An apparatus, system and method to capture water power from head or pressure is provided utilizing pipes, inlets and outlets. The apparatus comprises a central bore having an internal diameter suitable for a fluid flow, the fluid flow moves inside the central bore through the apparatus, and at least one outlet, the fluid flow exits the apparatus through the at least one outlet, optionally, a plurality of inlets for flowing additional fluid to the central bore mix the fluid flow with the additional fluid from the plurality of inlets. The apparatus can further mix the fluid though additional mixing devices and additional devices can be used to recapture energy such as, hydroelectric power from the fluid flow. A system and method to capture water energy from fluid flow is provided.

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.

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).

An apparatus, system and method to reduce the contaminate concentration of effluent before discharge is provided utilizing discharge pipes, inlets and outlets. The apparatus comprises a central bore having an internal diameter suitable for a fluid flow, the fluid flow moves inside the central bore through the apparatus, and at least one outlet, the fluid flow exits the apparatus through the at least one outlet, a plurality of inlets for flowing additional fluid to the central bore, and the inlets mix the fluid flow with the additional fluid from the plurality of inlets. The apparatus can further mix the effluent though additional mixing devices and additional devices can be used to recapture energy such as, hydroelectric power from the fluid flow. A method reduces the effluent concentration by mixing for example, by creating a helical flow in the central bore.

Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for extracting useful work from a fluid stream are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise balanced hydrofoils comprising upper and lower semifoils joined by a member. Some embodiments comprise an array of removable hydrofoil modules wherein each module is adapted to provide an independent power contribution to an overall system, depending on speed of the fluid stream in the vicinity of the module, and each module is further adapted to provide its power contribution at a substantially consistent pressure to an array-wide high pressure fluid circuit. These and other embodiments are further disclosed herein.

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).

Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for extracting useful work from a fluid stream are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise balanced hydrofoils comprising upper and lower semifoils joined by a member. Some embodiments comprise an array of removable hydrofoil modules wherein each module is adapted to provide an independent power contribution to an overall system, depending on speed of the fluid stream in the vicinity of the module, and each module is further adapted to provide its power contribution at a substantially consistent pressure to an array-wide high pressure fluid circuit. These and other embodiments are further disclosed herein.

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).

Aquatic curtain devices and methods for forming waterway channels and reducing waterway maintenance are disclosed. Each curtain device comprises an elongated float and an elongated flexible curtain depending from a first side of the elongated float. The curtain has a bottom end with a weight extending along the entire length of the elongated float. The float is configured to be sufficiently buoyant to support the curtain in an upward direction. Each curtain device is configured for the curtain to remain in a substantially taut state when in use and accommodate fluctuations in water levels, such that the elongated weight remains on the bottom of the waterway while the elongated float remains on the surface. Artificial channels are constructed by selecting the length of the elongated float to achieve the desired channel dimensions using two or more curtain devices positioned along a desired path in a waterway.

An apparatus, system and method to reduce the contaminate concentration of effluent before discharge is provided utilizing discharge pipes, inlets and outlets. The apparatus comprises a central bore having an internal diameter suitable for a fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow moves inside the central bore through the apparatus, and at least one outlet, wherein the fluid flow exits the apparatus through the at least one outlet, a plurality of inlets for flowing additional fluid to the central bore, and wherein the inlets mix the fluid flow with the additional fluid from the plurality of inlets. The apparatus can further mix the effluent though additional mixing devices and additional devices can be used to recapture energy such as, hydroelectric power from the fluid flow. A method reduces the effluent concentration by mixing for example, by creating a helical flow in the central bore. The system using a control panel to achieve favorable mixing or fluid flow by controlling the fluid flow properties of the inlets.