Abstract:
A turbine installation configured for large scale hydrogen production includes a foundation structure separating an upper elevation headwater from a lower elevation tailwater. The foundation structure defines a water passageway extending therethrough between an inlet adjacent the headwater and an outlet adjacent the tailwater. A runner is supported for rotation by the foundation and disposed in the water passageway intermediate the inlet and the outlet so that water flowing through the passageway as a result of head differential causes rotation of the runner. A generator is supported by the foundation and connected to the runner by a rotary shaft for generating electrical power as the runner rotates. An electrolyzer is electrically coupled to the generator for receiving the electrical power and producing hydrogen. A control system is capable of sensing the remaining hydrogen storage capacity and performing an economic comparison analysis to determine whether operating the turbine to produce additional hydrogen or to supply a utility grid with power provides the highest economic return.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of hydrogen production from hydroelectric power. More particularly, the invention relates to the high volume production of hydrogen from large scale hydroelectric power dam installations. The invention further relates to a technique for performing an economic analysis to determine when to operate the hydroelectric power dam installation in a hydrogen production mode. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most energy produced today is derived from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. However, these energy sources all have significant disadvantages including pollution, periodic shortages and escalating costs of extracting the fuels. Although at one time it was thought that nuclear fission power could provide an answer to these problems, that has not proved out. Not only are there significant concerns regarding the safety of operating the existing nuclear systems, but there is also the significant problem of the safe transportation and long term storage of the spent fuel. 
     By contrast, solar, wind and hydro energy systems all offer the advantages of being relatively safe and reliable. Moreover, these technologies have the common advantage of drawing their power from sources that are virtually inexhaustible. However, that is not to say these technologies are without difficulties. For example, one difficulty with these technologies is that the underlying energy sources (i.e., wind, sunlight and water) can be subject to periodic swings in availability, e.g., the sun may eclipse, the winds may subside, and the water levels may fall due to extended periods of drought. Another difficulty is that the best locations for capturing the foregoing energy sources are often remote from where the energy is used. This is especially the case for large scale hydro power installations. 
     Traditionally, most wind, solar and hydro power installations (particularly large scale, commercial operations) rely on utility grids for transferring the generated energy to where it will be used. However, this may not be the most efficient use of the generated energy from an economic standpoint. As is well known, connecting a wind or hydro powered turbine generator to a utility grid imposes certain constraints on the generator. For example, the power output of the generator must be synchronized (i.e., in phase) with the utility&#39;s grid supply. With synchronized generators, this is accomplished by controlling the rotor speed of the turbine to exactly match the utility supply frequency. Another constraint with relying solely on a utility grid as a carrier of the generated energy is that there may be a low demand on the grid at the same time there is ample capacity to generate additional power. When this occurs, the energy that could be captured is simply wasted. Although various energy storage systems (e.g., battery storage or pumped hydro-energy storage) can be utilized to overcome this problem, such systems are relatively expensive to install and result in efficiency losses of their own due to the repeated energy conversions. 
     Although most large scale solar, wind and hydro generating installations rely solely on utility grids for transporting the energy to where it is used, some installations use other means. In particular, it is known to use the electrical energy from solar, wind and hydro installation to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen, which is then collected and transported offsite (e.g., by vehicle, rail, ship or pipeline) where it is typically burned or used in a fuel cell. As one example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,028 discloses a wind farm generation system that utilizes homopolar direct current (“DC”) generators to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen for transportation offsite. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,963 discloses a solar energy collection system that produces electric current for powering an electrolysis unit and a cryogenic cooling unit which produces liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Specific to the hydroelectric field, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,097 discloses a submersible hydro turbine designed for placement in river or ocean currents. The submersible hydro turbine includes a water tight bulb housing which contains everything necessary for the production of hydrogen gas including a turbine runner connected to an AC generator, an electrical converter that produces DC power from the AC power, and an electrolyzer which produces hydrogen and oxygen gas from the DC electrical power. The hydrogen is collected within the water tight housing and then piped to an on-shore storage tank for transportation offsite. 
