The present invention provides a booster apparatus (10) for entraining gas in a flowing second fluid. The booster apparatus comprises a booster housing (116) for receiving a fluid. The booster apparatus has at least one inlet (123) through which a first fluid passes to be entrained in the second fluid when the second fluid is flowing through the booster housing. The present invention also provides a booster assembly (12) comprising a booster apparatus (10) and a fluid motive mechanism such as a turbine unit (11).

The device for producing hydro-electric power includes at least one water wheel rigidly connected to at least one platform, at least one upper face of which is above water. The water wheel is formed by a plurality of blades extending the free ends of arms distributed around a hub, and is intended to be set into rotation under the effect of the flow of the water from a water course about an axis with a horizontal aspect, perpendicular to the direction of flow of said water course, in order to activate a turbine and to produce electricity through a generator. The device includes an activator for a liquid compressor for a fluid intended to supply the turbine under the effect of the rotation of the water wheel.

A method to dispose at least one air guiding tube between a penstock and a water turbine installed on a dam to form negative pressure at an outlet of the air guiding device by the water kinetic energy produced from high speed of water flow to take in external air for pressurizing, so as to produce a plurality of pressured air bubbles mixed into the water. The water with pressured air bubbles would be decompressed when flowing to an exit of the penstock and has their volumes increased, so as to enhance the water kinetic energy for driving the water turbine more efficiently; meanwhile the method can prevent from production of cavities and further avoid damages of the components of the water turbine from cavitation.

A method to dispose at least one air guiding tube between a penstock and a water turbine installed on a dam to form negative pressure at an outlet of the air guiding device by the water kinetic energy produced from high speed of water flow to take in external air for pressurizing, so as to produce a plurality of pressured air bubbles mixed into the water. The water with pressured air bubbles would be decompressed when flowing to an exit of the penstock and has their volumes increased, so as to enhance the water kinetic energy for driving the water turbine more efficiently; meanwhile the method can prevent from production of cavities and further avoid damages of the components of the water turbine from cavitation.

A power system includes a first wheel coupled to a first turbine. The first wheel includes a first central hub on a first central axis, and a first plurality of water scoops arranged at a radial distance from the central hub, the first plurality of water scoops arranged to engage a water source to turn the first wheel on the first central hub about the first central axis. The first wheel has a first plurality of weights arranged substantially equally spaced about a circumferential portion of the first wheel. A second wheel is coupled to a second turbine, and includes a second central hub on a second central axis, and a second plurality of water scoops arranged to engage the water source to turn the second wheel about the second central axis, the second wheel having a plurality of weights arranged substantially equally spaced about a circumferential portion of the second wheel. An air conduit is coupled to a blower of the second turbine to receive blown air from the blower and to blow air through the conduit into the plurality of water scoops of the first and of the second wheels.

The invention concerns an inter-blade profile (14) for a turbine runner blade, said inter-blade profile (14) comprising a profile (16), and a plug (18), forming a basis of the profile (16) and intended for being inserted into a corresponding hole (21) made in a blade.

The invention concerns a removable cover plate (160) for an inter-blade profile (14, 14a) of a turbine runner blade, said cover plate comprising at least one aeration passage (30) and securing means (161) for securing said removable cover plate onto said inter-blade profile (14).

A runner for a hydraulic turbine or pump has a plurality of blades. Each of the blades is defined by a pressure surface, an oppositely facing suction surface, a leading edge and a spaced-apart trailing edge. At least one of the blades has a device for supplying a flow of oxygen containing gas to the trailing edge of the same blade. The device includes at least two separate gas inlet apertures and at least two separate gas passages, each extending from one of the separate gas inlet apertures to a separate group of orifices in the trailing edge of the same blade. Each of the separate group of orifices has at least one orifice to admit gas out of the corresponding separate gas passage to the passing fluid during the operation of the runner.

A hydroelectric plant has concentric inner and outer pipes, an air flow channel allowing air flow between these pipes, and floodgate pipes with water flow channels where the water flow is allowed through the inner pipe, an air supply block with a multitude of air inlet vents-which supply air to the mentioned air flow channel and a multitude of water impact paddles upon which the water flowing out of the floodgate pipes via the air supply is impacted.

A power system includes a first wheel coupled to a first turbine. The first wheel includes a first central hub on a first central axis, and a first plurality of water scoops arranged at a radial distance from the central hub, the first plurality of water scoops arranged to engage a water source to turn the first wheel on the first central hub about the first central axis. The first wheel has a first plurality of weights arranged substantially equally spaced about a circumferential portion of the first wheel. A second wheel is coupled to a second turbine, and includes a second central hub on a second central axis, and a second plurality of water scoops arranged to engage the water source to turn the second wheel about the second central axis, the second wheel having a plurality of weights arranged substantially equally spaced about a circumferential portion of the second wheel. An air conduit is coupled to a blower of the second turbine to receive blown air from the blower and to blow air through the conduit into the plurality of water scoops of the first and of the second wheels.