The invention relates to the real-time determination of the forces applied by waves incident upon the moving part (2) of a wave-energy system (1). The method according to the invention is based on the construction of a model of the radiation force applied to the moving part (2) and a model of the dynamics of the wave-energy system (1). The invention uses only measurements of the kinematics of the moving part (2) and the force applied by the conversion machine (3) to the moving part (2).

A turbomachine module with a longitudinal axis, the module comprising: a rotary casing rotatable around the longitudinal axis and arranged to carry a propeller provided with a plurality of blades; a system for changing the pitch of the blades of the propeller comprising: a control, and a mechanism for varying the pitch of the blades of the propeller connecting these blades to the control, wherein the control comprises a rotary actuator comprising a control body and a reference body which is integral with the rotary casing, and wherein the mechanism for varying the pitch comprises a synchronization ring which is driven in rotation around the longitudinal axis by the control body and which is guided in rotation on the rotary casing, the synchronization ring being connected to the blades.

The invention concerns a method for detecting a fatigue undergone on at least one specific location of a hydraulic unit (10), the method being characterized in that the fatigue undergone on the at least on specific location is detected by at least one fatigue indicator (F) said at least one fatigue indicator arranged for being remotely queried via wirings or via a wireless connection.

An ocean energy power generation water leak-proof device includes a water storage tank and a water pump. Water leaking into the ocean energy power generation device from the external is accumulated by the water storage tank, and is pumped by the water pump to the external of the ocean energy power generation device. An ocean energy power generation device includes a generator 1, at least one horizontal-axis hydro turbine, a sealed cabin, a sealing ring and at least one water leak-proof device. The hydro turbine is effectively prevented from damage caused by water leaking into the interior of the horizontal-axis hydro turbine.

A hydroelectric power generation apparatus includes a braking force generation unit configured to apply a braking force to rotation of a hydraulic turbine, and a controller configured to control the braking force generation unit to repeat increasing and decreasing the braking force to vary a rotational speed of the hydraulic turbine. Varying the rotational speed of the hydraulic turbine helps to flow away debris and the like adhering to hydraulic turbine blades. Preferably, the braking force generation unit includes an electrical, mechanical or fluid type braking device configured to apply a braking force to a rotary shaft of the hydraulic turbine. Preferably, the braking force generation unit includes a power generator configured to generate power through rotation of the hydraulic turbine, and the controller increases/decreases the braking force by varying power extracted from the power generator.

The invention relates to a device for inspecting a damage or a crack of part of a hydro turbine, comprising at least one underwater remote operated vehicle (20) or autonomous underwater vehicle, at least one floatable or buoyant probe (26) or at least one probe (26) and means to make said at least one probe floatable, said probe comprising at least one imaging device (32) and/or laser scaler, and means for transmitting data from said probe to said vehicle or to a ground station when it is distant from said vehicle.

This invention relates to a submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus (1) and a method of evacuating water from such an apparatus. The method of evacuating water from a submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus (1) comprising the steps of pressurizing a fluid supply in the submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus using the water flowing into the apparatus and thereafter using the thus-pressurized fluid supply to evacuate the water from the apparatus. Additional pressurized fluid can be supplied to provide a pressurized fluid supply with sufficient pressure to expel the water from the apparatus. The apparatus (1) can be used in a grid connected electricity generating system or indeed in a smaller scale implementation such as in a single building or group of buildings to provide electricity to those buildings. The invention overcomes problems with prior art devices by evacuating water from the apparatus in an efficient manner.

An ocean tidal current energy power generating system, including a fixing mechanism, an ocean tidal current energy power generator set and a signal monitoring mechanism. The fixing mechanism includes floating bodies, fixing rods, horizontal supporting rods, and a working platform; the floating bodies are fixed to seabed by means of anchor chains; the fixing rods are fixed to the floating bodies; the horizontal supporting rods and the working platform are respectively fixed to underwater portions of the fixing rods and overwater portions of the fixing rods. The power generator set includes underwater assemblies and an overwater assembly. Each underwater assembly includes blades, a hub, a main shaft, a gear box, a coupling, a power generator, a stern cabin and a yawing mechanism, successively connected to each other; a variable pitch mechanism is disposed in the hub.

A system includes a water turbine, a plurality of positioning winches coupled to the water turbine and a plurality of positioning cables. An individual positioning cable extends between a fixed point at a first end and the water turbine at a second end and is coupled to a corresponding positioning winch that is configured to extend and retract the individual positioning cable between the fixed point and the water turbine. A plurality of sensors is configured to sense water conditions around the water turbine. A position control system is connected to the plurality of positioning winches and connected to the plurality of sensors. The position control system is configured to position the water turbine using the plurality of positioning winches according to the water conditions sensed by the plurality of sensors.

A gentle start-up device includes: a rotational type hollow pipe body, including an inlet and an outlet, and having an inner wall provided with a plurality of bar-shaped fins; a transmission unit, physically connected to the rotational type hollow pipe body; and a driving unit, physically connected to the transmission unit for driving the transmission unit to rotate the rotational type hollow pipe body in a rotational direction and to achieve a predetermined rotational speed according to a water supply flow value of a water turbine of a hydraulic generator set, whereby water flow which passes through the rotational type hollow pipe body generates rotational flow.