     Although using hydrogen as a carrier of energy generated from solar, wind and hydro installations avoids the aforementioned constraints imposed by using a utility grid to carry the energy, it also may not be the most efficient use of the generated energy from an economic standpoint. As is well known, the prices of electrical energy continuously fluctuate due to changing demand levels, both due to seasonal variations and time of day restrictions. Similarly, the price of hydrogen is also impacted by changing demand levels and seasonal variations. As such, there are times when it may be more profitable to utilize the generated electrical energy to produce hydrogen on-site rather than to channel the power onto the utility grid, while at other times the reverse may be true. 
     In view of the foregoing, it can be seen there is a need for hydro power installations that are capable of large scale continuous hydrogen production. There is also a need for hydroelectric power installations that provide operators with information that facilitates intelligent decisions on operating the installation in-an operating mode that maximizes revenue as market-conditions change. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to high volume production of hydrogen from hydroelectric power. The invention further relates to novel techniques for performing an economic comparison analysis between different modes of turbine operation to determine the mode that provides the highest economic return value for the generated electrical power. 
     According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a turbine installation is configured for large scale hydrogen production. The installation includes a foundation structure separating an upper elevation headwater from a lower elevation tailwater. The foundation structure defines a water passageway extending therethrough between an inlet adjacent the headwater and an outlet adjacent the tailwater. A runner is supported for rotation by the foundation and disposed in the water passageway intermediate the inlet and the outlet so that water flowing through the passageway as a result of head differential causes rotation of the runner. A generator is supported by the foundation and connected to the runner by a rotary shaft for generating electrical power as the runner rotates. An electrolyzer is electrically coupled to the generator for receiving the electrical power and producing hydrogen. 
     According to a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for performing an economic comparison analysis in a hydroelectric power generating facility. The facility includes a turbine driven power generating unit receiving a flow of water through an upstream conduit to generate electrical power. The facility is capable of operating in a first mode in which the generated electrical power is transported away from the facility using a first energy carrier, and a second mode of operation in which the generated electrical power is transported away from the facility using a second energy carrier. The method comprises computing a first economic value for the electrical energy when the first energy carrier is used, and computing a second economic value for the electrical energy when the second energy carrier is used. The method further comprises comparing the first economic value with the second economic value to identify the operating mode associated with the higher economic value, and operating the facility in the identified mode. 
     These and other benefits and features of embodiments of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, presented in connection with the following drawings in which like reference numerals are used to identify like elements throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary top perspective view of a turbine power generating facility including several turbine units situated across a section of a river. 
         FIG. 2  is diagrammatic representation of a turbine installation illustrating exemplary instrumentation for monitoring and regulating the production of hydrogen and oxygen. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a system for producing hydrogen and oxygen from hydro power. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of an alternative system for producing hydrogen and oxygen from hydro power. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of certain functional circuits in a control system such as illustrated in any of  FIGS. 2-4  for monitoring and regulating the production of hydrogen and for determining an economically preferred mode of operation. 
       Before explaining several preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail it is noted that the invention is not limited to the details of construction or the arrangement of components set forth below or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also noted that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purposes of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings and referring to  FIG. 1 , a hydroelectric power generating installation  10  is illustrated generally, including a dam  12  spanning a river  14  and a power generating facility  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, facility  16  includes a series of three turbine generating units, each designated generally by the reference numeral  18 . As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, facility  16  may include more or fewer generating units  18 , and such units may be situated adjacent to one or both banks  20 ,  22  of river  14 , or at various locations between the banks. Moreover, while the following discussion makes reference to a Kaplan turbine by way of example, the present invention is not limited to application with any particular type of turbine unit. For example, other types of turbines that may be suitable for use in facility  16  besides Kaplan units include Francis, Pelton, Turgo, bulb, propeller, tubular, and crossflow turbines. 
