Electrical machines as provided herein can include a shaftless rotor with an annular array of permanent magnets; and a stator with an annular ferromagnetic core and a plurality of electromagnetic inductors about the ferromagnetic core. The stator is located adjacent to and substantially co-axial with the shaftless rotor; and a fluid thrust bearing located in an axially planar gap between the stator and the shaftless rotor.

The hydroelectric generator using a conduit turbine is furnished with a driving shaft which penetrates the center of a conduit through which a flow passes to the inside; a conduit support main body which is provided so as to support the driving shaft; a propeller which is fixed to the driving shaft, and rotates by the movement of the flow; an internal gear which rotates together with the driving shaft from between the conduit support main bodies; an external gear which is driven together with a shaft, outside the conduit, as a rotational force is delivered to the internal gear; and an electric generator.

A pumped-storage hydropower generation tower employing conduit turbines installed in multiple stages, according to the present invention, comprises: a pump (400) disposed in a pumping-up pipe (410) so as to pump up water that fills a lower reservoir (300) to an upper reservoir (200); a water-guide pipe channel (500) having an inlet water-guide conduit (510) connected to the bottom surface on one side of the upper reservoir (200) so as to extend to the position of the lower reservoir (300) along a helical sloping channel (100) such that a flow rate for power generation passes therein; and a conduit turbine unit (600) comprising a driving shaft (2) extending through the center of a conduit (22) through which the flow rate passes, conduit support bodies (4) installed so as to rotate freely while supporting the driving shaft (2), the conduit support bodies (4) having arms (6) extending toward the inner surface of the conduit (22), a propeller (7) fixed to the driving shaft (2) between the conduit support bodies (4) so as to be rotated by movement of the flow rate, and a generator (10) configured to receive rotational power from the driving shaft (2) and to generate electricity, wherein at least two conduit turbine units (600) are disposed in multiple stages along the water-guide pipe channel (500).

The hydroelectric generator using a conduit turbine, is characterized in that at least two conduit turbine units are serially arranged in multiple levels, the conduit turbine units each comprising: a driving shaft which penetrates the center of a conduit through which a flow for electric generation passes to the inside; a conduit support main body which is provided so as to support the driving shaft, and has an arm extending towards the inner surface of the conduit; a propeller which is between two conduit support main bodies, is fixed to the driving shaft, and rotates by means of the movement of the flow; an internal gear which rotates together with the driving shaft from between the conduit support main bodies; an external gear which is driven together with a shaft, outside the conduit, as a rotational force is delivered to the internal gear; and an electric generator.

Electrical machines as provided herein can include a shaftless rotor with an annular array of permanent magnets; and a stator with an annular ferromagnetic core and a plurality of electromagnetic inductors about the ferromagnetic core. The stator is located adjacent to and substantially co-axial with the shaftless rotor; and a fluid thrust bearing located in an axially planar gap between the stator and the shaftless rotor. The annular array of the permanent magnets of the shaftless rotor and the annular ferromagnetic core and electromagnetic inductors of the stator have a magnetic attraction that provides a co-axially centering force on the shaftless rotor.

A guide bearing system including a pad adjuster to traverse at least one bearing in a direction to adjust a radial clearance. The system can further include a sensor for measuring deviations in the radial clearance. In some embodiments, the guide bearing system includes a controller that receives a distance signal from the sensor measuring the radial clearance and signals the pad adjuster to traverse the at least one bearing to compensate for the deviations in the radial clearance.

An apparatus for generating electricity from water flow held behind a barrier includes a convergent section connected to a first end of a mixing tube such that a venturi is defined between the end of the convergent section and the mixing tube; a diffuser section connected to a second end of the mixing tube, the diffuser section configured such that the pressure at the exit of the diffuser section is greater than the pressure at the venturi; and a turbine tube comprising a blade assembly having a plurality of blades. The turbine tube is supported in the convergent section and is rotatably mounted, the blades being attached to the inner surface of turbine tube such that water flow past the blades drives the rotation of the turbine tube.

A guide bearing system including a pad adjuster to traverse at least one bearing in a direction to adjust a radial clearance. The system can further include a sensor for measuring deviations in the radial clearance. In some embodiments, the guide bearing system includes a controller that receives a distance signal from the sensor measuring the radial clearance and signals the pad adjuster to traverse the at least one bearing to compensate for the deviations in the radial clearance.

A turbine assembly for installation inside a pipe section in which a fluid flows. The turbine assembly includes a shaft and one or more blades. The shaft is couplable to a generator and has a portion positionable inside the pipe section. The blade(s) is/are attached to the portion of the shaft. The blade(s) is/are pushed upon by the fluid as the fluid flows within the pipe section causing the one or more blades to rotate the shaft. The shaft is operable to cause the generator to generate electricity as the shaft is rotated by the blade(s). A pressure of the fluid is reduced as the fluid pushes on the blade(s) and causes the blade(s) to rotate the shaft.

A pumped-storage hydropower generation tower employing conduit turbines installed in multiple stages, according to the present invention, comprises: a pump (400) disposed in a pumping-up pipe (410) so as to pump up water that fills a lower reservoir (300) to an upper reservoir (200); a water-guide pipe channel (500) having an inlet water-guide conduit (510) connected to the bottom surface on one side of the upper reservoir (200) so as to extend to the position of the lower reservoir (300) along a helical sloping channel (100) such that a flow rate for power generation passes therein; and a conduit turbine unit (600) comprising a driving shaft (2) extending through the center of a conduit (22) through which the flow rate passes, conduit support bodies (4) installed so as to rotate freely while supporting the driving shaft (2), the conduit support bodies (4) having arms (6) extending toward the inner surface of the conduit (22), a propeller (7) fixed to the driving shaft (2) between the conduit support bodies (4) so as to be rotated by movement of the flow rate, and a generator (10) configured to receive rotational power from the driving shaft (2) and to generate electricity, wherein at least two conduit turbine units (600) are disposed in multiple stages along the water-guide pipe channel (500).