Apparatus for power generation in a fluid system
AssigneeTendeka B.V.
InventorJohn Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine has a flow pathway with an inlet in communication with the fluid channel. A rotor is disposed in the flow pathway and is rotatable around a rotation axis under the action of fluid flowing along the flow pathway. The rotation axis of the rotor is oblique to an axis extending along the fluid channel. The outlet of flow pathway may return fluid to the fluid channel. The turbine may also be provided with a flow control arrangement so as to vary the flow of fluid past the rotor and to prevent the rotor from damage. The rotor may be positioned apart from the fluid channel and so as not to obstruct the fluid channel.
Claims21
A turbine for extracting energy from fluid flowing along a fluid channel having an axis, the turbine comprising:
- a flow pathway having an inlet configured to be placed in communication with the fluid channel and an outlet, the outlet of the flow pathway configured to be placed in communication with the fluid channel, such that fluid flowing along the flow pathway may be returned to the channel, in use;
- a passive flow control arrangement disposed in the inlet, the outlet, or both the inlet and the outlet of the flow pathway, the passive flow control arrangement extending within the flow pathway, and configured to vary at least one of a rate of fluid flow along the flow pathway or a proportion of fluid flowing from the fluid channel and into the flow pathway in response to changes in at least one of flow characteristics or fluid pressure of a fluid flowing in the flow channel, so as to protect the turbine from damage;
- and
- a rotor disposed within the flow pathway and rotatable around a rotation axis under the action of fluid flowing along the flow pathway;
- wherein the rotation axis is oblique to the axis extending along the fluid channel.
Apparatus for use in a fluid flow system comprising:
- a body defining a fluid channel having an axis;
- and
- a turbine coupled to the body and including,
- a flow pathway having an inlet communicating with the fluid channel and an outlet, the outlet of the flow pathway configured to be placed in communication with the fluid channel, such that fluid flowing along the flow pathway may be returned to the channel, in use;
- a passive flow control arrangement disposed in the inlet, the outlet or both the inlet and the outlet of the flow pathway, the passive flow control arrangement extending within the flow pathway, and configured to vary at least one of a rate of fluid flow along the flow pathway or a proportion of fluid flowing from the fluid channel and into the flow pathway in response to changes in at least one of flow characteristics or fluid pressure of a fluid flowing in the fluid channel, the passive flow control arrangement configured to protect the turbine from damage, and
- a rotor disposed within the flow pathway and rotatable around a rotation axis under the action of fluid flowing along the flow pathway;
- wherein the rotation axis is oblique to the axis extending along the fluid channel.
A method for extracting energy from fluid flowing along a fluid channel, comprising:
- passing fluid from the fluid channel through an inlet to a flow pathway and to an outlet from the flow pathway, past a rotor disposed in the flow pathway, the outlet of the flow pathway configured to be placed in communication with the fluid channel, such that fluid flowing along the flow pathway may b returned to the channel, in use;
- using a passive flow control arrangement mounted in the inlet, the outlet or both the inlet and the outlet of the flow pathway, the passive flow control arrangement extending within the inlet, the outlet, or both the inlet and the outlet and into the fluid channel, to autonomously vary the flow of fluid along the flow pathway, vary the proportion of fluid from the fluid channel which flows along the flow pathway in response to changes in flow characteristics or fluid pressure of a fluid flowing in the fluid channel or both, the passive flow control arrangement configured to protect a turbine from damage;
- and
- rotating the rotor under the action of the fluid flowing in the flow pathway, around a rotation axis which is oblique to an axis extending along the fluid channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.