Hydroelectric power harvesting device

Abstract

Described herein is a hydroelectric power harvesting device (100) for generating renewable electricity by harnessing the movement of moving water (104). The device includes a support (102), a first rotating member (110) coupled to a first region (102a) of the support (102), a second rotating member (112) coupled to a second region (102b) of the support (102), a conveyor (114) disposed around the first and second rotating members (110, 112), and one or more paddles (116) coupled to the conveyor (114) and configured to be propelled by the moving water (104). The paddle (116) is configured to drive the conveyor (114) around the first and second rotating members (110, 112) when propelled by the moving water (104). The support (102) is extendable to adjust the position of the first and second rotating members (110) and (112).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to hydroelectric power harvesting devices and related methods of using such devices that harvest power generated by the movement of moving water, such as rivers and streams, to provide useful work input. [Background technology]

[0002] Renewable technologies and infrastructure have experienced significant growth and investment in recent years. This rapid expansion is the result of an increased urgency to decarbonize our civilization, given the challenges humanity will face if anthropogenic climate change continues on its current trajectory. Currently, global demand for electricity is increasing faster than current renewable energy sources can provide, and this shortage increases the likelihood of using non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels, thereby further increasing carbon emissions.

[0003] Historically, rivers have been used for transportation, industry, and recreation. However, rivers remain a relatively underutilized asset for modern power generation. A key problem with traditional hydroelectric systems, such as dams, is the need to submerge large areas of land. This submergence not only displaces people but can also significantly disrupt and destroy ecosystems. In addition to being expensive and time-consuming, dam construction requires favorable geographic conditions (e.g., a naturally occurring valley or canyon).

[0004] There are several examples of river current-driven power generation systems that generate electricity by converting energy produced by moving water, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,623,999 describes an underwater power generation system, and U.S. Patent No. 5,623,999 describes a generator with a river water-driven impeller.

[0005] A major drawback of existing systems such as water turbines is their inflexibility in terms of their ability to adjust to changing water levels. Furthermore, existing systems typically remain fixed in one location and cannot be moved to a different location as needed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Canadian Patent Application Publication No. 26637372 [Patent Document 2] DE 4325122 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is an object of the invention of this disclosure to overcome at least some of the above-mentioned limitations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one embodiment, a hydroelectric power harvesting device includes a support, a first rotating member coupled to a first region of the support, a second rotating member coupled to a second region of the support, a conveyor disposed around the first and second rotating members, and one or more paddles coupled to the conveyor and configured to be propelled by moving water in a direction similar to the direction of flow of the moving water, the one or more paddles configured to drive movement of the conveyor around the first and second rotating members to rotate the first and second rotating members when propelled by the moving water, and the support is extendable to adjust the positions of the first and second rotating members.

[0009] The arrangement harnesses the kinetic energy of the moving water and converts it into a usable work input. The device may be adjusted to compensate for the rise and fall of the level of the moving water. The apparatus may include one or more generators. The rotation of the first and second rotating members may provide a work input to the one or more generators.

[0010] The arrangement may allow the work input to be utilized to generate electricity, which may be used locally or transferred to a national power grid. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to adjust extension of the support in response to changes in the level of the moving water.

[0011] The configuration may provide for automatic adjustment of the extension of the support. The controller may be configured to receive updates regarding precipitation and other local conditions that may affect the level of the moving water so as to automatically adjust the positions of the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

[0012] The apparatus may further comprise one or more water level sensors configured to detect the level of the moving water. This configuration provides real-time data regarding conditions of the moving water, including water level and flow velocity. The controller may be further configured to adjust the positions of the first and second rotating members in response to water level sensor data.

[0013] This configuration can ensure optimal operation and work output from the device. The one or more paddles may include a pair of paddle halves arranged in a chevron configuration, which may improve water capture and efficiency of the one or more paddles, and the pair of paddle halves may be separated by a gap configured to provide a passageway for water movement.

[0014] This configuration may allow a portion of the captured water to pass through one or more paddles, thereby increasing the efficiency of the one or more paddles. This configuration may also provide a passageway for aquatic organisms to pass through, thereby preventing such organisms from becoming trapped.

[0015] The device may further comprise a debris guard configured to prevent the ingress of debris into the device. This configuration may prevent debris from entering the device and causing damage or reducing the efficiency of the device.

