A nonlinear control design technique capitalizes on a wave energy converter comprising a shaped buoy having a variable geometry wave energy. For example, the shaped buoy can have an hourglass (HG) geometry having a variable cone or steepness angle. The HG buoy is assumed to operate in the heave motion of the wave. The unique interaction between the HG buoy and the wave creates a nonlinear cubic storage effect that produces actual energy storage or reactive power during operation. A multi-frequency Bretschneider spectrum wave excitation input was simulated for the HG design both with constant and varying steepness angle profiles which demonstrated further increased power generation with changing sea states for the variable design.

A fluid monitoring apparatus for deployment within a pipe arrangement, includes a measurement device configured to measure data indicative of a fluid property, and an energy harvesting system including a turbine configured to be rotated by a flow of fluid through the pipe arrangement, and a generator coupled to the turbine and configured to generate electrical energy. The fluid monitoring apparatus is configured to use the electrical energy to power the measurement device.

A wave energy conversion device includes a permanent magnet generator, a first driving component and a second driving component. The permanent magnet generator includes a stator structure and a rotor structure. The stator structure includes a stator body. The rotor structure includes a rotor body. The rotor body is disposed inside the stator body in a swinging manner or in a rotatable manner. The first driving component is coupled to the rotor structure. The second driving component is coupled to the stator structure. The wave energy conversion device of the present invention requires a low speed/angle of a swinging/rotating movement of the rotor body relative to the stator body to generate electricity, which facilitates electricity generation from wave energy.

A nonlinear control design technique capitalizes on a wave energy converter comprising a shaped buoy having a variable geometry wave energy. For example, the shaped buoy can have an hourglass (HG) geometry having a variable cone or steepness angle. The HG buoy is assumed to operate in the heave motion of the wave. The unique interaction between the HG buoy and the wave creates a nonlinear cubic storage effect that produces actual energy storage or reactive power during operation. A multi-frequency Bretschneider spectrum wave excitation input was simulated for the HG design both with constant and varying steepness angle profiles which demonstrated further increased power generation with changing sea states for the variable design.

A blade or wing element includes a plurality of ribs (20) rotatable and/or slidable with respect to one another whereby to vary the aerodynamic configuration of the blade or wing element by causing a twist thereof. A blade or wing or blade or wing assembly, including such a blade or wing element is disclosed, as well as an aerodynamic apparatus such as an aircraft, or a wind turbine. A method of assembling a blade or wing element is also disclosed.

A rotor including soft rotor structures fixed to the rotor shaft, which rotor structures are of a soft material such as canvas or the like. The rotor structure is a loop arranged to form an asymmetrical cone when an air or water current flows through the loop.

A modular system of generating electrical power from mechanical energy of kinetic motion originating in current, waves, and tides, where the system resembles natural habitat and illustrates options for optimizing the transmission of current through the system. One or more branches elongate members containing current generators extend up from the bottom of a body of water. The elongate members move with water, in the manner of kelp, to actuate the current generators, and thus transform mechanical energy due to forces inherent in a body of water to electrical power.

A hydraulic turbine suspending device is provided which facilitates the positioning of a hydroelectric generator in a waterway, and which is easy to work on. The hydraulic turbine suspending device is a support that suspends a hydraulic turbine (10) in a waterway by laterally bridging the same, and comprises a combination of a suspending beam (2) positioned in parallel with the upstream and downstream sides of the waterway; a plurality of stanchions (5) that support the edges of the suspending beam (2) in a horizontal position on the outside of the waterway; and a floor plate (6) provided in a tensioned state to the suspending beam (2).

A wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including a shell and a spar having at least one spar cap is provided. At least one of the at least one spar cap includes at least two longitudinal support structure elements, whereby at least two of the at least two longitudinal support structure elements are arranged adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine blade and at least one longitudinal support structure includes carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one other longitudinal support structure includes at least one fiber-reinforced plastic different from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.

A radial compressor has an iris diaphragm mechanism for a pressure-charging device of an internal combustion engine. The radial compressor has a bearing assembly, in which a rotor shaft is rotatably mounted, having a compressor impeller arranged in a compressor housing for conjoint rotation on the rotor shaft and having a fresh air supply channel for carrying a fresh air mass flow to the compressor impeller. The iris diaphragm mechanism is upstream of the compressor impeller, allowing variable adjustment of a flow cross section for the fresh air mass flow for admission to the compressor impeller, at least over a partial region. For this purpose, the iris diaphragm mechanism has multiple lamellae which each have a plate style lamella main body and a pin style actuating element as integral constituent parts of the respective lamella.