A hydro turbine assembly includes a hub configured to rotate about a center axis and configured to be mounted in a water passage. The hub includes an upstream end, a downstream end and an outer surface between the upstream and downstream ends. The hub includes at least three mounting recesses arranged in the outer surface wherein each mounting recess includes a first hub mounting surface and a second hub mounting surface, and the second hub mounting surface is downstream and radially inward of the first hub mounting surface. The assembly includes at least three runner blades each including a base configured to seat in a respective one of the mounting recesses, wherein the base includes a first blade mounting surface arranged to abut the first hub mounting surface and a second blade mounting surface arranged to abut the second hub mounting surface.

An accelerated and/or redirected flow arrangement, optimally serving as a wildlife and/or debris excluder (WDE), is used in combination with a turbine-like device having an inlet end and an outlet end for fluid flowing therethrough, e.g., a hydro-turbine. The arrangement includes at least a forward part designed to be placed in front of a fluid inlet of a turbine-like device and configured to produce at least one of the following effects on the fluid: (a) imparting a re-direction of the fluid; and/or (b) accelerating the flow velocity of the fluid, as it flows through the forward part. Turbine-like devices having both a forward part and a rearward part of flow arrangement are disclosed, as well as a method of enhancing turbine performance.

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a shrouded Kaplan and shrouded propeller-type hydraulic turbine. More in particular, the embodiments relate to a blade for such shrouded turbines. An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to add a winglet on the pressure side of a blade to eliminate a large gap between the blade and the shroud, in order to improve performances, decrease marginal cavitation, and improve fish friendliness.

An oscillating water column (OWC) turbine and method of extracting energy therefrom is provided. The OWC turbine includes a shaft (101) rotatable about a central axis (103), and first and second ports (112, 114) disposed around the central axis. A flow passage (104) extends radially-inward from the ports and extends axially therebetween. Rotor blades (120) are coupled to the shaft, intersect the flow passage, and are offset from the central axis by a first distance. First guide vanes (116) intersect the flow passage and are disposed proximal the first port. The first guide vanes (116) include first and second stators (116a, b), the first stators (116a) being positioned between the first port (112) and the second stators (116b). Second guide vanes (118) intersect the flow passage and are disposed proximal the second port. The first and second guide vanes are offset from the central axis by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Described herein is essentially a high-efficiency, hybrid fluid-aeolipile. In operation, this hybrid device is placed in the stream of a moving fluid, preferably air. Energy is extracted from the fluid stream by directing a portion of the stream through and, optionally, around the device. As the fluid-flow moves through the device, it is directed into nozzles. These nozzles, which are free to pivot in a cyclical manner, employ the established phenomenon of “nozzle-effect” to accelerate the velocity of the air-flow passing through them, which is ultimately ejected from each nozzle tip, producing thrust. This thrust, amplified by nozzle-effect, drives the nozzles to pivot around a shared axis. The wind energy, thereby converted into cyclical motion, that may be used to perform useful work, is converted with greater efficiency, than is possible in conventional blade-type wind turbines.

A screw system including a plurality of segmented blades. Each blade segment of the plurality of blade segments including a mounting portion and a vane portion. The mounting portion, having a helical length, for removably attaching the blade segment. The vane portion extending from the mounting portion along the helical length thereof. The vane portion having a front surface that is not parallel to a back surface from the mounting portion to a tip of the blade segment, along the helical length.

A turbine apparatus (10) for deployment in a waterway, comprises a rotor support system (12), a rotor mechanism (14) and a power take-off device (16). The rotor support system (12) is operable to support and align the rotor mechanism (14) with a direction of flow of flowing water in the waterway. Deployment of the turbine apparatus (10) in flowing water generates power. The rotor support system (12) includes an elongated shaft (13), which includes a buoyancy adjusting component (17); a flexible coupling (15) at a first end; and the rotor mechanism (14) being attachable to a second free end of the elongated shaft (13). The flexible coupling (15) facilitates connection of the first end of the elongated shaft to a support structure and facilitates a substantially freely yawing connection of the axial flow turbine apparatus to a support structure located in the waterway in which the turbine apparatus is deployed. The flexible coupling (15) also controls pitching motion of the turbine apparatus (10) relative to the support structure; and in use, permits a predetermined range of yawing motion of the turbine apparatus relative to the support structure; and responds to changes in flow of the flowing water, to maintain the turbine apparatus (10) with a compliant attitude, thereby maintaining alignment of the axis of the elongated shaft and the rotor mechanism with the direction of flow. The buoyancy adjusting component (17) being operable to maintain the deployed turbine apparatus with substantially neutral buoyancy relative to the waterway in which the turbine apparatus is deployed.

The invention relates to an outer turbine system (OTS) comprising an outer envelope having first and second ends with an axial inflow and a radial and/or axial outflow of a working gas or liquid. Inner turbine blades are disposed at an inner side of the envelope to rotate the turbine. The envelope and the blades can have a defined shape. The blades can be detachably attachable, adjustable, comprise hollow spaces. The envelope can comprise (adjustable) through openings. The turbine can be mounted in a housing, can include a defined feed casing and one or more stages. The turbine can be supported at defined portions, can be variably mounted, can work bidirectionally, can use regenerative power, can pump and can be fabricated from a defined material. The blades can be provided with a defined cooling system. The turbine can be coupled with another turbine, a mechanocomponent and/or an electrocomponent.

A downhole turbine may include a stator disposed in a turbine housing, a rotor disposed between the stator and the turbine housing and wherein the rotor includes an outer housing, a gap that separates the stator and the rotor, wherein the gap is oil filled, and one or more blades disposed on the outer housing between the turbine housing and the rotor. The downhole turbine may further include a compressible medium attached to the outer housing between the stator and the outer housing, wherein the compressible medium is separated from the stator by the gap, and one or more magnets attached to an inner surface of the compressible medium, wherein the one or more magnets are separated from the stator by the gap.

An accelerated and/or redirected flow arrangement, optimally serving as a wildlife and/or debris excluder (WDE), is used in combination with a turbine-like device having an inlet end and an outlet end for fluid flowing therethrough, e.g., a hydro-turbine. The arrangement includes at least a forward part designed to be placed in front of a fluid inlet of a turbine-like device and configured to produce at least one of the following effects on the fluid: (a) imparting a re-direction of the fluid; and/or (b) accelerating the flow velocity of the fluid, as it flows through the forward part. Turbine-like devices having both a forward part and a rearward part of flow arrangement are disclosed, as well as a method of enhancing turbine performance.