[0016] The device may further include one or more deflectors configured to increase the flow of water toward the one or more paddles. The one or more deflectors may be adjustable deflectors. The position and orientation of the one or more adjustable deflectors may be changed to modify the flow of water directed toward the one or more paddles. This configuration may increase the efficiency of the device by directing a larger volume of water toward the device.

[0017] The device may further comprise one or more attachable floats configured to increase the buoyancy of the device, the one or more attachable floats further configured to be attached to provide the device with sufficient buoyancy to lift the device off the bottom of the river, thereby allowing adjustment of the position, orientation, or both of the device.

[0018] This configuration may allow the device to be lifted from its current position and moved and / or reoriented in moving water. According to another embodiment, a method of harvesting energy from moving water using the apparatus includes transferring energy from the moving water to one or more paddles coupled to a conveyor; using the transferred energy to drive rotation of the conveyor around the first and second rotating members to rotate the first and second rotating members; using the rotational motion of at least one of the first and second rotating members to provide useful work input; and adjusting the position of the first and second rotating members via extension of the support.

[0019] This method may provide a simple approach to extracting energy from moving water and converting that energy into useful work input. Any of the above features may be combined together in various combinations.

[0020] Examples of the present disclosure may now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers correspond to similar (while possibly not identical) components. For purposes of brevity, reference numbers or features having functionality previously described may or may not be described with reference to other drawings in which they appear. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydroelectric power harvesting device positioned in a river having a first water level. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a side view of a hydroelectric power harvesting device deployed in a river having a second water level. [Figure 3] 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device disposed in a river having a second water level. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device in which one or more paddles have a chevron configuration. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device having one or more paddles in a discrete chevron configuration. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device including a filter. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device comprising one or more float units. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device comprising multiple float units. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device including one or more deflectors. [Figure 10] 1 is a flow diagram including steps for a method of harvesting energy from moving water using the devices described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Various embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below may be modified and implemented in various different forms. In order to more clearly describe the features of the embodiments, detailed descriptions of matters well known to those skilled in the art to which the following embodiments pertain may be omitted.

[0023] In this specification, when an element is described as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, this includes not only being "directly connected" or "directly coupled," but also being "connected with another element therebetween" or "coupled with another element therebetween." In addition, when an element is described as "comprising" another element, this means that it may further include other elements, rather than excluding other elements, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device 100. The device 100 includes a support 102. The support 102 may serve as a mounting location for various other components of the device 100 as may be described herein. The device 100 may be disposed in moving water 104 (such as a river) having a flow direction 106. The support 102 may be attachable to a river bottom 108 to provide stability and prevent unwanted movement of the device 100. The support 102 may be removably attached to the river bottom to allow movement of the device 100 as needed. The support 102 may be configured to be permanently attached to the river bottom, for example, via a foundation installed within the river bottom.

[0025] The apparatus 100 includes a first rotating member 110 coupled to a first region 102a of the support. The apparatus 100 further includes a second rotating member 112 coupled to a second region 102b of the support. In some examples, the first region 102a is a first end of the support 102, and the second region 102b is a second end of the support 102. The apparatus 100 may include an additional rotating member disposed between the first rotating member 110 and the second rotating member 112. The distance between the first rotating member 110 and the second rotating member 112 does not have to be a fixed length. For example, the length of the apparatus 100 may vary depending on the area available in the water 104 in which the apparatus 100 is to be used.

[0026] The apparatus 100 further includes a conveyor 114. The conveyor 114 may be a flexible conveyor belt. Alternatively, the conveyor 114 may be a segmented conveyor having multiple flights. The conveyor 114 may be disposed around the first and second rotating members 112, 114 to form a continuous loop. In other words, the conveyor 114 is configured to move continuously within a loop determined by the positions of at least the first and second rotating members 112, 114. The conveyor 114 is configured to move around the first and second rotating members 110, 112 while maintaining contact with the first and second rotating members 110, 112. The movement of the conveyor 114 around the first and second rotating members 110, 112 is configured to rotate the first and second rotating members 110, 112 in the same direction. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 1 , water flows from right to left as indicated by flow direction 106. Therefore, conveyor 114 moves in a clockwise direction, and therefore first rotating member 110 moves in a clockwise direction and second rotating member 112 moves in a clockwise direction. The first and second rotating members 110, 112 may be gears with multiple teeth configured to engage with a chain. The chain may be suitable for transmitting power between multiple components (e.g., a roller chain). The edge of conveyor 114 may be equipped with a chain (e.g., a roller chain). The chain may be configured to engage with the gear teeth of first and second rotating members 110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other power transmission means may be used to achieve substantially similar results. Apparatus 100 may also include additional rotating members or rollers surrounded by conveyor 114 to provide support to conveyor 114.

