A runner for a hydraulic turbine or pump includes a plurality of blades, each blade being defined by a pressure surface, an oppositely facing suction surface, a leading edge and a spaced apart trailing edge. At least one blade has a device for supplying a flow of oxygen containing gas to the trailing edge of at least one of the blades. The profile of the suction side surface of the blade along a cross section through a point P1 and a point P2 is concave. The point P1 is located on the suction side surface of the trailing edge where an opening is located, the point P2 is spaced apart from the point P1 by less than 3% of the runner outlet diameter D and the point P2 is located upstream of the point P1 on a line perpendicular to the trailing edge starting at the point P1.

A method for stabilizing the rotation speed of a machine with S-characteristics is provided. The method includes calculating a target net head and a target opening to affect guide vanes of the machine, the target net head and the target opening being calculated so that the torque exerted by water flow on the turbine is null and that the machine rotates at a target rotation speed; determining a real net head to which the machine is subjected; comparing the target net head with the real net head; and adjusting the opening of the guide vanes so as to converge towards the target opening and reduce a height difference between the target net head and the real net head.

A method for stabilizing the rotation speed of a machine with S-characteristics is provided. The method includes calculating a target net head and a target opening to affect guide vanes of the machine, the target net head and the target opening being calculated so that the torque exerted by water flow on the turbine is null and that the machine rotates at a target rotation speed; determining a real net head to which the machine is subjected; comparing the target net head with the real net head; and adjusting the opening of the guide vanes so as to converge towards the target opening and reduce a height difference between the target net head and the real net head.

The application relates to unidirectional hydrokinetic turbines having an improved flow acceleration system that uses asymmetrical hydrofoil shapes on some or all of the key components of the turbine. These components that may be hydrofoil shaped include, e.g., the rotor blades (34), the center hub (36), the rotor blade shroud (38), the accelerator shroud (20), annular diffuser(s) (40), the wildlife and debris excluder (10, 18) and the tail rudder (60). The fabrication method designs various components to cooperate in optimizing the extraction of energy, while other components reduce or eliminate turbulence that could negatively affect other component(s).

The application relates to unidirectional hydrokinetic turbines having an improved flow acceleration system that uses asymmetrical hydrofoil shapes on some or all of the key components of the turbine. These components that may be hydrofoil shaped include, e.g., the rotor blades (34), the center hub (36), the rotor blade shroud (38), the accelerator shroud (20), annular diffuser(s) (40), the wildlife and debris excluder (10, 18) and the tail rudder (60). The fabrication method designs various components to cooperate in optimizing the extraction of energy, while other components reduce or eliminate turbulence that could negatively affect other component(s).

A hydro-kinetic power generation system is disclosed. The system includes a structure to be positioned in shallow or deep waterways, such as canals and rivers. The structure may be modular, such that the structure may be composed of one or more structural units that are each substantially the same. In various embodiments, each unit includes one or more curved walls for accelerating water through the unit, or through the structure as a whole. In one embodiment, the accelerator walls are curved for optimizing water flow through the structure without generating undue head loss. In certain embodiments, the units may be configured such that the accelerator walls are positioned on opposite sides of the structure, or the accelerator walls may be adjacently positioned. Coupled to the structure are turbines and gear box systems for harnessing energy from the moving water and converting the energy into electric power.

A toroidal lift force engine is provided. Illustratively, the toroidal lift force engine operates in an enclosed environment without heat and/or expelling particles of any kind, utilizing asymmetric pressure distribution on lift turbine blades solely to generate thrust with the normal component of this lift force, while using the tangential component of this lift force to drive accessories, provide control to the fluid velocity, and/or provide motivation of the fluid's flow. The toroidal lift force engine may be utilized to generate thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles, homes, etc.

A toroidal lift force engine is provided. Illustratively, the toroidal lift force engine operates in an enclosed environment without heat and/or expelling particles of any kind, utilizing asymmetric pressure distribution on lift turbine blades solely to generate thrust with the normal component of this lift force, while using the tangential component of this lift force to drive accessories, provide control to the fluid velocity, and/or provide motivation of the fluid's flow. The toroidal lift force engine may be utilized to generate thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles, homes, etc.

A wicket gate for a hydraulic turbine or pump contains a blade being defined by a pressure surface, an oppositely facing suction surface, a leading edge and a spaced apart trailing edge, a first trunnion, a second trunnion, an air inlet aperture, an air passage and at least one air outlet aperture. The profile of the suctions side surface of the blade along a cross section through a point P1 and a point P2 is concave. Whereas point P1 is located on the suction side surface of the trailing edge where an air outlet aperture is located and point P2 is spaced apart from point P1 by less than 10% of the wicket gate length D and point P2 is located upstream of point P1 on a line perpendicular to the trailing edge starting at point P1.

A vertical-axis renewable-power generator is an apparatus that is used to efficiently generate power in various weather conditions using renewable energy sources. The apparatus includes a vertically-oriented foil and a fluid turbine. The foil is designed to generate areas of relative high fluid velocity and low pressure on one side and relative lower fluid velocity and higher pressure on the opposite side. The foil is also self-directing so that the foil can follow the direction of the fluid flow. The fluid turbine is integrated into the foil so that the fluid turbine can be rotated by the high-speed fluid flow. The rotation of the fluid turbine can be used to generate electricity. The apparatus conforms to the Bernoulli's principle that is proven to increase the speed of the fluid flow over the foil, which is used to increase the speed of the fluid flow impacting the fluid turbine.