The invention disclosed herein comprises a system focusing water current into a relatively smaller diameter lumen, imparting vortical movement to the current, and directing the water vortex through an even smaller diameter lumen en route to turbine blades having long curved blades rotatable along an axis parallel with the lumen. Rotation of the turbine blades turns gearing interfacing with the circumference of the turbine assembly, to rotate a drive shaft connected to a generator.

A buoyancy powered electrical generator. A source of compressed gas is provided. The gas, which may be air, is compressed using a conventional compressor. In one embodiment, the compressor is powered by a windmill, turbine, or other conventional means. The compressed gas may be stored in a tank for an indefinite period. If necessary, the tank may be transported to the generator via truck, train or other conventional transportation means. During generation, compressed gas is released into a series of hollow, flooded drums mounted on a wheel in a liquid filled chamber. Introducing gas into the drums closes a valve in the drums and evacuates liquid from the drums, causing the drums to become buoyant. The buoyant drums exert a buoyant force on the wheel, causing it to rotate. The wheel is connected to a rotor in a magnetic generator. Rotating the wheel turns the rotor, thereby generating electricity.

A buoyancy powered electrical generator. A source of compressed gas is provided. The gas, which may be air, is compressed using a conventional compressor. In one embodiment, the compressor is powered by a windmill, turbine, or other conventional means. The compressed gas may be stored in a tank for an indefinite period. If necessary, the tank may be transported to the generator via truck, train or other conventional transportation means. During generation, compressed gas is released into a series of hollow, flooded drums mounted on a wheel in a liquid filled chamber. Introducing gas into the drums closes a valve in the drums and evacuates liquid from the drums, causing the drums to become buoyant. The buoyant drums exert a buoyant force on the wheel, causing it to rotate. The wheel is connected to a rotor in a magnetic generator. Rotating the wheel turns the rotor, thereby generating electricity.

A thrust bearing wear pad includes a rigid support plate adapted to be mounted on a collar and under a thrust flange in a hydro power turbine system. Multiple lignum vitae wood blocks are fixed to the top of the support plate and act as a wear surface on the wear pad.

A thrust bearing wear pad includes a rigid support plate adapted to be mounted on a collar and under a thrust flange in a hydro power turbine system. Multiple lignum vitae wood blocks are fixed to the top of the support plate and act as a wear surface on the wear pad.

An underwater current turbine of an underwater tidal-/ocean-/river-flow power plant includes a generator nacelle configured to contain a generator for current generation, a drive unit having at least one rotor blade configured to be driven by moving water and including a shaft connected to the rotor blade for rotation therewith, the shaft extending from the drive unit into the generator nacelle and being configured to drive the generator, and an exchangeable bearing-assembly-and-seal module disposed between the generator nacelle and the drive unit, the bearing-assembly-and-seal module being configured to be removed from the drive unit and from the nacelle as a unit.

A hydroelectric energy system includes a stator comprising a first plurality of electricity-generating elements. The system also includes a rotor comprising a second plurality of electricity-generating elements. The rotor is disposed radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the stator and is configured to rotate around the stator about an axis of rotation. The rotor is a flexible belt structure having a variable thickness and extending along a portion of an axial length of the stator. The system further includes at least one hydrodynamic bearing mechanism configured to support the rotor relative to the stator during rotation of the rotor around the stator. The at least one hydrodynamic bearing mechanism includes a bearing surface made of wood or a composite material.

A hydroelectric energy system includes a stator comprising a first plurality of electricity-generating elements. The system also includes a rotor comprising a second plurality of electricity-generating elements. The rotor is disposed radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the stator and is configured to rotate around the stator about an axis of rotation. The rotor is a flexible belt structure having a variable thickness and extending along a portion of an axial length of the stator. The system further includes at least one hydrodynamic bearing mechanism configured to support the rotor relative to the stator during rotation of the rotor around the stator. The at least one hydrodynamic bearing mechanism includes a bearing surface made of wood or a composite material.

A hybrid shaft bearing, a wind generator comprising the hybrid shaft bearing, a use of the hybrid shaft bearing, and a method of operating the hybrid shaft bearing is provided. The hybrid shaft bearing comprises a hydrodynamic friction bearing and a rolling bearing. Both the hydrodynamic friction and rolling bearings cooperate with a support structure and rotatably support a shaft. The hydrodynamic friction bearing is a passive hydrodynamic bearing.

A hybrid shaft bearing, a wind generator comprising the hybrid shaft bearing, a use of the hybrid shaft bearing, and a method of operating the hybrid shaft bearing is provided. The hybrid shaft bearing comprises a hydrodynamic friction bearing and a rolling bearing. Both the hydrodynamic friction and rolling bearings cooperate with a support structure and rotatably support a shaft. The hydrodynamic friction bearing is a passive hydrodynamic bearing.