RECIRCULATING HYDRO-PNEUMATIC IMPULSE TURBINE

Abstract

A recirculating hydro-pneumatic impulse turbine including a collector assembly including a central draft tube extending therebelow, the collector assembly including a collector plate having a generally horizontal upper surface and being configured such that the draft tube is in fluid communication with the upper surface, there also being a series of peripherally arranged drive cups about the upper surface. The turbine also includes a drive assembly about the central draft tube, the drive assembly including a fluid inlet at its lower end in fluid communication with the lower end of the draft tube, and a plurality of tangentially arranged outlet nozzles configured at its upper end. The turbine also includes a central air tube with an upper air inlet and a lower air distribution manifold, the manifold including at least one venturi outlet capable of entraining air in the fluid to assist movement of the fluid from the lower end of the drive assembly upwardly to the outlet nozzles. During use, fluid jets that form at the outlet nozzles engage with the drive cups to generate relative rotation between the outlet nozzles and the drive cups about a vertical axis, the relative rotation capable of providing useful work, with fluid subsequently flowing from the drive cups across the upper surface of the collector plate to the draft tube, down the draft tube where the fluid enters the fluid inlet of the drive assembly for entrainment with air and recirculation to the outlet nozzles.

Claims

1. A recirculating hydro-pneumatic impulse turbine, the impulse turbine including: a collector assembly including a central draft tube extending therebelow, the collector assembly including a collector plate having a generally horizontal upper surface and being configured such that the draft tube is in fluid communication with the upper surface, there also being a series of peripherally arranged drive cups about the upper surface; a drive assembly about the central draft tube, the drive assembly including a fluid inlet at its lower end in fluid communication with the lower end of the draft tube, and a plurality of tangentially arranged outlet nozzles configured at its upper end; a central air tube with an upper air inlet and a lower air distribution manifold, the manifold including at least one venturi outlet capable of entraining air in the fluid to assist movement of the fluid from the lower end of the drive assembly upwardly to the outlet nozzles; wherein, during use, fluid jets that form at the outlet nozzles engage with the drive cups to generate relative rotation between the outlet nozzles and the drive cups about a vertical axis, the rotation capable of providing useful work, with fluid subsequently flowing from the drive cups across the upper surface of the collector plate to the draft tube, down the draft tube where the fluid enters the fluid inlet of the drive assembly for entrainment with air and recirculation to the outlet nozzles.

2. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet nozzles rotate and interact with the static drive cups, or the outlet nozzles rotate and the drive cups also rotate but in opposite directions.

3. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet nozzles rotate and interact with static drive cups.

4. An impulse turbine according to claim 3, wherein the collector assembly includes a static upper drive plate, spaced above the collector plate, such that the drive cups are integral with or secured to the underside of the drive plate, arranged about the periphery thereof, to extend downwardly towards the collector plate to be immediately above, but not in contact with, the collector plate.

5. An impulse turbine according to claim 4, wherein the drive cups are integrally formed with the drive plate, such that drive plate and drive cups form a single element, or the drive cups are removably or permanently attached to the drive plate.

6. An impulse turbine according to claim 4, wherein the collector plate is a floating plate, mounted for rotation.

7. An impulse turbine according to claim 4, wherein the outlet nozzles lie outside the periphery of the collector plate and rotate about the periphery of the collector plate.

8. An impulse turbine according to claim 7, wherein the drive plate is configured to extend beyond the periphery of the collector plate such that the drive cups also extend out beyond the periphery of the collector plate.

9. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the draft tube is integrally formed with the collector plate, extending vertically therebelow such that the upper surface and the draft tube together have a funnel-shaped configuration, and such that the draft tube is in fluid communication with the upper surface.

10. An impulse turbine according to claim 9, wherein the draft tube is a constant diameter tube with a transitional region between the upper surface of the collector plate and an upper portion of the draft tube.

11. An impulse turbine according to claim 9, wherein two portions of the central draft tube, an upper portion and mid-portion, are integrally formed with the collector plate, extending vertically therebelow such that the generally horizontal upper surface of the collector plate and the draft tube together have the funnel-shaped configuration.

