A turbine which uses fluid pressure to turn a shaft in a manner that does not allow for cavitation to be created.

A system for converting fluid flow into electricity. The system has an arm assembly with four floats that rotate around a center float. The floats on the arm assembly are all provided with impellers that turn one half revolution for every one revolution of the arm assembly. This slow rotation maintains the impellers at the optimal angle to convert the flow of the water current into rotational motion of the arm assembly, regardless of the orientation of the arm assembly. The arm assembly is coupled to an electric generator provided on the center float that converts torque generated by the arm assembly into electric power that may either be stored on an on-board battery or transmitted by wire for use elsewhere.

A hydro-kinetic power generation system is disclosed. The system includes a structure to be positioned in shallow or deep waterways, such as canals and rivers. The structure may be modular, such that the structure may be composed of one or more structural units that are each substantially the same. In various embodiments, each unit includes one or more curved walls for accelerating water through the unit, or through the structure as a whole. In one embodiment, the accelerator walls are curved for optimizing water flow through the structure without generating undue head loss. In certain embodiments, the units may be configured such that the accelerator walls are positioned on opposite sides of the structure, or the accelerator walls may be adjacently positioned. Coupled to the structure are turbines and gear box systems for harnessing energy from the moving water and converting the energy into electric power.

A hydrokinetic energy interface device includes a hydrokinetic wheel and a moveable support structure with an angled frame. The angled frame mounted upon the moveable support structure connects between a hydrokinetic wheel and a counterbalance. A bearing is mounted at a vertex between a first end and a second end of the angled frame. The angled frame pivots to move the hydrokinetic wheel and the counterbalance in opposite vertical direction. The hydrokinetic wheel maintains vertical alignment as the angled frame pivots. The hydrokinetic wheel can be formed with interconnectable rim sections. The hydrokinetic wheel may be cantilevered out away from a riverbank by the counterbalance. The hydrokinetic wheel may be raised or lowered by actuation. The movable support structure supporting the hydrokinetic wheel may be rolled away from a free-flowing river for maintenance, repairs, or modification.

A reactive blade turbine system works vertically, horizontally, or at an angle and clockwise or counterclockwise according to blade angle and locking position and adjusts to variations in fluid flow such as changes in tidal currents to generate power more efficiently regardless of direction of fluid flow.

Systems and methods for harnessing hydro-kinetic energy. The system includes a single central axle, a plurality of vanes, and a generator. The plurality of vanes may be configured to rotate about the central axle. Each vane may include a frame and a panel rotatably attached the frame. The panel may comprise a plurality of channels having a C-shaped cross-section. Movement of surrounding water may cause the panel to rotate relative to the frame between an open and closed position. The generator may be configured to convert the rotational motion of the plurality of vanes into electrical energy.

An energy generation system to generate energy from a fluid flow, the energy generation system including an extendable arm that extends into a fluid flow, a fin connected to one end of the extendable arm and causing, due to the fluid flow, the extendable arm to move from a first orientation within the fluid flow to a second orientation within the fluid flow, and a joint connected to a second end of the extendable arm that couples the extendable arm to an energy generator.

A turbine, in particular for harvesting energy in flowing air or flowing water, is easily adaptable to different application conditions and facilitating a comparably high degree of efficiency. This is achieved in that the basic shape of the turbine is cylindrical and is provided with blades which are parallel to an axis of the turbine. The blades are pivotally arranged in joints on the outer circumference of at least one turbine wheel. The blades are substantially L-shaped. The longer limb of the blade is curved preferably in a manner corresponding to the radius of the turbine casing, and the shorter limb lies within the surface line of the turbine.

An ocean current power plant with an electric generator and a turbine, which comprises a stator and a rotor that is rotatable about the stator, for driving the electric generator. The rotor comprises a plurality of rotor arms, which respectively have a carrier mechanism and multiple rotor blades that are pivotably mounted on the carrier mechanism.

Apparatus (2) for generating electricity from water (4) flowing in a river (6), which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) a stator (B): (ii) a rotor (10) which is rotatable with respect to the stator (8}in order to generate the electricity, and wherein: (iii) the rotor (10} rotates about an axis (12} which extends in a direction transversely across the rotor (10) from a first side (14) to a second side (16) of the r9tor (10); (iv) the rotor (10) comprises a plurality of rotor blades (18) which extend from at least one of the first and second sides (14, 16) of the rotor (10); (v) the rotor blades (18) are such that each rotor blade (18) has an inner end (20) which is adjacent the side of the rotor (10) from which the rotor blade (18) extends, and an outer end (22) remote from the inner end (20); (vi) the inner end (20) of the rotor blade (18) is movably mounted with respect to the rotor (10) such that the rotor blade (18} is movable between a first position (24) and second position (26); (vii) the first position (24) is one in which the rotor blade (18) extends away from the side of the rotor (10) for being engaged by the water (4) such as to cause the rotor (10) to rotate to generate the electricity; (viii) the second position (26) is one in which the rotor blade (18) extends closer to the side of the rotor (10) than when the rotor blade (18) is in the first position (24); (ix) the second position (26) is one in which debris (28) which is in the water (4) flowing in the river (6) and which has become impacted against the rotor blade (18) is able to be freed from the rotor blade (18) by the water (4) flowing in the river (6); and (x) the rotor blade (18) is movable from the first position (24) to the second position (26} to free the rotor blade (18} from the debris (28), and the rotor blade (18) is movable from the second position
(26) to the first position (24} to enable the rotor blade (18) to resume the first position (24) for generating the electricity.