[0027] The apparatus 100 further includes one or more paddles 116. The one or more paddles 116 are coupled to the conveyor 114. The paddles 116 may have a generally rectangular cross-section and be coupled to the conveyor 114 with a long axis of the paddle 116 oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the conveyor 114. The paddles 116 may be rigid. The paddles may be formed from a suitable load-bearing material capable of withstanding prolonged and repeated exposure to stresses such as those provided by moving water. The paddles 116 may also have a generally flat or planar shape. In some embodiments, the one or more paddles 116 may be angled such that they are not generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the conveyor 114. The one or more paddles 116 may be rotatable to change their orientation relative to the conveyor 114. The one or more paddles 116 are configured to be submerged in the water 104 and propelled along a path generally parallel to the direction of flow 106 of the moving water 104. As little as one paddle 116 can be effectively propelled even when the direction of the water 104 flow is not generally parallel to the conveyor 114. One or more paddles 116 may be shaped to optimize the propulsive force provided by the moving water 104. The paddles 116 may be attached to the conveyor 114 via an actuator mechanism (not shown), such as a rotary actuator. The rotary actuator may allow the relative angle between the paddle 116 and the incoming water flow to be adjusted. For example, the paddles 116 may be angled to increase or decrease the angle of attack of the water flow impinging on the paddles 116. The paddles 116 may be angled about a pivot point (not shown) located between the conveyor and the paddles 116. The pivot point may be located approximately midway along the length of each paddle 116. This adjustability may allow the paddles to capture some energy from the moving water 104, as appropriate.

[0028] The one or more paddles 116 are configured to move to drive the movement of the conveyor 114. The one or more paddles 116 are configured to transmit force provided by the moving water 104 to cause rotation of the conveyor 114 about the first and second rotating members 110, 112. Rotation of the conveyor 114 about the first and second rotating members 110, 112 causes the first and second rotating members 110, 112 to rotate. Of course, any additional rotating members may be rotated by movement of the conveyor 114 in a similar manner. The rotational movement of the conveyor 114, first rotating member 110, and second rotating member 112 may continue until the momentum provided by the moving water 104 stops or until one or more paddles are no longer propelled by the moving water 104. The latter may occur if one or more paddles 116 lift out of the water, or if the flow direction 106 of the moving water 104 changes such that the motive force acting on one or more paddles 116 is insufficient to propel the one or more paddles 116 or to overcome internal frictional forces within the apparatus 100. The one or more paddles 116 may include multiple paddles 116 arranged around the conveyor 114. In one embodiment, the paddles 116 are arranged at regular intervals around the conveyor. This configuration may provide a more consistent rotation of the conveyor 114 resulting from a series of paddles 116 being propelled by the moving water 104.

[0029] In other words, the one or more paddles 116 may include multiple paddles arranged on a conveyor, with one or more paddles being submerged (or partially submerged) in the water at any given time. In other words, the multiple paddles 116 may be distributed around the conveyor, with one or more paddles being submerged (or partially submerged) in the water at any given time. The support 102 is an extensible support. The support 102 may include one or more extensible sections 118 configured to extend or contract. The extension or contraction may raise or lower the height of the apparatus 100, thereby changing the position of at least the first rotating member 110, the second rotating member 112, the conveyor 114, and the one or more paddles 116 relative to the water level of the moving water 104. The extensible sections 118 may extend and contract via a screw mechanism, a telescopic mechanism, or a bellows mechanism. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that various other mechanisms may be used to achieve the same or substantially similar results.

