The device consists of a vertical axis (1), one or more bearing rings (2), rotor (3), one or more pairs of catchers (4) made of light and strong material, flexible connections (5) and valves (6) with air intakes (7). The device can be applied to capture mechanical pressure and extract energy from fluid flows. Since its catchers are made of flexible and light material, it is characterized by a simple structure, light weight, and easy production and repair. Also, the device has a large working area, and reduces to a negligible small value the aerodynamic resistance during the reversible half-turn of the rotor, which further increases its efficiency.

By optimizing the degree to which water is accelerated through a venturi device, the amount of power that an energy device extracts from the ocean is maximized. Prior venturi-based wave energy devices have proven to be inefficient because of the relatively small amount of power that they generate relative to their size and cost. By optimizing the venturi effect created within the submerged venturi components of such devices, the speed of the water moving through the narrowest portions of such a devices is maximized with respect to the wave environments in which they operate, and a maximal amount of energy is extracted from the ocean. This optimization of a wave energy device's power is sufficient to render such devices cost effective. The method of extracting energy from the accelerated flow of water moving through such venturi devices is not limited, and many alternatives exist, each with its own potential benefits.

A Current Energy Collection Unit (1) is provided, having a turbine (2) housed within a tubular trapezoid wall (3), forming a densely opaque circular area perpendicular to a natural direction of an upstream water volume flow line (11) capable of causing a variation in the momentum of an upstream water mass (10) absorbing energy from the upstream water mass.

A Francis turbine runner including a shortened band length and a shortened blade length combined with a reversed runner blade leading edge having a junction of the leading edge with the band forerunning a junction of the leading edge with the crown in the rotational direction, and a bandless runner including a shortened periphery length and a shortened blade length combined with a reversed runner blade leading edge having a corner of the leading edge at the outer periphery of the runner that is in advance of where the leading edge joins the crown in the rotational direction. Additional feature includes an inverted trailing edge curvature design on the runner blade that further shortens the blade length.

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 turbine with rotary blades includes a stator, a rotor rotational about an axis of the turbine and rotational blades evenly spaced around a circumference of the rotor. The turbine includes a pressure chamber circumscribed by a slot and a sealing chamber between which an inlet channel for a medium supply leads into the pressure chamber. The slot, the sealing chamber and the blades are adapted to permanently seal both the slot and the sealing chamber with at least one blade. The rotation of the blades can be ensured by a toothed gear, wherein angular speed of the blades is an integer multiple of the angular speed of the rotor. The blades may have a front wall and a rear wall of approximately conical or cylindrical shape.

By optimizing the degree to which water is accelerated through a venturi device, the amount of power that an energy device extracts from the ocean is maximized. Prior venturi-based wave energy devices have proven to be inefficient because of the relatively small amount of power that they generate relative to their size and cost. By optimizing the venturi effect created within the submerged venturi components of such devices, the speed of the water moving through the narrowest portions of such a devices is maximized with respect to the wave environments in which they operate, and a maximal amount of energy is extracted from the ocean. This optimization of a wave energy device's power is sufficient to render such devices cost effective. The method of extracting energy from the accelerated flow of water moving through such venturi devices is not limited, and many alternatives exist, each with its own potential benefits.

A system for generating electrical power may include a flowline having an inlet that receives reservoir fluid at a first pressure, an outlet that outputs the reservoir fluid at a second pressure, a first flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a second flow path between the inlet and the outlet, in parallel with the first flow path. The difference between the first pressure and the second pressure may include a pressure differential, and the system may include a valve that adjusts the pressure differential. Additionally, the system may include a turbine disposed along the second flow path that generates mechanical energy from a flow of the reservoir fluid induced by the pressure differential, and the mechanical energy may be converted to electrical energy.

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 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.