A non-contact seal assembly is provided. This assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements. The seal shoes are arranged about a centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end. An aperture may extend partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. Each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.

A non-contact seal assembly is provided. This assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements. The seal shoes are arranged about a centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end. An aperture may extend partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. Each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.

A method of mounting a guide apparatus of a large hydraulic machine with a vertical axis of rotation and wherein the axes of the guide blades extend vertically as well. The method includes the following steps: assembling an assembly with at least the upper guide wheel ring or the turbine cover and all the guide blades of the guide apparatus. This assembly does not take place in the machine shaft and the guide blades are mounted in a suspended manner, lowering the guide blades to mutually different height levels within the assembly such that the lowered guide blades can be displaced upwardly, installing the lower guide wheel ring in the machine shaft, and installing the assembly in the machine shaft by continuous lowering, wherein the guide blades present in the assembly are successively inserted into the openings provided in the lower guide wheel ring.

A wind compressor system having one or more wind turbines and a plurality of wind compressors located proximate the one or more wind turbines. The wind compressors optimize the energy created by the wind turbines by redirecting and converging the wind from the wind compressor to the wind turbines. Each of the wind compressors comprises an obstruction having a size and shape adapted to converge the wind currents by means of a Venturi effect toward the one or more turbines thereby increasing the velocity and force of the wind hitting the wind turbine. A plurality of transporters coupled to the wind compressors. The transporters configured to move at least one wind compressors to a location that maximizes the force of the wind encountered by the turbine.

A wind compressor system having one or more wind turbines and a plurality of wind compressors located proximate the one or more wind turbines. The wind compressors optimize the energy created by the wind turbines by redirecting and converging the wind from the wind compressor to the wind turbines. Each of the wind compressors comprises an obstruction having a size and shape adapted to converge the wind currents by means of a Venturi effect toward the one or more turbines thereby increasing the velocity and force of the wind hitting the wind turbine. A plurality of transporters coupled to the wind compressors. The transporters configured to move at least one wind compressors to a location that maximizes the force of the wind encountered by the turbine.

A non-contact seal assembly is provided. This assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements. The seal shoes are arranged about a centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end. An aperture may extend partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. Each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.

A non-contact seal assembly is provided. This assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements. The seal shoes are arranged about a centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end. An aperture may extend partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. Each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.

A power generating assembly for generating electricity from a flowing medium includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes an elongated duct along which the medium flows. The duct defines a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. The duct includes a converging inlet nozzle having a span in the lateral direction. At least one pair of turbines is arranged within and on either side of the duct in the lateral direction. The turbines are rotated in opposite directions by the flowing medium. The turbines have a span in the lateral direction. The span of the converging inlet nozzle is at least the span of the at least one pair of turbines. A generator is interconnected with each turbine of the at least one pair of turbines via a drive means such that the generator rotates with rotation of the turbines.