[0030] The water 104 may have a low water level 120 (e.g., a first water level) and a high water level 122 (e.g., a second water level). The water 104 may have a level that varies between the low water level 120 and the high water level 122. The device 100 may be raised or lowered in response to the changing water level of the water 104. The device 100 may also be raised or lowered in response to the changing water velocity of the moving water 104 to increase the amount of energy transferred from the moving water 104 or to prevent damage to components of the device 100. One or more extendable sections 118 may be telescopic, screw-driven, or the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are various ways to enable mechanical extension and retraction that achieve substantially similar results. The amount of extension or retraction provided by the extendable section 118 may be configured to cover a range determined by the high and low water levels 120, 122 of the moving water 104. Each of the one or more extendable sections 118 may be independently actuated, thereby providing greater control over the extension or retraction of the device 100. The device 100 may be arranged so that between 30% and 50% (e.g., 40%) of the total number of paddles 116 are submerged in the water 104 at any time.

[0031] The apparatus 100 may further include a controller (not shown). The controller may be configured to adjust the extension or contraction of one or more of the extendable sections 118. Accordingly, the controller may be configured to adjust the position of the first and second rotating members 110, 112. The controller may be configured to adjust the extension or contraction of the extendable support via the extendable sections 118 in response to changes in the level of the moving water. The controller may also be configured to adjust the angle of the paddles 116 relative to the incoming water flow. For example, the controller may be configured to control an actuator to control the angle of the paddles 116.

[0032] The apparatus 100 may further include one or more water level sensors (not shown). The one or more water level sensors may be configured to detect the level of the moving water 104. The one or more water level sensors may also be configured to detect other information about the moving water 104 (e.g., water speed, temperature, direction, etc.). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is not an exhaustive list and that various other types of sensors may be used to monitor various other aspects of the moving water 104.

[0033] The controller may be further configured to receive information regarding the level of the moving water 104. The controller may receive information regarding the moving water 104 from one or more sensors. The controller may be further configured to receive information regarding the level of the moving water 104 and / or local weather from other sources. FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 100 in a configuration in which one or more extendable sections 118 of the support 102 are in a partially or fully retracted configuration. In this configuration, the one or more paddles 116 may be positioned to be propelled by the moving water 104 when the water is at a low level 120.

[0034] 2 shows a hydroelectric power harvesting device 100 as described above in an alternative configuration, in which one or more extendable sections 118 of the support 102 are in a partially or fully extended configuration. In this configuration, one or more paddles 116 may be positioned to be propelled by the moving water 104 when the water 104 is at an elevated level 122.

[0035] Of course, the extension and contraction of the extendable section 118 of the support 102 may operate within this range, thereby allowing the device 100 to be adaptively height adjusted based on the level of the moving water 104. A lower level 120 is also shown for reference in FIG.

[0036] 3 shows a further example of a hydroelectric power harvesting device 100. In this configuration, the support 102 comprises a frame including one or more support legs. Each of the one or more support legs may include an extendable section 118. The extendable section 118 of each of the one or more support legs may be independently adjustable. Each of the support legs may be coupled to the river bottom 108 as described above. Individual adjustment of each support leg may provide a stable base on an uneven river bottom 108.

[0037] The first rotating member 110 and the second rotating member 112 may be coupled to the frame of the support 102 via one or more support plates 103 . In one embodiment, the one or more paddles 116 include a plurality of paddles 116. The plurality of paddles 116 may be regularly spaced or positioned along the length of the conveyor 114, thereby allowing the conveyor 114 to be consistently propelled by the moving water 104.

[0038] The apparatus 100 may further include one or more generators 124. The one or more generators 124 may be coupled to at least one of the first rotating member 110 and / or the second rotating member 112. Rotation of at least one of the first rotating member 110 and / or the second rotating member 112 may provide a work input that can be utilized by the generator to generate electricity. Of course, the apparatus 100 may include multiple generators, each coupled to one or more rotatable members, thereby enabling greater amounts of electricity to be generated from the energy provided by the moving water 104. As described above, the apparatus 100 includes the first rotating member 110 and the second rotating member 112, which may be positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor 114. The one or more generators 124 may be contained within a watertight enclosure to prevent water ingress and possible damage to electrical components contained therein.

[0039] The one or more generators 124 may be coupled to at least one of the first rotating member 110 and / or the second rotating member 112 via a drive chain 126. The generators 124 may further include a gearbox and associated gear system (not shown) to adjust or moderate the speed at which the generators 124 rotate. The gear system may be configured to provide a mechanical advantage to the work input provided by the rotation of the rotating members 110, 112, thereby providing an increased work input to the generators 124. The one or more generators 124 may be coupled to at least one of the first rotating member 110 and / or the second rotating member 112 via a drive chain 126. The drive chain may be configured to transfer rotational motion from at least one of the first rotating member 110 and / or the second rotating member 112 to the generators 124.

