High capacity factor hydro power plant with variable intake

摘要

The capacity factor of hydroelectric power plant is enhanced by conducting high energy water from close below the water level in the lake through a vertical tube of variable height into the lower inlet gate in the dam wall, Fig. 2 vertical cross section of a plant: 1 lake, 2 dam, 3 fixed inlet gate, 4 tube of variable length, 5 intake gate close below the water level, 6 connection of tube 4 to gate 3, 7 inspection/spare gate. Tube 4 is buoyant, semi-telescopic and is arranged to adjust its height automatically to the water level. The method can be applied in run of river hydro, with 2 storage lakes alternately filled by the source through penstocks, whereby the head loss is compensated by the principle of communicating vessels, while every time the turbines start running on the full lake.