     Each turbine unit  18  may be of generally known design—such as the vertical Kaplan turbine illustrated diagrammatically in FIG.  2 —for generating electrical power as water is allowed to flow through dam  12  from a headwater reservoir  24  of river  14  to a tailwater side  26 . Thus, unit  18  includes a turbine support superstructure  28  built within dam  12 . Superstructure  28  provides axial and radial support for a turbine  30  and an associated electrical generator  32 . In the illustrated power generating unit, turbine  30  is positioned within the flow path of river  14 , downstream of an inlet conduit  34  and movable wicket gates  36 . Turbine  30  includes a runner  38  supported on a vertical shaft  40  and having a plurality of movable blades  42  disposed around its periphery for driving shaft  40  and thus generator  32  in rotation as water flows through dam  12  from headwater  24  to tailwater  26 . Unit  18  also includes a trash rack  44  upstream of inlet conduit  34 , typically comprising parallel, spaced-apart bars, for preventing large objects and debris from fouling or damaging turbine  30 . A mechanical cleaning system may be provided atop superstructure  28  for removing debris accumulated upstream of trash rack  44 . Alternatively, facility  16  may employ manual methods (e.g., rakes) for removing debris from trash rack  44  when required. 
     In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , unit  18  includes a control system designated generally by the reference numeral  46 . Control system  46  includes a plurality of sensors  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62 , actuators  64 ,  66  and  67  and a water pump  68 , all of which are coupled to a controller  48  by appropriate data links. For the purpose of controlling operation of unit  18  and monitoring the production of hydrogen, the sensors of control system  46  permit detection of a set of operating parameters. For example, the sensors may allow control system  46  to sense any or all of differential head from headwater  24  to tailwater  26 , power generation level, flow through unit  18 , cavitation, and the amount (or percent capacity) of hydrogen in a storage system  88  (as explained in detail below). Persons skilled in the art will understand that additional sensors could be employed to sense other operating parameters. 
     While various alternative methods are well known in the art for directly or indirectly measuring the foregoing parameters, preferred sensing devices include the following. Stilling well-type transducers  50  and  52  measure the relative elevation or height of headwater and tailwater  24  and  26 , respectively. Such measurements are used to determine the drop in head (i.e., difference in elevation between the headwater and tailwater levels) across dam  12  and for determining the submersion factor (ÿ) of the turbine as an indication of the risk of cavitation within turbine  30 . The submersion level is generally determined as a function of the difference between the tailwater elevation and a reference elevation for turbine  30  in a manner well known in the art. Sensor  54  is a pressure transducer positioned at a suitable location within inlet conduit  34  for providing a signal proportional to head upstream of turbine  30 , accounting for head losses between headwater  24  and gates  36 . If unit  18  has a relatively short inlet conduit  34 , sensor  54  may be situated near its entry. Reference numeral  56  represents a sensor assembly positioned within inlet conduit  34  for generating a signal indicative of flow through unit  18 . In the preferred embodiment, flow is determined by the well known Winter-Kennedy method, although alternative methods could be substituted, including the Peck method. Sensor  58 , provided in the draft tube  70  of unit  18 , is a pressure transducer similar to sensor  54  generating a pressure measurement signal and isolating losses from turbine  30  to tailwater  26 . Sensor  60  is one or more pressure transducers generating pressure measurements in storage system  88 , which provides an indication of the amount (or percent capacity) of hydrogen in storage. Finally, reference numeral  62  represents a power monitor providing a continuous signal indicative of the level of power being generated by unit  18 . 
     In addition to the sensors described above, control system  46  is typically provided with actuator assemblies  64 ,  66  and  67  for orienting gates  36 , blades  42  and a water inlet shut-off device  69 , respectively, at desired positions. Actuator assemblies  64 ,  66  and  67  may be of any suitable type known in the art, such as assemblies including hydraulic cylinders or motors coupled to mechanical linkages for effectuating the desired movement of the gates and blades and for holding the gates and blades in the desired positions against the force of impinging flow through unit  18 . Moreover, actuator assemblies  64 ,  66  and  67  may also include sensors, such as potentiometers, linear variable differential transformers or the like, for providing feedback signals indicative of the actual positions of gates  36 , blades  42  and shut-off device  69 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, shut-off device  69  comprises a vertically actuated drop down gate that may be lowered to close off water flow through inlet conduit  34  and raised to allow water flow. Alternatively, shut-off device  69  could comprise one or more of a butterfly valve, stop locks, a spherical valve or a lens valve, which shut-off devices would be especially advantageous for long penstock in high head installations. As another alternative, a ring gate could be installed closely surrounding the upstream edges of wicket gates  36  and arranged to drop down when necessary or desired to provide a positive water flow shut off in turbine  30 . As persons skilled in the art will recognize, any or all of the foregoing shut-off devices could be used when overhauling or repairing turbine  30  as well as during start up and shut down of turbine  30 . 