[0040] The apparatus 100 may further comprise a transmission means (not shown), which may be configured to send the generated power from the apparatus 100 to another location, which may be a substation, an electrical storage facility, etc.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a front view of one embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device 100. As shown in FIG. 4, one or more paddles 116 may be arranged in a chevron configuration. The chevron configuration is configured to effectively capture water from the moving body of water 104. Other paddle shapes may also be used to further improve the efficiency of water capture and energy transfer. In some embodiments, the first rotating member 110 may comprise a pair of rotating members positioned on either side of the conveyor 114. Similarly, the second rotating member 112 may comprise a pair of rotating members positioned on either side of the conveyor 114. In this case, the device 100 may include four or more separate rotating members arranged in two pairs. The first pair may be coupled to the first section 102a of the support. The second pair may be coupled to the second section 102b of the support. Each pair of rotating members may be coupled together by an axle. FIG. 4 shows a configuration with support legs positioned on either side of the device 100. Each of the support legs may include a unique extendable section 118. The extendable sections 118 may be independently adjustable. Each of the support legs may be coupled to the river bottom 108. The individual adjustment of each support leg may provide a stable base on an uneven river bottom 108.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a further example of a hydroelectric power harvesting device 100. In this embodiment, one or more paddles 116 may include two paddle halves 116a, 116b. The two paddle halves 116a, 116b may be arranged in a chevron configuration. The two paddle halves 116a, 116b may be separated by a gap 117. The gap 117 may be configured to allow a portion of the water captured by the paddle halves 116a, 116b to pass through. Separating the one or more paddles 116 into the two paddle halves 116a, 116b in this manner may prevent stagnation points from forming. This configuration may further reduce drag and / or other conditions that may reduce the efficiency of the device 100. Additionally, this configuration provides space for aquatic organisms to pass through or escape, thereby preventing them from becoming stuck or trapped by one or more paddles 100. Other configurations may include additional gaps, spaces, slits, and the like.

[0043] Each of the paddle halves 116a, 116b may be attached to the conveyor 114 via a separate actuator mechanism (not shown), such as a rotary actuator. The rotary actuator may allow the relative angle between the paddle halves 116a, 116b and the incoming water flow to be adjusted. For example, the paddle halves 116a, 116b may be independently adjusted. This adjustment may be controlled by a controller. For example, the paddle halves 116a, 116b may be angled to increase or decrease the angle of attack of the water flow impinging on the paddle halves 116a, 116b. The paddle halves 116a, 116b may be angled about a pivot point (not shown) located between the conveyor and the paddle 116. The pivot point may be located approximately midway along the length of each paddle half 116a, 116b. This adjustability may allow the paddle halves 116a, 116b to capture some energy from the moving water 104. Thus, the controller may be configured to independently control the actuators associated with each of the paddle halves 116a, 116b.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a further embodiment of the hydroelectric power harvesting apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 may further include a debris guard 130. The debris guard 130 may comprise a mesh configured to prevent the ingress of debris toward or into the apparatus 100. This can advantageously extend the lifespan of various components of the apparatus 100. The mesh may include a mesh size of 2.5 cm to 25.4 cm (between 1 inch and 10 inches), preferably 7.62 cm to 10.17 cm (between 3 inches and 4 inches). The debris guard 130 may be attachable to the support 102 or at least a portion of the extendable section 118. The debris guard 130 may be raised and lowered with the apparatus 100 to ensure that incoming water is filtered regardless of the amount of extension of the extendable section 118. In one embodiment, the debris guard is positioned entirely upstream of the conveyor 114 and one or more paddles 116.

