25. A method of adjusting back hydroelectric dams comprising: a. create fish ladders down from the levees where each step of the fish ladder is created with a submersible hydro generator; b. size the fish ladder to allow the full flow capacity of the river; and c. direct the flow of water over the dike and down the fish ladder through a series of hydro generators.