12. An impulse turbine according to claim 11, wherein the inlet of the draft tube includes the upper portion, which is a shoulder region between the upper surface of the collector plate and the mid-portion of the draft tube.

13. An impulse turbine according to claim 9, wherein the outlet nozzles are provided integrally with a nozzle plate that extends below the collector plate, down and outside the upper portion and the mid-portion of the draft tube in a snug fit but such that there can be relative rotation between the nozzle plate and the collector plate.

14. An impulse turbine according to claim 13, wherein the collector plate and the upper and mid-portions of the draft tube all float, whereas the nozzle plate extends at its lower end below the mid-portion of the draft tube down to the inlet of the drive assembly and will rotate during operation by virtue of the forced rotation of the outlet nozzles.

15. An impulse turbine according to claim 13, wherein the nozzle plate includes an upstanding side wall having a sealing engagement between a corner flange of the drive plate to permit relative rotation between the drive plate and the sidewall of the nozzle plate.

16. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet nozzles are positioned tangentially to the periphery of the collector plate and outside the periphery of the collector plate.

17. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the drive cups include a fluid-jet engaging portion that extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the collector plate, together with a fluid return portion that returns fluid to the upper surface of the collector plate.

18. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the drive cups are configured such that fluid jets are deflected through 160 to 170, with fluid jets impinging upon fluid-jet engaging portions of the drive cups and the direction of the water changing to follow the contour of the drive cups.

19. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is arranged to be about the draft tube, below the upper surface of the collector plate, with a fluid inlet at a lower end of the drive assembly in fluid communication with a lower end of the draft tube, and a plurality of tangentially arranged outlet nozzles at an upper end of the drive assembly.

20. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is a cylindrical drum with a single perimetric sidewall that has an interior surface, the drum being rotatable about its central, vertical axis, with the interior surface being a smooth surface across which fluid from a lower fluid inlet of the drum moves to exit through outlet nozzles about an upper end of the drum.

21. An impulse turbine according to claim 20, wherein the interior surface of the drum is configured with flow channels, each of which align with a specific outlet nozzle, to provide guided flow of fluid from the lower fluid inlet of the drum to the upper outlet nozzles.

22. An impulse turbine according to claim 21, wherein the drive assembly includes a lower fluid distribution manifold that distributes fluid from the fluid inlet to the lower end of each flow channel to provide guided flow of the fluid.

23. An impulse turbine according to claim 22, wherein the flow channels are tubes, either formed integrally with the interior of the drum, or rigidly secured to the interior of the drum.

24. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is a cage of tubes about the central draft tube, with each tube in the cage of tubes aligning with a specific upper outlet nozzle, to provide guided flow of the fluid from the lower fluid inlet to the upper outlet nozzles.

25. An impulse turbine according to claim 24, wherein the drive assembly has a fluid inlet at its lower end that includes a lower fluid distribution manifold that distributes fluid from the fluid inlet to the lower end of each tube in the cage of tubes.

26. An impulse turbine according to claim 25, wherein each tube in the cage of tubes is configured to be vertically inclined from the vertical axis of the drive assembly and also tangentially inclined with respect to the periphery of the collector plate, resulting in a generally helical array of tubes forming the cage-like drive assembly.

27. An impulse turbine according to claim 24, wherein fluid flow from the lower inlet to the upper outlet nozzles of the drive assembly is upward and generally helical.

28. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, wherein the central draft tube includes a central air tube with an upper air inlet and a lower air distribution manifold, the lower air distribution manifold including at least one venturi tube capable of entraining air in the fluid to assist movement of the fluid from the lower end of the drive assembly upwardly to the upper outlet nozzles.

29. An impulse turbine according to claim 28, wherein the upper air inlet is associated with an air release valve, the air release valve being a passive vent to allow internal and external air pressures to equalize.

30. An impulse turbine according to claim 28, wherein the central air tube includes a plurality of inlet apertures located below the collector plate, such that air entering the central air tube travels downwardly from those openings to the lower air distribution manifold that includes a series of radial ports, being one for each venturi tube, such venturi tubes extending from the central air tube wall to a location associated with, and in close proximity to, or within, a flow channel, with its outlet facing downstream to the flow so as to create a venturi through which air is entrained into the passing fluid.