[0045] 7 shows a front view of one embodiment of a hydroelectric power harvesting device 100. Device 100 may further include one or more float units 132. One or more float units 132 may be configured to be removably coupled to support 102. One or more float units 132 may be coupled to any location on the periphery of device 100. One or more float units 132 may be coupled to support 132 to increase the buoyancy of device 100 relative to the surrounding water 104. For the avoidance of doubt, float units 132 may be used in conjunction with the embodiments shown in any of the other figures.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a similar configuration, where the device 100 may include multiple float units 132. As shown, the buoyancy provided by the multiple float units 132 may overcome the weight of the device 100. In this case, the device 100 may lift off the river bottom 108. With positive buoyancy, the device 100 may be repositioned, repositioned, or reoriented within the moving water 104. The buoyant device 100 may be moved by an external vessel or mechanism (e.g., a boat). As the device 100 is moved, the number of float units 132 attached to the device 100 may be gradually reduced to reduce the buoyancy of the device 100. Once all float units 132 are detached, the device 100 may once again be placed on the river bottom 108.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a further embodiment of the hydroelectric power harvesting device 100 including one or more water guides 134. The one or more water guides 134 may be configured to redirect the flow direction 106 of the moving water 104 toward one or more paddles 116. Doing so may increase the volumetric flow rate of water passing toward the one or more paddles 116, thereby increasing the propulsive force provided by the moving water 104. The one or more water guides 134 may be adjustable in that they can be repositioned in response to changing conditions in the moving water 104. In some embodiments, the one or more water guides 134 are positioned upstream of the one or more paddles 116. For the avoidance of doubt, one or more water guides 134 may be used with any of the embodiments described above. The water guides 134 may take the form of panels or have a generally flat and / or planar shape. The water guides 134 may be rigid to resist forces provided by the incoming flow of the water 104.

[0048] A method 200 for harvesting energy from moving water using a hydroelectric power harvesting device is shown in FIG. 10 . Step 202 of method 200 may include transferring energy from the moving water 104 to one or more paddles 116 coupled to a conveyor 114. Step 204 of the method may include utilizing the transferred energy to drive rotation of the conveyor 114 about the first rotating member 110 and the second rotating member 112 to rotate the first and second rotating members 110, 112. Step 206 may include utilizing the rotational motion of at least one of the first and second rotating members 110, 112 to provide useful work input. Step 208 may include adjusting the position of the first and second rotating members 110, 112 via extension of the support 102. The method 200 may further comprise generating electrical power from the rotation of at least one of the first rotating member 110 and / or the second rotating member 112 .

[0049] References herein to "an example," "an embodiment," "an aspect," or similar language mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an example may be included in one or more examples, but not necessarily in other examples. Various instances of the phrase "in one example" or similar phrases in various places herein do not necessarily all refer to the same example. When describing and referring to the examples disclosed herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0050] While several embodiments have been described in detail, it will be understood that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be considered non-limiting. It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are to be considered in an illustrative sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. The description of features or aspects within each embodiment typically contemplates the availability of other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made.

[0051] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and described above.

Claims

1. 1. A hydroelectric power harvesting device, comprising: A support; a first rotating member coupled to a first region of the support; a second rotating member coupled to a second region of the support; and a conveyor disposed around the first rotating member and the second rotating member; one or more paddles coupled to the conveyor and configured to be propelled by moving water; one or more generators; a controller; the one or more paddles are configured to drive movement of the conveyor about the first and second rotating members to rotate the first and second rotating members when propelled by the moving water; the rotation of at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member provides a work input to the one or more generators; the support is extendable to adjust the positions of the first rotating member and the second rotating member; The apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to adjust extension of the support in response to changes in the level of the moving water.

2. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more water level sensors configured to detect the level of the moving water, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the positions of the first rotating member and the second rotating member in response to water level sensor data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more paddles comprise a pair of paddle halves arranged in a chevron configuration.

4. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the pair of paddle halves are separated by a gap configured to provide a passageway for water movement.

5. 5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a debris guard configured to prevent ingress of debris into the device.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising one or more water guides configured to increase the flow of water towards the one or more paddles.

7. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the one or more water guides are adjustable water guides, and the position and orientation of the one or more adjustable water guides can be changed to adjust the flow of water directed toward the one or more paddles.

8. 8. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more attachable floats configured to increase the buoyancy of the device.

9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more attachable floats are configured to be attached to provide the device with sufficient buoyancy to lift the device off the bottom of the river, thereby allowing adjustment of the position, orientation, or both of the device.

10. A method for harvesting energy from moving water using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: transferring energy from the moving water to one or more paddles coupled to a conveyor; utilizing the transferred energy to drive rotation of the conveyor about a first rotating member and a second rotating member to rotate the first rotating member and the second rotating member; utilizing the rotational motion of at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member to provide a useful work input; and adjusting the positions of the first rotating member and the second rotating member via extension of the support.

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