Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a runner unit of a tidal power plant, and more particularly to a device for reversing a blade of the runner unit. The device according to the embodiments is lighter and more efficient with respect to known solutions which involve articulated mechanisms as it is based on a reversing servomotor including an annular piston which acts on the blade to be reversed.

This method is for orientating the blades (40) of a turbine (4) past a non-reachable range of positions (1, 2) in a power plant (2), said blades (40) being rotatable around orientation axes (X40) distinct from a rotation axis (X) of the turbine (4), the turbine (4) comprising means (42, 44, 46) for orientating the blades (40), said means being adapted to exert an adjustable torque on the blades (40). The method comprises steps consisting in a) stopping the energy production of the turbine (4), b) setting a water flow which runs the turbine (4) to a value inferior to a normal energy production value, c) rotating the turbine (4) in a motor mode using energy from a grid, d) adjusting the torque delivered by the means for orientating the blades (40) to a reduced value while the turbine (4) is still rotating, so that the blades (40) are free to rotate around their orientation axes (X40), under action of a hydraulic torque exerted by the water, past the non-reachable range of positions, e) once the blades (40) have overcome the non-reachable range of positions, adjusting the torque delivered by the means for orientating the blades (40) to a normal value superior to the reduced value, so that the rotation of the blades (40) around their orientation axis (X40) is stopped in a determined position.

An apparatus and method is disclosed for extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid, such as ocean waves. The apparatus (10) comprises an internal flow passage (40) for the working fluid, a turbine (44) and a flow control device (38), each of the turbine (44) and the flow control device (38) being in direct fluid communication with the flow passage (40), wherein in use the flow control device (38) is selectively moveable between a first configuration in which the flow control device (38) is open to allow a flow of the working fluid, such as air, to exit the flow passage (40) therethrough, and a second configuration in which the flow control device (38) restricts a flow of the working fluid therethrough. In such an instance, the working fluid then must enter the flow passage (40) via the turbine (44), which can be harnessed to generate electricity.

A system for producing electrical energy by converting the kinetic energy of fluids, comprising: a floatable base unit, a turbine system with its outer components positioned on top of said base unit, one or more barriers that are pivotally connected to said base unit, and barrier restricting elements that are located on top of said base unit and are suitable to restrict the rotation of said barriers around said pivot; wherein said barriers are located at a location around said turbine thereby permitting or blocking fluid from reaching the blades of said turbine, and wherein said barriers come into contact with said restricting elements as a result of a force applied on them by a fluid flow, and wherein the resulting position of the barriers prevents a counterflow effect on said turbine.

A tidal current energy generating device includes a generator, a connecting shaft, an impeller and an adjustment assembly. The impeller includes an impeller hub and an impeller blade arranged thereon. The impeller hub is connected with the connecting shaft, and the generator is connected with the impeller hub. The impeller blade is driven under the action of a tidal current to drive the impeller hub to rotate synchronously around an axis of the connecting shaft, driving the generator to generate electricity. The adjustment assembly is connected with the impeller blade, and can be driven to swing under the action of the tidal current to drive the impeller blade to rotate around the axis of the impeller blade relative to the impeller hub, thereby adjusting the angle of the impeller blade.

A closed system that captures energy derived from the head differential rather than open-water flows velocities while reducing potential environmental damages and costly maintenance due to bio-fouling. The continuously derived energy system utilizes an offshore bladder in communication with both a primary onshore bladder and a supplemental onshore bladder. Tidal energy is captured by turbines as fluid is transferred between the bladders. In addition, the system continuously extracts energy by diverting fluid to and from the supplemental onshore bladder during periods of near-high-ride and near-low-tide, during which the pressure differential between the offshore bladder and the primary onshore bladder becomes inefficient for energy production.

A wave energy converter utilizes a flotation module that rises and falls with the passage of waves, a submerged tube containing a constriction which multiplies the speed of the water passing therethrough, a turbine (or other hydrokinetic apparatus) positioned so as to extract energy from the accelerated flow of water within and/or through the tube, and a submerged gas- or liquid-filled chamber housing one or more energy conversion components (e.g. generators, transformers, rectifiers, inverters). By providing a chamber in proximity to the turbine, generators can be placed in closer proximity to the turbine that turns them, and the shared shaft can be shorter than if the generators were placed in the buoy adjacent to the surface.

A system of harnessing energy with a non-buoyant object and a buoyant object that captures the potential energy of a weight as it falls through a fluid such as water and then attaches a float to the weight to return it to the origin via the differential in densities thereof. The exemplary fluid used is water and that of oceans or lakes. The floats are deposited near the bottom of the ocean or lake by way of a tube or other passageway.

The present invention provides a simple and effective passive turbine unit that uses the flow of water or air to rotate a main runner and produce continuous and intermittent electricity from streams, rivers, tidal water and high wind areas. The turbine unit may be installed as an individual unit or in combination with other turbine units. In an alternative configuration the turbine units may be stacked on top of one another. The turbine units are capable of working in a bi-directional flow of water or air, and are scalable to meet the needs of a user. The turbine unit is particularly suited for use within undeveloped areas that do not have access to electricity but do have access to streams, rivers, tidal waters, or high wind areas.

A pumping apparatus includes a container positioned over a left column and a right column that contains a first fluid, left and right intake valves that respectively connect the left and right columns to the container, left and right pumps respectively associated with the left and right columns, upper and lower connecting pipes that connect the left and right columns below the container, a plurality of gates positioned at entrances of the upper and lower connecting pipes in each of the left and right columns, a turbine positioned to be driven by fluid flowing through the upper and lower connecting pipes, and a third fluid disposed in the upper and lower connecting pipes, and the left column and a right column. The turbine generates electric power due to the flow of the third fluid through the left and right columns and the upper and lower connecting pipes.