31. An impulse turbine according to claim 1, sized so as to operate with a head of less than 5 m and preferably in the range of 1 to 3 m.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0053] Having briefly described the general concepts involved with the present invention, several preferred embodiments of a recirculating hydro-pneumatic impulse turbine will now be described that is in accordance with the present invention. However, it is to be understood that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.

[0054] In the drawings:

[0055] FIG. 1a is an isometric view from above of an impulse turbine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, with FIGS. 1b, 1c and 1d being, respectively, an isometric view from below of the first embodiment as mounted in a supporting frame, an isometric and schematic view from above with the drive plate cover removed to show drive cups and the collector plate, and another isometric and schematic view from above with the drive plate cover and drive cups removed to show the outlet nozzles;

[0056] FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic isometric views of second and third embodiments of the impulse turbine;

[0057] FIGS. 3 and 4 are section views from above and from the side (respectively) of the impulse turbine of the first embodiment; and

[0058] FIG. 5 is a close-up section view from below better showing the lower end of the drive assembly of the first embodiment of the impulse turbine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0059] Illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 1d and FIGS. 3 to 5 is a recirculating hydro-pneumatic impulse turbine in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this first embodiment, and before referencing specific items in the Figures with reference numerals, the impulse turbine of this embodiment generates relative rotation between its outlet nozzles and drive cups by virtue of the drive cups being static and the outlet nozzles rotating. Additionally, this first embodiment has a drive assembly with flow channels in the form of tubes, where multiple tubes are provided in the general form of a cage of tubes about the central draft tube of the collector assembly. The impulse turbines of the second and third embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b differ from the first embodiment in the type of flow channels that they incorporate in the drive assembly.

[0060] With specific reference to FIGS. 1a to 1d, illustrated is an impulse turbine 10 that includes a collector assembly (generally indicated by reference numeral 14), which in this embodiment includes a drive plate 12 above and spaced from, but in close proximity to, a collector plate 15, the collector plate 15 having a central draft tube 16 extending therebelow. The collector plate 15 includes a generally horizontal upper surface 18 and is configured such that the draft tube 16 is in fluid communication with the upper surface 18. A series of peripherally arranged drive cups 20 are evident in FIG. 1c, although these are shown schematically in FIG. 1c as they are ordinarily integral with or secured to the underside of the drive plate 12 which has been removed in FIGS. 1c and 1d. The normal relationship of the drive cups 20 to the drive plate 12 and collector plate 15 can be seen in FIG. 3. The drive cups 20 will be more specifically described below.

[0061] The impulse turbine 10 also includes a drive assembly 22 about the draft tube 16, the drive assembly 22 having a fluid inlet 24 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) at its lower end in fluid communication with the lower end of the draft tube 16, and a plurality of tangentially arranged outlet nozzles 26 configured at its upper end.

[0062] The impulse turbine also includes a central air tube 30 with an upper air inlet in the form of a plurality of inlet apertures 80 and a lower air distribution manifold 34, the manifold 34 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) including at least one venturi outlet 36 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) capable of entraining air in the fluid to assist movement of the fluid from the lower end of the drive assembly 22 upwardly to the outlet nozzles 26 of the drive assembly 22.

[0063] As mentioned more generally above, during use of the impulse turbine 10, fluid jets formed at the outlet nozzles 26 engage with the drive cups 20 to generate relative rotation between the outlet nozzles 26 and the drive cups 20 about a vertical axis A, the rotation capable of providing useful work, with fluid subsequently flowing from the drive cups 20 across the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15 to the draft tube 16, down the draft tube 16 where the fluid enters the fluid inlet 24 of the drive assembly 22 for entrainment with air and recirculation to the outlet nozzles 26.

[0064] The impulse turbine 10 may be used in a power generation system or a mechanical drive system, in both situations utilising a turbine starter system, a turbine braking system and a generator or a mechanical drive converter. These systems and additional equipment are not generally shown in the Figures, although preferred locations for the equipment is illustrated generally at X and Y in FIG. 1b (and also at X and Y for the second and third embodiments shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b), where an impulse turbine 10 in accordance with the first embodiment is shown mounted in a suitable supporting cage 40 ready for installation.

