A continuous fluid flow power generator includes an electrical generator with submersible turbine blades in communication with a flow of fluid in a body of water to generate electricity. The generator may include a water tower and a hydro turbine generator to generate electricity through kinetic actions; a float and piston assembly activated by wave action to deliver water to the water tower; kick turbines to create water flow to the water tower through submersible pumps; and a rechargeable battery in communication with the electrical generator and the hydro turbine generator. The generator may also include solar assemblies and windmills to provide supplemental electricity generation for charging the rechargeable battery. The generator may be connectable to a battery bank aboard a vessel or to an electrical grid.

A transportation vehicle may be equipped with electrical energy harvesting systems to harvest electrical energy for use. By way of example, in the transportation vehicle, a Venturi system may be used to receive an air flow and the speed of the air flow increase in a constricted area of the Venturi system, the air flow containing a large amount of kinetic energy. A plurality of electrical energy harvesting systems is disposed in the Venturi system and is configured to convert the kinetic energy contained in the accelerated air flow into electrical energy that can be used to power on-board electronics as well as one or more on-board batteries in the transportation vehicle, as the transportation vehicle is in motion.

A multistage wind turbine or network of wind turbines with improved and optimized wind-directing, wind-shaping, and wind-power conversion features is disclosed. The shapes of these features directly affect the ability of the multistage wind turbine to use the power of moving air, to spin a rotor and create torque on a rotor shaft to generate electrical, thermal and/or other forms of energy. The wind-power-conversion mechanical efficiency described significantly improves upon previous designs by conversion of wind energy into electrical power at a superior price-to-performance ratio compared with existing alternative energy technologies.

A buoyant wave energy device is disclosed that incorporates an open-bottomed tube of substantial length in which is partially enclosed a first body of water that oscillates in response to wave action. The device incorporates a buoy to which an upper end of the tube is connected and inside of which is trapped a second body of water of substantial mass. A differential phase in the oscillations of the water trapped in the tube, and the oscillations of the buoy of augmented mass, result in the periodic compression of a pocket of air trapped at the top of the tube, and in the subsequent expulsion of pressurized air through a turbine, thereby generating electrical power.

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.

A powered augmented fluid turbine for generating electricity from a fluid in motion comprising: a central annular ducted channel extending between an inlet distribution header and an outlet distribution header, the channel comprising a converging section configured to accelerate the fluid received at the inlet distribution header, a turbine assembly for generating electricity, and a diffuser section configured to decelerate the fluid before it exits at the outlet distribution header; a recycle line for transporting the exiting fluid to the inlet distribution header in a closed-loop configuration, the recycle line comprising a recycle line propulsor controllable by a recycle line controller and a recycle line heat exchanger; and a compressed fluid distribution line configured to pressurize the fluid in motion by transporting a compressed fluid from a compressed fluid source to the inlet and outlet distribution headers, the compressed fluid distribution line controllable by at least one pressure controller.

This invention discloses an improved wind turbine suitable for mounting without a wind turbine tower. The wind turbine is based on a rotor with appropriately selected blades. A nozzle and diffuser in the wind flow increase the amount of wind energy available to the rotor. One or more wind turbines can be grouped together in a common housing. The lack of a wind turbine tower and the general compact design allows the wind turbine to be used in close proximity to or on buildings.

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 runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to reduce fish mortality. The runner includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. Each blade includes a root connected to the hub and a tip opposite the root. Each blade further includes a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, and a ratio of a thickness of the leading edge to a diameter of the runner can range from about 0.06 to about 0.35. Further, each blade has a leading edge that is curved relative to a radial axis of the runner.

A segmented augmented turbine assembly for generating electricity from a fluid in motion, the assembly comprising a segmented annular ducted channel extending between an inlet receiving the fluid and an outlet, the channel comprising a convergent accelerating the fluid, a segmented turbine-rotor section comprising blades and guide vanes rotating about a central shaft coupled to a generator, and a diffuser section configured to decelerate the fluid, wherein the channel comprises solid inserts attached to an outside face of the turbine-rotor section, the flow stream passing through open flow-through segments positioned between the solid inserts.