A runner for a hydraulic machine comprising a band, a crown, a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band, wherein the runner comprises a plurality of runner segments which together define the runner, each runner segment comprising a band portion, a crown portion and a blade, which portions are integrally formed with one another, each runner segment being attachable to another segment at a band joining edge and a crown joining edge, wherein the band joining edge and the crown joining edge are each spaced apart from the blade of the segment.

A hydraulic machine of the Francis-type includes: an impeller with blades; a guide vane assembly with a ring of guide vanes, a vane-free space extending between the impeller and the guide vane assembly; and at least three resonators for suppressing pressure fluctuations, the resonators respectively including a chamber and a tube connector, the tube connector being connected to the chamber, the tube connector including an end that faces away from the chamber and that opens into the vane-free space, the resonators being configured for suppressing the pressure fluctuations occurring during the operation of the hydraulic machine, the resonators being arranged at a uniform distance from each other in a circumferential direction around the impeller, and the resonators being adjusted to a resonant frequency which is one and the same relative to one another.

A hydraulic turbine includes a rotor with a runner, which is concentrically surrounded by a stator, whereby the runner comprises a plurality of runner blades arranged and distributed in a ring around a rotor axis, and each runner blade extends between a runner crown and a runner band; whereby the stator comprises a plurality of guide vanes arranged and distributed in a ring around the rotor axis, and each guide vane extends between an upper stator ring and a lower stator ring; and whereby a predetermined clearance is provided at least between the runner band and the lower stator ring. A substantial reduction of pressure pulsations in the vane-less gap between said runner blades of said runner is achieved by substantially increasing said predetermined clearance.

A hydraulic turbine includes a rotor with a runner, which is concentrically surrounded by a stator, whereby the runner comprises a plurality of runner blades arranged and distributed in a ring around a rotor axis, and each runner blade extends between a runner crown and a runner band; whereby the stator comprises a plurality of guide vanes arranged and distributed in a ring around the rotor axis, and each guide vane extends between an upper stator ring and a lower stator ring; and whereby a predetermined clearance is provided at least between the runner band and the lower stator ring. A substantial reduction of pressure pulsations in the vane-less gap between said runner blades of said runner is achieved by substantially increasing said predetermined clearance.

A reverse osmosis system includes a membrane unit, an energy recovery device, high and low pressure inlet lines, and a concentrate line. The membrane unit has a membrane, an inlet for receiving a feed fluid, a permeate outlet for discharging a permeate fluid and a concentrate outlet for discharging a concentrate fluid. The energy recovering device has a turbine portion, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, a pump portion, a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a motor, and a motor control unit for controlling the motor. The low pressure inlet line is connected to the pump inlet for supplying the feed fluid at a low pressure. The high pressure inlet line connects the pump outlet with the inlet for supplying the feed fluid at a high pressure. The concentrate line connects the concentrate outlet with the turbine inlet for supplying the concentrate fluid to the turbine portion.

A reverse osmosis system includes a membrane unit, an energy recovery device, high and low pressure inlet lines, and a concentrate line. The membrane unit has a membrane, an inlet for receiving a feed fluid, a permeate outlet for discharging a permeate fluid and a concentrate outlet for discharging a concentrate fluid. The energy recovering device has a turbine portion, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, a pump portion, a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a motor, and a motor control unit for controlling the motor. The low pressure inlet line is connected to the pump inlet for supplying the feed fluid at a low pressure. The high pressure inlet line connects the pump outlet with the inlet for supplying the feed fluid at a high pressure. The concentrate line connects the concentrate outlet with the turbine inlet for supplying the concentrate fluid to the turbine portion.

According to the embodiment, in a range from a plane P1 including a runner rotation center axis C and an end point 15E2 of an outlet end 15 of the vane 13, up to a plane P2 corresponding to a position where the plane P1 is moved by an angle, which is determined by dividing 360° by a value that is four times the number of vanes 13, in a runner rotation direction, when respective sections of the vane 13 are taken at a plane including the axis C and radially extending, in at least one section, a tangent T1 on a centerline Cv of the vane 13 passing through an intersection X at which the centerline Cv and a flowing water surface 12f intersect, and a tangent T2 on the flowing water surface 12f passing through the intersection X, define an acute angle on a negative pressure surface.

According to the embodiment, in a range from a plane P1 including a runner rotation center axis C and an end point 15E2 of an outlet end 15 of the vane 13, up to a plane P2 corresponding to a position where the plane P1 is moved by an angle, which is determined by dividing 360° by a value that is four times the number of vanes 13, in a runner rotation direction, when respective sections of the vane 13 are taken at a plane including the axis C and radially extending, in at least one section, a tangent T1 on a centerline Cv of the vane 13 passing through an intersection X at which the centerline Cv and a flowing water surface 12f intersect, and a tangent T2 on the flowing water surface 12f passing through the intersection X, define an acute angle on a negative pressure surface.

A toroidal lift force engine is provided. Illustratively, the toroidal lift force engine operates in an enclosed environment without heat and/or expelling particles of any kind, utilizing asymmetric pressure distribution on lift turbine blades solely to generate thrust with the normal component of this lift force, while using the tangential component of this lift force to drive accessories, provide control to the fluid velocity, and/or provide motivation of the fluid's flow. The toroidal lift force engine may be utilized to generate thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles, homes, etc.

A reverse osmosis system includes a membrane unit, an energy recovery device, high and low pressure inlet lines, and a concentrate line. The membrane unit has a membrane, an inlet for receiving a feed fluid, a permeate outlet for discharging a permeate fluid and a concentrate outlet for discharging a concentrate fluid. The energy recovering device has a turbine portion, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, a pump portion, a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a motor, and a motor control unit for controlling the motor. The low pressure inlet line is connected to the pump inlet for supplying the feed fluid at a low pressure. The high pressure inlet line connects the pump outlet with the inlet for supplying the feed fluid at a high pressure. The concentrate line connects the concentrate outlet with the turbine inlet for supplying the concentrate fluid to the turbine portion.