[0065] In this respect, and as mentioned above, a turbine starter is capable of initiating rotation of the outlet nozzles 26 of the drive assembly 22 to prime the drive assembly 22 with fluid, to generate the relative rotation between the outlet nozzles 26 and the drive cups 20, after which gravity provides ongoing energy input (as occurs in traditional hydroelectric power generators), following which the turbine starter disengages. The braking system is capable of stopping that relative rotation when necessary. When used, a generator converts the useful work of the relative rotation between the drive cups 20 and outlet nozzles 26 to electrical energy and, when used, a mechanical drive converter converts the useful work of the relative rotation between the drive cups 20 and outlet nozzles 26 to useful mechanical work.

[0066] With reference to the schematic illustrations in FIGS. 1c and 1d, where some parts have been removed for ease of reference, the fluid jets (not shown) formed at the outlet nozzles 26 (best shown in FIG. 1d) of the impulse turbine 10 engage with the drive cups 20 (best shown in FIG. 1c) to generate relative rotation between the drive plate 12 of the collector assembly 14 and the outlet nozzles 26 of the drive assembly 22, and as mentioned above it is this relative rotation that is the source of the useful work. In this embodiment, the outlet nozzles 26 of the drive assembly 22, and thus the drive assembly 22 itself, rotate and interact with the drive cups 20 of the static drive plate 12.

[0067] The relative rotation is rotation about the vertical axis A. This is in contrast to traditional Pelton-type impulse turbines where the rotation of a Pelton-type wheel will typically occur about a horizontal axis.

[0068] The collector plate 15 is a floating plate, in that it is mounted for rotation on bearings (not shown) but is free and would normally not rotate, or at least would not rotate at anything near the speed of the drive assembly. As mentioned above, the floating function assists to dampen any energy remaining in fluid exiting the outlet nozzles 26 and moving across the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15, after the fluid's engagement with the drive cups 20.

[0069] The outlet nozzles 26 lie outside the periphery 52 of the collector plate 15 (see FIG. 3) and thus rotate about the periphery of the collector plate 15, with the drive plate 12 configured to extend out beyond the periphery of the collector plate such that the drive cups 20 also extend out beyond the periphery of the collector plate 15 to permit fluid exiting the outlet nozzles 26 to interact directly with the drive cups 20. That fluid then exits the drive cups 20, onto the upper surface 18 of the floating collector plate 15, for flow thereacross towards and down the central draft tube.

[0070] A description of the draft tube 16 and the elements in this embodiment that make up the draft tube 16 will now be provided, with particular regard to FIGS. 3 to 5. In this embodiment, two portions 15a and 15b of the draft tube 16 are integrally formed with the collector plate 15, extending vertically therebelow such that the generally horizontal upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15 and the draft tube 16 together have a funnel-shaped upper portion 15a at the inlet 44 to the draft tube 16, and such that the draft tube 16 is in fluid communication with the upper surface 18. Fluid on the upper surface 18 thus flows by way of gravity from the upper surface 18 to the centre of the collector plate 15, through the inlet 44 and down the upper portion 15a through the interior of a mid-portion 15b of the draft tube 16. As is evident in FIG. 4, the upper surface 18 thus includes a slight inwardly directed incline to permit and direct flow of fluid off that upper surface 18 towards and down the draft tube 16.

[0071] The central draft tube 16 in this embodiment is a tube of constant diameter, with the inlet 44 having the upper portion 15a (the shoulder region) between the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15 and the mid-portion 15b of the draft tube 16.

[0072] It can also be seen in in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the outlet nozzles 26 are provided integrally with a nozzle plate 90 that extends below the collector plate 15, and then via lower portions 90a and 90b down and outside the upper portion 15a and the mid-portion 15b of the draft tube 16 in a snug fit but such that there can be relative rotation between the nozzle plate 90, 90a, 90b and the collector plate 15, 15a, 15b. With this in mind, it will be noted that in this embodiment there remains a gap 102 between the collector plate 15 and the nozzle plate 90, with an inlet at the point marked by the reference numeral 100, which will permit the passage of any fluid inadvertently flowing outwardly past the outlet nozzles 26 back down through the gap 102 and back into the draft tube 16.

