Three variable gear assemblies called Transgears, an electro-mechanical rotary frequency converter, and a variable overlap generator (VOG), may be used independently and together to provide constant frequency and voltage output power from variable input water flow and wind speed. Two sets of three variable spur/helical gear assemblies of sun and planetary gear sets are combined in a mechanical three variable control to form an assembly called a Hummingbird. A Hummingbird control may comprise a constant speed control motor and a constant speed generator to produce required constant frequency and voltage. In order to provide a constant control input, a constant rotational speed can be produced by a control motor. Once a constant rotational speed is produced, a constant electric frequency and constant AC voltage can be produced by the variable output generator.

A wind turbine comprises a rotor comprising radially outwardly extending blades which are twisted in cross-sectional shape so as to achieve a constant angle of attack. Additionally, the blades are connected at their outer ends to a peripheral rotor ring which is arranged to engage and drive a rotary member of a generation system of the wind turbine that is mounted at a fixed angular position relative to the rotor ring. The wind turbine is operated in a manner which includes determining for each of a plurality of wind speeds a relationship between rotation rate and optimum power output and varying the power output of the generation system to change the load on the rotor to maintain the rotation rate at or adjacent the rotation rate which provides the optimum power output.

An assembly of a number of reservoirs stacked in a helix shape and filled with certain volume of a fluid is made to rotate continuously by the effect of gravity, where each reservoir has a special geometric shape and design where in the stacked helix of reservoirs the plurality of the torque values due to gravity on one side of the rotation axis is greater than the plurality of the torque values due to gravity on the other side of the rotation axis, resulting in a continuous rotation.

A method for operating a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotational speed and power of the wind turbine are reduced when the prevailing wind speed exceeds a predetermined first limit value. The rotational speed and power are reduced further with an increasing wind speed until the rotational speed reaches a predetermined minimum rotational speed and/or the power reaches a predetermined minimum power. The wind energy turbine maintains the minimum rotational speed, or the minimum power, if the wind speed increases even further.

This method for stabilizing the rotation speed of a hydraulic machine having S-characteristic and comprising a distributor (9) is adapted to modify a water flow, so that the machine can be coupled to a grid. The method comprises the steps of calculating an orientation of the distributor (9); and orienting the distributor according to the calculated orientation. The method further comprises the steps of providing an electric torque to the machine so as to reach a target speed.

Device for generating energy making use of the current of a river (2), with a self-floating paddlewheel (13) and an electric generator set (17) that is coupled to the paddlewheel (13), whereby the device (1) is provided with an immersed housing (3) with an open bottom (4) in which the paddlewheel (13) is rotatably affixed and whereby there is a unit (10) to control the flow of the river (2) at the level of the paddlewheel (13), whereby the speed of the generator set (17) is kept constant by controlling the water level (9) in the housing (3) by placing its internal space (7) under pressure and/or by controlling the aforementioned unit (10).

The method allows stabilizing the rotation speed of a hydraulic machine with S-characteristics. It is implemented by means of a control loop feedback system having a controller for calculating an orientation to affect guide vanes of the machine. It includes steps of calculating a set of internal states associated with the operating point of the machine, establishing a linearized transfer function in function of the set of internal states, calculating characteristics parameters of the controller in function of the established transfer function so that the control loop feedback system is stable, measuring the rotation speed of the hydraulic machine, comparing the measured rotation speed with a target rotation speed, and adjusting the orientation affected to the guide vanes so as to reduce the speed difference between the calculated rotation speed and the target rotation speed.

The method effects control upon engines, in particular to regulating power of a gas-turbine-generator system used in gas-turbine locomotives, hybrid locomotives, etc. A control signal for the fuel metering unit actuator is formed by an electronic engine control system on the basis of processing of a signal from a turbine rpm sensor and a design value of the generator active electric output power. The system power can be preset. A preset power value is compared to a real power calculated value which is obtained according to measured values of current and voltage. An obtained difference is taken as the basis for forming a control signal for the fuel metering unit actuator in order to provide a certain turbine rpm and a control signal for a current regulator supplying energy to the generator excitation winding in accordance with the load curve of the gas turbine-generator system.

Three variable gear assemblies called Transgears, an electro-mechanical rotary frequency converter, and a variable torque and power generator (VT&PG) referred to herein as a variable overlap generator (VOG), may be used independently and together to provide constant frequency and voltage output power and to increase the amount of output power generated with the same input water flow, wind speed, or solar energy. Two sets of three variable spur/helical gear assemblies of sun and planetary gear sets are combined in a mechanical three variable control to form an assembly called a Hummingbird. A Hummingbird control may comprise a constant speed control motor and a constant speed generator to produce required constant frequency and voltage and be reduced in part count and complexity. In order to provide a constant control input, a constant DC voltage can be produced and a DC motor and, for example, a brush-less and commutator-less direct current generator can be used. Once a constant speed is produced, a constant frequency can be produced by a rotary frequency converter. A VOG may be used as a low torque generator and a high power-rated generator in these applications and may generate more electric power than a conventional fixed power generator (the rotor axially aligned to overlap the stator in a conventional manner) over a wider input range of renewable energy.

The invention relates to a turbine and to the implementation method thereof, said turbine comprising a blade mounted such that it can rotate about a central axis and an electromagnetic synchronous machine arranged with the blade in such a way as to modify the angular rotation speed of the blade in order to optimize the mechanical efficiency of the blade as a function of the speed of the incident fluid acting on the blade.