Hydraulic turbine
AssigneeNatel Energy Holdings, Inc.
InventorsAbraham D. Schneider, Sterling Marina Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to reduce fish mortality. The runner includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. Each blade includes a root connected to the hub and a tip opposite the root. Each blade further includes a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, and a ratio of a thickness of the leading edge to a diameter of the runner can range from about 0.06 to about 0.35. Further, each blade has a leading edge that is curved relative to a radial axis of the runner.
Claims19
A runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to promote fish safety, the runner comprising:
- a hub;
- and
- a plurality of blades extending from the hub, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a root connected to the hub, a tip opposite the root, and a leading edge opposite a trailing edge,
- wherein a thickness of the leading edge of a blade of the plurality of blades varies along the leading edge between the tip and the root, wherein the thickness of the leading edge of the blade is greater at the tip than at the root.
A hydraulic turbine configured to promote fish safety, the hydraulic turbine comprising:
- a housing;
- a runner arranged in the housing, the runner comprising:
- a hub;
- and
- a plurality of blades extending from the hub, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a root connected to the hub, a tip opposite the root, and a leading edge opposite a trailing edge,
- wherein a thickness of the leading edge of a blade of the plurality of blades varies along the leading edge between the tip and the root.
A runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to promote fish safety, the runner comprising:
- a hub;
- and
- a plurality of blades extending from the hub, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a root connected to the hub, a tip opposite the root, and a leading edge opposite a trailing edge,
- wherein a thickness of the leading edge of a blade of the plurality of blades decreases from the tip toward the root of the blade, and wherein a ratio of a maximum thickness of the leading edge of the blade to a diameter of the runner is in a range of 0.06 to 0.35.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.