[0073] The collector plate 15, including its upper and mid-portions 15a and 15b, all float in the manner described above, whereas the nozzle plate 90, including its lower portions 90a and 90b, will rotate during operation by virtue of the forced rotation of the outlet nozzles 26. In this respect, in this embodiment the lowermost portion 90b of the nozzle plate 90 extends at its lower end below the mid-portion 15b of the collector plate 15 and down to the inlet 24 of the drive assembly 22 and its tubes 70, and thus forms a lower element of the draft tube 16.

[0074] It will be appreciated that with drive cups 20 and the drive plate 12 both being static, and the outlet nozzles 26 and the nozzle plate 90 thus rotating during use, so too will the upstanding side wall 96 of the nozzle plate 90. However, a suitable sealing engagement will be provided between the corner flange 94 of the drive plate 12 to permit relative rotation between the drive plate 12 and the sidewall 96 of the nozzle plate 90

[0075] The drive cups 20 in this embodiment are attached to the underside of the drive plate 12 by any suitable means, such as bolts or by welding, and in this embodiment include a mounting flange 46 for securing the drive cups 20 to the drive plate 12. Because the recirculating fluid comes from below the collector plate 15, the drive cups 20 include a fluid-jet engaging portion 50 (evident in FIGS. 1c, 3 and 4) that extends outwardly beyond the periphery 52 of the collector plate 15, together with a fluid return portion 54 that returns fluid to the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15. In this form, with outlet nozzles 26 positioned tangentially below and also outside the periphery 52 of the collector plate 15, the fluid jets (not shown) are able to first engage with the fluid-jet engaging portions 50 of the static drive cups 20, with the fluid then passing across the engaging portions 50 via the fluid return portions 54 to be transferred to the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15.

[0076] In this embodiment, the drive cups 20 are configured such that fluid jets are deflected through 160 to 170, with the high velocity fluid jets impinging upon the fluid-jet engaging portions 50 of the drive cups 20 and the direction of the water changing to follow the contour of the fluid return portions 54. The impulse energy of the water exerts torque on the drive cups 20 and thus provides the relative rotation between the drive cups 20 and the outlet nozzles 26, by causing the outlet nozzles 26 and thus the drive assembly 22 to rotate. The fluid then changes direction and exits the drive cups 20 onto the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15 with low velocity.

[0077] In relation to the drive assembly 22 of the impulse turbine of the present invention, the drive assembly 22 is preferably configured and arranged to be generally about the central draft tube 16, generally below the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15, with a fluid inlet 24 at the lower end of the drive assembly 22, in fluid communication with the lower end of the draft tube 16, and the plurality of tangentially arranged outlet nozzles 26 configured at its upper end.

[0078] As mentioned above, and as will now be discussed in relation to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 1d, 3 and 4 (the first embodiment), and then in FIG. 2a (the second embodiment) and FIG. 2b (the third embodiment), the drive assembly 22 may for instance be a cylindrical drum 60 in FIG. 2a, rotatable about its central, vertical axis A, with the interior (not shown) of its sidewall 62 being a smooth surface, the sidewall 62 being inclined slightly away from the vertical axis A of the drum 60, across which fluid from the drum's lower fluid inlet will flow to exit through a plurality of the peripherally arranged outlet nozzles 26 (shown in earlier Figures) about the upper end of the drum 60. In this form, the drum's lower fluid inlet will include one or more lower nozzles (not shown) configured and/or directed so as to guide the flow of fluid away from the lower fluid inlet, up the interior of the sidewall of the drum 60, in a direction that is tangentially inclined to the sidewall of the drum.

[0079] Alternatively, and with reference to FIG. 2b, the sidewall 64 of a cylindrical drum 66 may be configured with flow channels 68, each of which align with a specific outlet nozzle 26 (shown earlier in the Figures), to provide guided flow of the fluid from the lower fluid inlet of the drum 66 to the upper outlet nozzles 26. In this form, the fluid inlet of the drum may again include a lower fluid distribution manifold (not shown) that distributes fluid from the fluid inlet to the lower end of each of the flow channels 68, again to provide guided flow of the fluid.

