Tidal power plant and method of operating the same

摘要

A tidal power plant and method of operating the same are disclosed. In tidal power plants the turbines are arranged in channels between the sea and a storage reservoir. Heretofore known constructions of tidal power plants included relatively complex mechanisms for maintaining the turbine or turbines operating for the maximum amount of time, but generally they have failed to exceed a high overall operating efficiency. The present invention seeks to improve upon prior installations by designing a tidal power plant in which the or each turbine is disposed in a main channel between the sea and the storage reservoir. A connection channel is arranged above the main channel containing the turbine. A shutoff device is located at the reservoir side of the turbine and the connection channel to control and direct the flow of water. One of the described arrangements permits the use of a single shutoff device in the form of a sluice gate operable under pressure in order to open the connection channel and to cut-off the turbine, or vice-versa. A further possible arrangement contemplates total isolation of the working region of the tidal power plant to permit inspection and maintenance work when needed.