The present invention relates to a buoyancy-driven power generation apparatus, which generates electricity by means of water power, gravity, and buoyancy, and differentially supplies fluid according to a water level so as to enable the efficiency of a pump for supplying the fluid to improve.

Systems and methods related to linear turbine systems are presented. Each embodiment described herein may be designed as a single-stage, linear, impulse turbine system. In an embodiment, a linear turbine includes a first shaft extending along a first axis; a second shaft extending along a second axis, the second axis being separated from and substantially parallel to the first axis; a first plurality of buckets to travel a first continuous path around the first shaft and the second shaft along a first plane, the first path including a first substantially linear path segment between the first axis and the second axis; and a nozzle configured to direct a first fluid jet to contact the first plurality of buckets in the first linear path segment.

A hydraulic turbine motor has a rotor housing and a rotor rotatably supported in the rotor housing that defines a plurality of rotor chambers arranged circumferentially about the rotor in which each rotor chamber has a respective outlet port. Injectors are supported at circumferentially spaced locations about the housing so as to be arranged to inject hydraulic fluid in a generally tangential direction relative to the rotor axis into selected ones of the rotor chambers in which the injectors include at least one first injector and at least one second injector. A valve mechanism is configured to open any outlet port in which the respective rotor chamber is in communication with said at least one first injector and to maintain closed any outlet port in which the respective rotor chamber is in communication with said at least one second injector.

A stepwise operating parallel-type hydro power generation system having a fixed flow path includes a parallel pipe, a first power generation facility, a second power facility generation facility, first and second flow regulators, and a controller. The parallel pipe includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a first straight pipe and a second straight pipe. The first and second straight pipes connected between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe. Each of the first and second power generation facilities includes a water turbine rotating with the water introduced thereinto and a power generator operating according to the rotation of the water turbine. The controller is configured to open and close either or both of the first and second flow rate regulators at the same time.

A control device includes a valve, having a body connected to the first chamber of a cylinder via a first hydraulic connection and to the second chamber of the cylinder via a second hydraulic connection. The control device includes a first hydraulic duct connected to a first actuating-fluid source, and a second hydraulic duct connected to a second actuating-fluid source. The hydraulic ducts communicate with the body of the valve. The valve further includes a distribution device that is movable within the body of the valve, between a first position, in which the distribution device places the first hydraulic connection and the first hydraulic duct in fluid communication, and a second position, in which the distribution device places the second hydraulic connection and the second hydraulic duct in fluid communication.

Systems and methods related to floating powerhouse for hydropower turbine systems are presented. A turbine system may be coupled to floating powerhouse that can include a floating platform. A pressurized water delivery system can be coupled to the floating powerhouse and can accommodate vertical and/or horizontal movement of the floating power house. The pressurized water delivery system can include a segmented penstock coupling the turbine to an intake, and individual segments of the penstock can be free to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, such that in response to variations in a tailwater height, the floating platform rising and falling does not disrupt fluid flow from a fluid source.

Apparatus for extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid, the apparatus comprising a flow passage 40 for the oscillating working fluid, an energy conversion unit 44 and a flow control device 38, each of the energy conversion unit 44 and the flow control device 38 being, at least in part, in fluid communication with the flow passage 40, wherein in use the flow control device 38 is selectively operable between a first configuration in which the flow control device 38 is open to allow a flow of the oscillating working fluid to exit the flow passage therethrough, and a second configuration in which the flow control device 38 is arranged to restrict a flow of the working fluid therethrough, such that the oscillating working fluid enters the flow passage via the energy conversion unit 44.

An electric power generating machine that uses buoyancy and gravity to put a plurality of refillable gas bladders into an alternating piston motion to drive and convert linear motion into rotational motion connected to an electric generator, which may contain a windmill.

Systems and methods related to linear turbine systems are presented. Each embodiment described herein may be designed as a single-stage, linear, impulse turbine system. In an embodiment, a linear turbine includes a first shaft extending along a first axis; a second shaft extending along a second axis, the second axis being separated from and substantially parallel to the first axis; a first plurality of buckets to travel a first continuous path around the first shaft and the second shaft along a first plane, the first path including a first substantially linear path segment between the first axis and the second axis; and a nozzle configured to direct a first fluid jet to contact the first plurality of buckets in the first linear path segment.

Systems and methods related to linear turbine systems are presented. Each embodiment described herein may be designed as a single-stage, linear, impulse turbine system. In an embodiment, a linear turbine includes a first shaft extending along a first axis; a second shaft extending along a second axis, the second axis being separated from and substantially parallel to the first axis; a first plurality of buckets to travel a first continuous path around the first shaft and the second shaft along a first plane, the first path including a first substantially linear path segment between the first axis and the second axis; and a nozzle configured to direct a first fluid jet to contact the first plurality of buckets in the first linear path segment.