[0080] However, in the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 1d, 3 and 4, the flow channels that provide such a guided flow of fluid are closed flow channels in the form of tubes 70, without the need for a solid walled drum, where the tubes 70 essentially form a cage of tubes about the central draft tube 16 of the collector plate 15, with each tube 70 aligning with a specific upper outlet nozzle 26, to provide guided flow of the fluid from the lower fluid inlet 24 to the upper outlet nozzles 26. In this embodiment, the fluid inlet of such an assembly includes a lower fluid distribution manifold that distributes fluid from the fluid inlet 24 to the lower end 72 (two such lower ends 72 referenced in FIG. 4) of each of the tubes 70, again to provide guided flow of the fluid to respective upper outlet nozzles 26.

[0081] Furthermore, such tubes 70 are configured so as to be vertically inclined from the vertical axis A of the drive assembly 22 (and thus of the collector plate 15) and also tangentially inclined in the same manner as outlined above, resulting in a generally helical array of tubes forming the cage-like drive assembly 22 of the first embodiment.

[0082] It will thus be apparent that the fluid flow in all embodiments from the lower inlet 24 to the upper outlet nozzles 26 of the drive assembly 22 will be upward and generally helical, due to the dual inclinations away from the vertical axis of the collector plate 15 and tangentially to the outer periphery 52 of the collector plate 15. These dual inclinations assist with the movement of the fluid from the lower end 72 of the tubes 70 upwardly to the outlet nozzles 26, with the fluid jets formed at the outlet nozzles 26 engaging with the drive cups 20 to generate the relative rotation referred to above.

[0083] Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, the central draft tube 16 includes therewithin a central air tube 30 with an upper air inlet in the form of a plurality of apertures 80 and a lower air distribution manifold 34. The lower air distribution manifold 34 includes multiple venturi outlets 36 capable of entraining air in the fluid to assist movement of the fluid from the lower end of the drive assembly 22 upwardly to the outlet nozzles 26. In this embodiment, the lower air distribution manifold 34 includes a respective venturi outlet 36 for each of the tubes 70 of the drive assembly 22.

[0084] Evident at the upper end of the central air tube 30 in FIG. 4 is a hollow axle shaft through which an actuating rod passes from a speed governing mechanism (not shown) into the central air tube 30. The actuating rod is connected to an internal air control piston 104 which controls the amount of air entering the central air tube 30 by opening or closing over the inlet apertures 80, thereby effectively controlling the airflow by effectively increasing or reducing the area available for the flow of air into the central air tube 30 in response to the need to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the drive assembly 22.

[0085] With respect to the flow of air into and through the impulse turbine 10, air will be drawn down the central air tube 30 from immediately above the upper surface 18 of the collector plate 15 through the apertures 80 (see FIG. 1c) located at a level just below the collector plate 15, where air entrained in the circulating fluid will be escaping from the circulating fluid. In this embodiment, there will also be an air release valve, which is ideally a passive vent to allow internal and external air pressures to equalize, but also minimises loss of fluid from the system.

[0086] The air entering the air tube 30 travels downwardly from the apertures 80 to the lower air distribution manifold 34 that includes a series of radial ports 82 (one for each venturi outlet) to which is attached a venturi tube 36 that extends from the central air tube wall 84 to a location within a respective tube 70, with its outlet facing downstream to the flow so as to create a venturi through which air is entrained into the fluid as the fluid enters a tube 70.

[0087] After exiting the venturi outlets 36, the air will be compressed in the fluid in the tubes 70, with the air expanding after peak compression and on its exit from the venturi outlets 36 so as to pressurise the fluid to increase the velocity of the fluid up the tubes 70 and form an adjustable velocity. As the fluid travels away from the point of peak compression, air entrained within the fluid begins expanding rapidly, and ejects the fluid from the outlet nozzles 26 at a much greater velocity than that of un-entrained fluid.

[0088] In this form, this de-compressing fluid exits the outlet nozzles 26 and is impacted into the static drive cups 50 at the periphery of the drive plate 12 and transfers the energy (as thrust) from the fluid to the rotating drive tube assembly 22, therefore providing continuous rotational drive to the entire drive tube assembly 22 and rotation of the drive shaft 100 for the production of useful work.

[0089] In conclusion, it must be appreciated that there may be other variations and modifications to the configurations described herein which are also within the scope of the present invention.