Patent ID: 6982498
Filing Date: 2006-01-03
Classification: E02B,F03B,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An underwater hydro-electric farm comprising: a plurality of electrical generator assemblies, each electrical generator assembly including a turbine blade/propeller assembly, the electrical generator assemblies being arranged in a predetermined array on a bottom surface of a body of water; the plurality of electrical generator assemblies further being located and aligned so that the turbine blade/propeller assemblies are caused to rotate as a result of being subjected to a kinetic energy caused by a flow of an underwater current; a cradle for each of the electrical generator assemblies, each cradle being anchored to the bottom surface of the body of water; means for anchoring each cradle to the bottom surface of the body of water; each of the plurality of electrical generator assemblies being removably securable in its corresponding cradle; each cradle having means for removably securing the electrical generator assembly to be installed on or removed from the cradle, said means for removably securing the electrical generator assembly including means for readily changing out a damaged electrical generator assembly while underwater; each of the plurality of electrical generator assemblies being in electrical communication with each other; and power transmission lines routed from the underwater hydro-electric farm to a land based facility having means for converting power generated by the hydro-electric farm for use in land based electric power grids; wherein each of the plurality of electrical generator assemblies is self contained and modular in configuration such that any of the electrical generator assemblies, including its coupled turbine blade/propeller assembly, is replaceable with another electrical generator assembly as a combined unit.