Disclosed is a submerged power generation system. The system may include a hollow fluid flow column, substantially parallel with the direction of gravitational acceleration, a fluid inlet, and a fluid power generator in the hollow fluid column. The system may further include fluid outlets and a pump system at the end of the fluid column opposite from the inlet. Further, an electrical distribution cable or power distribution system in communication with said fluid power generator may also be integrated into the system. Various other power storage, generation, and distribution systems may be integrated into the system to further enhance the efficiency and capabilities of the hydroelectric power generation system.

A mobile communications device includes a wireless communication transceiver to communicate commands or messages and to receive commands, measurements or messages, one or more memory devices, one or more processors, computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory devices, accessed from the one or more memory devices and executable by the one or more processors to cause the mobile device to communicate, via the wireless communication transceiver, commands, messages or instructions to a first umbrella to control some operations of the first umbrella and communicate, via the wireless communication transceiver, commands, messages or instructions to a second umbrella to control some operations of the second umbrella. The wireless transceiver may communicate utilizing a personal area network (PAN) communications protocol, a wireless local area network communications protocol or a cellular communications protocol.

A first intelligent umbrella includes a first base assembly, a first support assembly connected to the base assembly, a first shading expansion assembly connected to the support assembly, the shading assembly further comprising one or more arms connected to the shading expansion assembly, a wireless communication transceiver; and a computing device. The computing device may be located inside the first support assembly. The computing device comprises one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules. The computer-readable instructions fetched from the one or more memory modules and executed by the one or more processors communicate commands, instructions or messages to an external wireless network transceiver, the external wireless network transceiver to communicate the commands, instructions or messages to a global communications network.

The present invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for the efficient use of utilities, more particularly to the distribution and provision of electricity supply at appropriate voltages, monitoring and usage by end devices, and to facilitating consumers in changing their energy usage behaviour, and to adopt and easily install appropriate sustainable, energy efficient or renewable technologies. Said end devices typically including traditional electric, electronic and lighting appliances requiring AC or DC power provision or low voltage DC power via AC/DC converters.

A charging assembly includes a conduit assembly configured to be fluidly coupled with a pre-existing conduit through which a liquid flows, and a hydroelectric generator coupled with the conduit assembly such that at least part of the liquid flowing through the pre-existing conduit flows through the hydroelectric generator. The hydroelectric generator is configured to create an electric current based on flow of the liquid through the hydroelectric generator. The assembly also includes an energy storage assembly conductively coupled with the hydroelectric generator. The energy storage assembly is configured to store electric energy of the electric current created by the hydroelectric generator.

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 fluid flow turbine having a turbine rotor with a plurality of blades (also known as vanes) for converting the kinetic energy of a flowing fluid into mechanical rotational energy of the turbine rotor is provided by this invention. The plurality of blades are defined by a continuously sinuous curve outer edge that results in the lateral surface of the blades having a lower concave portion for scooping up the horizontal incoming fluid flow and redirecting it to a substantially vertical fluid flow along the lateral surface of the blade. The upper portion of the lateral surfaces of the blades is convex, causing the upper edge of the blades to tail off laterally so that the fluid flow exits the turbine in a substantially vertical direction, instead of turning back upon itself to reduces turbulence of the fluid flow inside the turbine. The fluid flow turbine can comprise a small wind turbine that will produce electrical power at low wind speeds, and can be mounted to the top of a building.

A fluid flow turbine having a turbine rotor with a plurality of blades (also known as vanes) for converting the kinetic energy of a flowing fluid into mechanical rotational energy of the turbine rotor is provided by this invention. The plurality of blades are defined by a continuously sinuous curve outer edge that results in the lateral surface of the blades having a lower concave portion for scooping up the horizontal incoming fluid flow and redirecting it to a substantially vertical fluid flow along the lateral surface of the blade. The upper portion of the lateral surfaces of the blades is convex, causing the upper edge of the blades to tail off laterally so that the fluid flow exits the turbine in a substantially vertical direction, instead of turning back upon itself to reduces turbulence of the fluid flow inside the turbine. The fluid flow turbine can comprise a small wind turbine that will produce electrical power at low wind speeds, and can be mounted to the top of a building.

A first intelligent umbrella includes a first base assembly, a first support assembly connected to the base assembly, a first shading expansion assembly connected to the support assembly, the shading assembly further comprising one or more arms connected to the shading expansion assembly, a wireless communication transceiver; and a computing device. The computing device may be located inside the first support assembly. The computing device comprises one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules. The computer-readable instructions fetched from the one or more memory modules and executed by the one or more processors communicate commands, instructions or messages to an external wireless network transceiver, the external wireless network transceiver to communicate the commands, instructions or messages to a global communications network.

A mobile communications device includes a wireless communication transceiver to communicate commands or messages and to receive commands, measurements or messages, one or more memory devices, one or more processors, computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory devices, accessed from the one or more memory devices and executable by the one or more processors to cause the mobile device to communicate, via the wireless communication transceiver, commands, messages or instructions to a first umbrella to control some operations of the first umbrella and communicate, via the wireless communication transceiver, commands, messages or instructions to a second umbrella to control some operations of the second umbrella. The wireless transceiver may communicate utilizing a personal area network (PAN) communications protocol, a wireless local area network communications protocol or a cellular communications protocol.