     Signals from the various sensors outlined above are applied to controller  48 , which also serves to generate control signals for commanding actuator assemblies  64 ,  66  and  67  to position gates  36 , blades  42  and valve  69  in desired orientations and for regulating the operation of water pump  68  (as described in detail below). In the presently preferred embodiment, controller  48  includes an appropriately configured programmable logic controller executing a cyclic control routine stored in resident memory (as also described in detail below). Moreover, controller  48  is preferably also linked to other turbine units  18  within facility  16 . Thus, where the other units  18  within facility  16  are comparably instrumented, controller  48  receives signals indicative of the operating parameters of all units  18  in facility  16 , and controls operation of all gates and blades in the various units. 
     In operation, facility  16  generates electrical power by permitting water to flow through turbine units  18 , and outputs the generated power on an electrical line  90  to electrolysis equipment  92 . According to one embodiment, generator  32  is an alternating current (“AC”) generator. In this case a suitable AC-to-DC Dower converter/filter (not shown) would be required to convert the AC power from generator  32  to the direct current (“DC”) voltage needed for electrolyzer  92 . According to a preferred embodiment, however, generator  32  is a DC generator. This eliminates the need for the power converter and thus potentially reduces the complexity and expense of turbine  18 . As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, DC generators are generally classified according to the method used to provide field current for energizing the field magnets. Thus, a series-wound generator has its field in series with the armature, and a shunt-wound generator has the field connected in parallel with the armature. Compound-wound generators have part of their fields in series and part in parallel. Both shunt-wound and compound-wound generators have the advantage of delivering comparatively constant voltage under varying electrical loads. The series-wound generator is used principally to supply a constant current at variable voltage. Although any of the foregoing types of DC generators may be advantageously used in connection with the present invention, generator  32  is preferably of the compound wound type. 
     Regardless of the type and construction of generator  32 , DC power is supplied to electrolyzer  92  (either directly from generator  32  or after passing through a power rectifier) to disassociate water into its constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen. At its most basic level, electrolyzer  92  consists of two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) separated by an electrolyte in an aqueous solution (with a specified level of electrical conductivity). When DC power is applied across the two electrodes, the resulting voltage differential causes water molecules adjacent the anode to break down into oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons. The hydrogen ions move through the electrolyte toward the cathode and combine with electrons that simultaneously move to the cathode through an external circuit. This results in the creation of hydrogen gas bubbles at the cathode and oxygen gas bubbles at the anode, and certain other by-products such as chlorine (produced at the anode) and metallic ions (produced at the cathode). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, electrolyzer  92  utilizes a liquid electrolyte. The liquid electrolyte is typically a strong acidic or basic solution (with a certain conductivity) such as sodium or potassium hydroxide. One possible construction of a liquid electrolyte based unit that may be suitable for use in the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,863, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. With this electrolyzer, the electrolyte is hydrochloric acid in solution with water. Preferably, the water used for the electrolysis is filtered river water supplied by pump  68  via fluid line  94 . The river water provided by pump  68  preferably passes through a filtration/conditioning system  95  prior to electrolysis to provide the water with a specified level of clarity or cleanliness and/or electrical conductivity. As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, the electrolyzer disclosed in the foregoing patent includes a number of features that make it particularly well suited for use in the present invention. For example, the electrolyzer is capable of large scale continuous production of hydrogen due to its internal cooling devices for cooling the liquid electrolyte, a continuously changing filter mat for ensuring the electrolyte remains clean, and internal pumps for ensuring continuous circulation of the liquid electrolyte (which increases the effectiveness of the electrolysis). 
     As an alternative to using a liquid electrolyte, electrolyzer  92  may utilize a solid polymer electrolyte (“SPE”), which is sometimes referred to as a proton exchange membrane (“PEM”). As persons skilled in the art will understand, an SPE or PEM is an electronic insulator but an excellent conductor of hydrogen ions. The materials used to date include a fluorocarbon polymer backbone, similar to TEFLON®, to which are attached sulfonic acid groups. The acid molecules are fixed to the polymer and cannot “leak” out, which eliminates any concerns with electrolyte loss. 
