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US 12,241,447 B2Granted
Fluid turbine system and method of use
AssigneeTap Energy LLC
InventorCoty Church
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for generating electricity from a fluid turbine are provided. In one aspect, the system employs a Tesla turbine to rotate a drive shaft, the drive shaft providing torque to operate an electrical generator. The incoming fluid flow that operates the Tesla turbine enters a hollow portion of the drive shaft and exists the system as an exhaust flow. The system may operate from standard water supplies provided to a residence or business, thereby reclaiming excess water pressure energy.
Claims20
A fluid turbine system comprising:
- a body configured to receive an inlet fluid supply, the body having a longitudinal axis;
- at least one turbine blade in fluid communication with the inlet fluid supply;
- a turbine shaft axially mounted along the longitudinal axis and coupled to the at least one turbine blade, the turbine shaft having a hollow turbine shaft portion with at least one port, the hollow shaft portion configured to communicate a fluid;
- and
- an electrical generator in communication with the turbine shaft;
- wherein:
- the inlet fluid supply imparts a turbine blade torque to the at least one turbine blade and flows into the at least one port of the hollow turbine shaft portion;
- the turbine shaft receives the turbine blade torque and urges the turbine shaft to rotate along the longitudinal axis to create a rotating turbine shaft;
- the electrical generator generates electricity as enabled by the rotating turbine shaft;
- and
- the inlet fluid supply enters the at least one port of the hollow turbine shaft portion and flows through the hollow turbine shaft portion.
8 more elements
A method of using a fluid turbine device comprising:
- providing the fluid turbine device comprising:
- a body configured to receive an inlet fluid supply, the body having a longitudinal axis;
- at least one turbine blade in fluid communication with the inlet fluid supply;
- a turbine shaft axially mounted along the longitudinal axis and coupled to the at least one turbine blade, the turbine shaft having at least one port and a turbine shaft interior configured to communicate a fluid;
- and
- an electrical generator in communication with the turbine shaft;
- supplying the inlet fluid supply to the body;
- directing the inlet fluid supply to flow along a turbine blade surface of the at least one turbine blade;
- generating a turbine blade torque from a rotation of the at least one turbine blade;
- flowing the inlet fluid supply into the at least one port and within the turbine shaft interior;
- receiving, by the turbine shaft, the turbine blade torque;
- rotating the turbine shaft as urged by the turbine blade torque to create a rotating turbine shaft;
- and
- generating electricity by the electrical generator as enabled by the rotating turbine shaft.
11 more elements
A fluid turbine device comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis and configured to receive an inlet fluid stream;
- at least one turbine blade positioned within the body, the at least one turbine blade configured:
- i) with a turbine blade surface oriented to generate a turbine blade torque as the inlet fluid stream flows over the turbine blade surface, and ii) to rotate about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a hollow turbine shaft comprising at least one port and configured to communicate a fluid and to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the at least one turbine blade axially positioned about the hollow turbine shaft and rotating with a rotation of the hollow turbine shaft;
- wherein:
- the inlet fluid stream enters the body and flows over the turbine blade surface and into the at least one port of the hollow turbine shaft;
- and
- the hollow turbine shaft generates a hollow turbine shaft torque upon the rotation of the hollow turbine shaft.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.