Turbine System and Method

A turbine for use in generating electricity in an underwater environment, comprising:

• a vertical-axis turbine configured to rotate about a vertical axis in response to water flowing toward the turbine in a flow direction that is generally perpendicular to the vertical axis;
• the vertical-axis turbine including:
• a central upper dome surface at least partially defined by an upwardly convex curve in a vertical cross-sectional plane, and a plurality of upwardly protruding fins that each extend from an outer region proximate to an outer periphery of the vertical-axis turbine toward the central upper dome surface, each of the fins being integrally formed as a unitary structure with the central upper dome surface,
• wherein the vertical-axis turbine has a maximum vertical height parallel to the vertical axis, the maximum vertical height being substantially smaller than a maximum diameter of the outer periphery of the vertical-axis turbine.

A turbine system for generating electrical power in an underwater environment, comprising:

• a vertical-axis turbine configured to rotate about a vertical axis in response to water flowing toward the turbine in a flow direction that is generally perpendicular to the vertical axis, the vertical-axis turbine including:
• a central upper dome surface at least partially defined by an upwardly convex curve in a vertical cross-sectional plane, and a plurality of upwardly protruding fins that each include a convex face and an oppositely disposed concave face that intersect at a curved upper ridge, wherein the vertical-axis turbine has a maximum vertical height parallel to the vertical axis, the maximum vertical height being substantially smaller than a maximum diameter of an outer periphery of the vertical-axis turbine;
• and
• base structure positioned below the vertical-axis turbine to remain generally stationary during rotation of the vertical-axis turbine, the base structure comprising a plurality of anchor legs extending away from the vertical-axis turbine for a length that is greater than the maximum vertical height of the vertical axis turbine.