     In addition to the two forgoing electrolyzer constructions, persons skilled in the art will understand that numerous other constructions for electrolyzers are known and could work equally well or perhaps even better for large scale hydrogen production in the present invention. Moreover, it will also be understood that more than one electrolyzer could be employed to further increase the hydrogen production capacity as needed. 
     Regardless of the particular type and construction of electrolyzer  92 , when DC power is applied to the electrodes, water molecules will be broken down into their constituent elements of oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen and hydrogen typically appear as gas bubbles at the anode and cathode, respectively, which bubbles are then collected and piped to storage system  88 . According to a preferred embodiment, storage system  88  includes associated sensor equipment  60  which provides a signal indicative of the amount (or percent capacity) of hydrogen contained in storage system  88 . Sensor equipment  60  may also provide a signal indicative of the amount (or percent capacity) of oxygen contained in storage system  88 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, electrolyzer  92  preferably includes a filtration/conditioning/collection system  96 . Filtration system  96  is desirable because the electrolysis process typically produces not only oxygen and hydrogen but also certain other by-products that may be desirable to filter out and/or collect. For example, if the electrolyte comprises a mixture of water and hydrochloric acid, one of the by-products of electrolysis will be chlorine gas. In this case, it is desirable to employ system  96  to collect the chlorine gas not only because of the environmental concerns with venting the chlorine into the surrounding air or river water, but also because the chlorine has inherent value that justifies the expense of capturing it. System  96  may also be capable of altering the conductivity of the electrolyte to a desired level. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , two alternative embodiments of hydroelectric power generating installations  110  and  210  will be shown and described. For brevity, the descriptions of hydroelectric installations  110  and  210  will be generally limited to their differences relative to hydroelectric installation  10  described above. For convenience, elements of hydroelectric installations  110  and  210  that are substantially similar to corresponding elements of hydroelectric installation  10  will be identified by the same reference numerals but preceded by a “1” and “2”, respectively. 
     In  FIG. 3 , hydroelectric power generating installation  110  comprises a hydro power facility  116  including an electrolyzer  192 , a storage system  188 , and a controller  148 . As with hydro power facility  16 , facility  116  includes one or more turbine generating units  118  which provide DC power to electrolyzer  192 , which in turn provides hydrogen and oxygen gas to storage tanks  188 A and  188 B, respectively, via separate lines. Similarly, controller  148  monitors feedback signals from turbine generating unit  118  and storage system  188 . Although not illustrated in  FIG. 3 , controller  148  may also monitor feedback signals from electrolyzer  192  (as explained further below). Based on these feedback signals, controller  148  adjusts the positions of the control surfaces (e.g., the gates and/or blades) of turbine generator  118  to regulate the power output and the operation of the water pump to supply filtered water to electrolyzer  192  as needed. 
     As persons skilled in the art will understand, storage tanks  188 A and  188 B may be high-pressure gas storage vessels, possibly including on-board compressors for pressurizing the hydrogen and oxygen gas as it enters the tanks. Alternatively, separate gas compressors could be used intermediate electrolyzer  192  and storage system  188 . According to a preferred embodiment, however, storage tank  188 A is a commercially available metal hydride storage vessel that stores the hydrogen in bonded form as a solid metal hydride. As is well known to those skilled in the art, certain metal hydride alloys such as magnesium-nickel, magnesium-copper iron-titanium compounds are able to reversibly absorb hydrogen via exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions. Thus, by removing or adding heat to storage tank  188 A, it is possible to cause the metal hydride alloy to either absorb or release the hydrogen. When metal hydride storage is used, it may be desirable (or necessary) to clean the hydrogen prior to providing it to storage tank  188 A to ensure the hydrogen is of sufficient quality that the metal hydride absorber is not damaged. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , hydroelectric power generating installation  210  is substantially identical to installation  110  in most respects. For example, installation  210  comprises a hydro power facility  216  including one or more turbine generating units  218  for providing DC power to an electrolyzer  292 , which is fluidly coupled to a storage system  288  including separate hydrogen and oxygen storage tanks  288 A and  288 B, respectively. Moreover, facility  216  includes a controller  248  coupled to receive feedback signals from, and provide control signals to, turbine generating units  218  and storage system  288 . 
