RIVER-BOTTOM POWER STATION Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: hydroelectric power stations. SUBSTANCE: power station has several parallel triple-cable flexible shafts mounting water wheels similar to ship propellers. Cables are tied on one end to bearings secured to pulleys arranged throughout entire length of power cable laid on river bottom and joined together by means of cable sections at equal distance between them so that water-wheel blades on one flexible shaft do not contact those on adjacent shaft. Ends of power cable are fastened on river-bank bits driven in bottom of man-made bays. Other ends of flexible shafts are coupled with generators mounted in powerhouse. Two adjacent shafts rotate in opposite directions. All water wheels mounted on flexible shafts are spaced apart through foam plastic bushings which hold water wheels near river bottom under effect of river current. Only first water wheel, as counted from powerhouse, is locked in position on each flexible shaft. Sections of flexible shafts close to power cable are slightly raised above river bottom by means of extended trihedral pyramids with longitudinal-axial holes passing flexible cables to prevent contact between water-wheel blades and river bottom. EFFECT: provision for power generation without disturbing normal river shipping. 1 dwg