Dedekind cone valve and air infiltration system and method for hydroelectric plants

Abstract

An air infiltration system for a hydroelectric plant includes a spillway gate and a linearized cone valve coupled to the spillway gate, the linearized cone valve having a pivotable plate assembly. The spillway gate may be a tainter or Stoney gate and the pivotable plate assembly may have a deflection plate. A method of infiltrating air in water released from an impoundment may include: lifting a spillway gate from a resting position proximate a bottom of a spillway; and pivoting a deflection plate coupled to the gate proximate the bottom of the spillway; wherein water flows through an opening disposed between the deflection plate and the gate and is sprayed into an atmosphere to be oxygenated.

1 . An air infiltration system disposed proximate a spillway surface of a hydroelectric plant, the system comprising:
 a spillway gate; and   a linearized cone valve coupled to the spillway gate, the linearized cone valve comprising a pivotable plate assembly disposed to partially obstruct flow of water and facilitate aeration of the water when the spillway gate is in an open position;   wherein in the open position, a gap is formed between a free edge of the spillway gate and a spillway surface while the pivotable plate assembly abuts the spillway surface.   
     
     
         2 . The air infiltration system of  claim 1 , wherein the spillway gate is a tainter gate. 
     
     
         3 . The air infiltration system of  claim 1 , wherein the spillway gate is a Stoney gate. 
     
     
         4 . The air infiltration system of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable plate assembly comprises a deflection plate. 
     
     
         5 . The air infiltration system of  claim 4 , wherein the deflection plate extends substantially the length of the spillway gate proximate the spillway surface. 
     
     
         6 . The air infiltration system of  claim 1 , wherein the gap is between 0 inches and 2 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The air infiltration system of  claim 1 , wherein the spillway surface comprises concrete. 
     
     
         8 . The air infiltration system of  claim 7 , wherein the pivotable plate assembly abuts the concrete. 
     
     
         9 . The air infiltration system of  claim 7 , wherein the spillway surface further comprises a steel beam. 
     
     
         10 . The air infiltration system of  claim 9 , wherein the pivotable plate assembly abuts the steel beam. 
     
     
         11 . A method of infiltrating air in water released from an impoundment, the method comprising:
 lifting a spillway gate from a resting position proximate a bottom surface of a spillway; and   pivoting an assembly comprising a deflection plate, the assembly coupled to the spillway gate proximate the bottom surface of the spillway, to form a gap between a free edge of the spillway gate and the bottom surface of the spillway while the deflection plate abuts the bottom surface of the spillway;   wherein water flows through the gap and is sprayed into an atmosphere to be oxygenated.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the assembly partially obstructs water flow between the spillway gate and the deflection plate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a confluence forms from the water sprayed into the atmosphere and less-oxygenated water downstream from the impoundment, the confluence having dissolved oxygen concentration with a daily average of at least 5.0 mg/l with a minimum instantaneous value of at least 4.0 mg/l. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a confluence forms from the water sprayed into the atmosphere and less-oxygenated water downstream from the impoundment, the confluence increasing dissolved oxygen concentration in water downstream from the impoundment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein over a fixed range of the gap, a constant amount of water flows through the gap. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the assembly maintains a substantially constant opening over a fixed gap range between the spillway gate and a spillway surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the water is sprayed, water droplets are formed with a generally spherical shape and at least 75% of the water droplets have a diameter no greater than 1 cm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a 1000% increase in surface area of water exposed to the atmosphere is created when the water is sprayed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the spillway gate is lifted 1.1 inches to 2 inches from the bottom surface of the spillway. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the bottom surface of the spillway comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of concrete and a steel beam.