     Power generating installation  210  differs from installation  110  primarily in that it includes liquefaction equipment  298  situated between electrolyzer  292  and storage system  288 . Liquefaction equipment  298  includes hydrogen and oxygen liquefaction tanks  298 A and  298 B, respectively. 
     It should be noted at this point that certain feedback/control data lines and power supply lines may be included in facility  216  but are not shown in  FIG. 4  (or the preceding figures) to avoid obscuring the primary feedback loop structure evident in the figure, i.e., the feedback loop defined by generating unit  218  providing DC power to electrolyzer  292 , which provides gaseous hydrogen and oxygen to liquefier  298 , which provides liquid hydrogen and oxygen to storage tanks  288 A and  288 B, which provide feedback signals to controller  248 , which uses the feedback signals to regulate the output of turbine generating unit  218 . One example of a power line that preferably exists in facility  216  but is not shown in  FIG. 4  is a line extending between turbine generating unit  218  and liquefier  298 . This power line provides electrical power from turbine generating unit  218  to liquefier  298 , which eliminates the need for any outside electrical power source (i.e., a power source external to facility  216 ). Another example of a power supply line that may exist in facility  216  but which is not illustrated in  FIG. 4  is a line between generating unit  218  and storage system  288 . Such a line would be advantageous whenever storage system  288  includes electrically powered equipment (e.g., on-board compressors, refrigeration units, etc.) to avoid the need for outside power. As yet another example, data lines may be provided between electrolyzer  292  and controller  248 , and/or between liquefier  298  and controller  248 . As persons skilled in the art will understand, such lines would allow controller  248  to monitor and control the equipment illustrated in FIG.  2  and any of their on-board components. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , a general block diagram of certain functional circuits optionally included in controller  48  (or controllers  148  and/or  248 ) when programmed to execute an economic comparison analysis will be described. In the illustrated embodiment, controller  48  includes a communications link  72 , an interface circuit  74 , a central processing circuit  76 , an interface circuit  78 , a memory circuit  80 , a monitoring circuit  82 , and a costing circuit  84 . 
     Communications link  72  preferably includes a fiber optic-based wide area network, but may instead include a high speed modem or other telecommunications device. Regardless of its form, communications link  72  (when present) provides central processing circuit  76  with data from an external data source, such as an on-line source of up-to-date electrical energy and hydrogen prices, for use in an economic comparison analysis described below. 
     Interface circuit  74 , which typically includes appropriate multiplexing, analog-to-digital converting and signal conditioning circuitry, receives operating parameter signals from sensors  50 - 62  and feedback signals from actuator assemblies  64 ,  66  and  67 , and applies these signals to central processing circuit  76 . Similarly, interface circuit  78 , which typically includes appropriate signal conditioning circuitry, receives control signals from central processing circuit  76  and commands corresponding servo movement of equipment within facility  16 , such as actuator assemblies  64 ,  66  and  67  (for controlling orientation of gates  36 , blades  42  and shut-off valve  69 , respectively) and water pump  68  (for feeding filtered river water into electrolyzer  92 ). Although not illustrated in the figures, interface circuits  74  and/or  78  may also be coupled to filtration systems  95  and/or  96  to allow central processing circuit  76  to receive various sensor or feedback signals from systems  95  and/or  96  and to send command signals thereto. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, interface circuit  78  communicates control signals from central processing circuit  76  to an operator interface  86  for displaying operating conditions, such as the real-time power output from generator  32 , the present rate of hydrogen production (if facility  16  is presently operating in a hydrogen producing mode as described below) and the amount (or percent capacity) of hydrogen in storage. Operator interface  86 , which typically includes a computer monitor situated in a control station (not shown) for facility  16 , may also display or sound visual or audible alarms, such as when hydrogen storage capacity limits are approached or the rate of hydrogen production drops unexpectedly. 
