Patent ID: 7564143
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A hydroelectric power generation method utilizing an oceanic source of tidal flood and ebb current energy comprising: first channeling the oceanic tidal current to drive a turbine apparatus as it floods and ebbs through a primary tideway coursing between the oceanic source and a primary tidal basin; first gating the tidal current flow through a secondary tideway coursing between the oceanic source and a secondary tidal basin; first predicating a closure of the first regulator gate maintaining the secondary tidal basin near a low slack tide level; first urging a proportionated opening of the first regulator gate allowing a delayed influx of tidal flood current into the secondary tidal basin to enable continued drive of the turbine apparatus during high slack tide; second predicating a proportionated closure of first regulator gate during a subsequent period of substantial oceanic ebb current through the primary tideway and maintaining the secondary tidal basin near a high slack tide level; second urging the proportionated opening of the first regulator gate allowing a delayed reflux of tidal ebb current from the secondary tidal basin to enable the continued drive of the turbine apparatus during low slack tide; driving a generator apparatus by the turbine apparatus for producing electrical power to a distribution system; and, whereby during dynamic periods of oceanic tide flood and ebb the turbine apparatus is operated by a waxing and waning of the tidal drift current through the primary tideway coupled with a primary basin and during oceanic slack water periods continued operation of the turbine apparatus is maintained by a determinedly delayed first regulator gate controlled influx and reflux of tidal drift energy channeled between the secondary tidal basin, a turbine apparatus and the oceanic source while the turbine apparatus drives a generator which produces a substantially constant level of electric power independent of the oceanic tidal current's diurnal phase.