     For reasons explained in detail below, central processing circuit  76  is also linked to memory circuit  80 , hydrogen monitoring circuit  82 , and costing circuit  84 . In operation, central processing circuit  76  executes a cyclical control routine stored within memory circuit  80  for controlling operation of facility  16 . 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the functional circuitry represented in  FIG. 5  may be defined by standard input/output circuitry, memory circuitry and programming code in a standard programmable logic controller, personal computer, computer workstation or the like. For example, in the presently preferred embodiment, central processing circuit  76 , in the form of a programmable logic controller dedicated to facility  16 , is provided with resident memory for executing a main control routine. Monitoring circuit  82  and costing circuit  84  are preferably portions of the main control routine, or may comprise separate software modules retrofitted to the main control routine. 
     Application of the present embodiment to perform an economic comparison analysis to determine the best economic use of the electrical power generated by turbine generator unit  18  will now be described. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, controller  48  performs this comparison analysis as follows. First, hydrogen monitoring circuit  82  receives signals from hydrogen storage sensor  60  and determines how much capacity (e.g., the number of cubic liters) storage system  88  has for storing additional hydrogen (or for storing additional oxygen or another commercially valuable by-product of the electrolysis process that is being collected such as chlorine). Based on this information, costing circuit  84  estimates the amount of electrical power (e.g., the number of kilowatts) that would be required to produce the amount of hydrogen (or oxygen or other by-product being collected) necessary to achieve full capacity. The amount of electrical power required to fill storage system  88  to capacity may be based on historical data contained in memory circuit  80  as described below. 
     The resulting information provides controller  48  (and hence plant personnel) with an indication of how much revenue could be generated if the electrical power produced by generator  32  were used to electrolyze water into its constituent elements (e.g., hydrogen, oxygen and any other commercially valuable by-products of the electrolysis) rather than placed on the utility grid. As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, electrolyzer  92  requires DC power, while the utility grid requires synchronized AC power. As a result, an inverter may be required to produce the AC power for the utility grid if generator  32  is a DC generator. Similarly, a rectifier may be required to produce DC power for electrolyzer  92  if generator  32  is an AC generator. 
     By comparing the economic value of the hydrogen, oxygen and any other commercially significant by-products to the value of providing the electrical power on the utility grid, controller  48  is able to determine whether it is preferable (from an economic standpoint) to operate one or more turbines  18  of facility  16  in a hydrogen producing mode rather than a utility grid-supplying mode, or vice versa. According to a preferred embodiment, controller  48  is also capable of determining when a combination of the two modes is most advantageous from a revenue maximizing standpoint. This situation may exist, for example, when an economic comparison shows that the value of the generated electrical power is greater when placed on the grid than when used to produce hydrogen, but there is sufficiently low demand on the grid that facility  16  has excess capacity to generate electrical energy that cannot be placed on the grid. In this situation, controller  48  can elect to “use up” the excess electrical generating capacity by using the energy for electrolysis. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the economic value of the electrical power is based on a unitized energy value which may be assumed from past performance (e.g., it may be an average of the past several months of values) and stored in memory circuit  80 , or it may be accessed from an on-line source (e.g., a utility) through communications link  72 . Similarly, the economic value of the hydrogen, oxygen and any other commercially significant by-products is based on a unitized market value that may be assumed from past performance, or, alternatively, accessed from an on-line source through link  72 . Where the unitized values are based on averaged past performance values, such averaged values will necessarily reflect any changes in electrical energy or hydrogen prices resulting from changing demand due to seasonal variations and other factors. 
     In a preferred embodiment, costing circuit  84  takes into account not only the unitized energy value of the electrical energy but it also estimates the decreases in operating efficiency that may result from the constraints inherent from operating the turbine at a synchronized speed when connected to the grid (as opposed to there being no such constraints when operating in a hydrogen producing mode). Since persons skilled in the art will know how to estimate such performance losses, however, the specific details of these adjustments need not be discussed herein. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, when facility  16  is in the hydrogen producing mode, controller  48  continuously monitors the rate of hydrogen production and the amount of electrical energy used to produce the hydrogen, and stores this information in memory circuit  80 . As a result of this storage operation, this information is available the next time an economic comparison analysis is performed, which improves accuracy over time. 
     It is important to note that the above-described preferred and alternative embodiments of the hydroelectric power generating installation are illustrative only. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, the above-described hydrogen and oxygen storage systems could be used in combination with, or replaced by, a pipeline distribution system that extends from the turbine installation to another location at which the products may be transported further or directly used. Accordingly, these and all other such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.