Hydroelectric/hydrokinetic turbine and methods for making and using same
AssigneeHydrokinetic Energy Corp
InventorWalter Schurtenberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The application relates to unidirectional hydrokinetic turbines having an improved flow acceleration system that uses asymmetrical hydrofoil shapes on some or all of the key components of the turbine. These components that may be hydrofoil shaped include, e.g., the rotor blades (34), the center hub (36), the rotor blade shroud (38), the accelerator shroud (20), annular diffuser(s) (40), the wildlife and debris excluder (10, 18) and the tail rudder (60). The fabrication method designs various components to cooperate in optimizing the extraction of energy, while other components reduce or eliminate turbulence that could negatively affect other component(s).
Claims22
A unidirectional hydrokinetic turbine having a water entrance end and a water exit end defining a direction of water flow through the turbine, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical accelerator shroud that has a wall cross-section that defines within its cylindrical cross-section a water flow area that contains structure located therein that consists essentially of an integral hydrokinetic force-generating member comprising:
- a center hub member having a hydrofoil profile;
- and
- a plurality of blade members mounted on said hub member, wherein said force-generating member is mounted for rotation on the inner surface of said accelerator shroud.
An accelerator shroud that is designed for use in a uni-directional hydrokinetic turbine having a water entrance end and a water exit end defining a direction of water flow through the turbine, the accelerator shroud comprising:
- a generally cylindrical accelerator shroud that has a wall cross-section comprising a generally asymmetrical hydrofoil shape, wherein the hydrofoil shape comprises a generally S-shaped profile in which the outer surface comprises a forward convex portion and a rearward concave portion, and the inner surface comprises a rearward convex portion and a forward portion that has a shape that is either straight or concave.
A unidirectional hydrokinetic turbine having a water entrance end and a water exit end defining a direction of water flow through the turbine, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical accelerator shroud that has a wall cross-section that comprises an asymmetrical hydrofoil shape and defines within its cylindrical cross-section a flow area, said hydrofoil shape serving to accelerate the flow of water through the accelerator shroud and to create a negative pressure field behind the accelerator shroud, in the direction of water flow;
- a rotor assembly that is mounted for rotation within the main accelerator shroud around an axis that is generally parallel to the direction of water flow through the turbine, the rotor assembly comprising:
- a generally elongated cylindrical center hub having and a wall cross-section comprising a hydrofoil shape;
- a plurality of rotor blades fixed to and extending radially outwardly from the center hub wall for rotation therewith and terminating at rotor tips, which blades have an asymmetrical hydrofoil-shaped cross-sectional configuration;
- and a rotor outer ring to which the blade tips are attached and having an outer circumference which is configured for rotation within said accelerator shroud;
- and
- an annular diffuser comprising, a generally cylindrical ring member that has a wall cross-section comprising an asymmetrical hydrofoil shape, said annular diffuser having a diameter greater than the diameter of said main accelerator shroud and being positioned behind the main accelerator shroud, in the direction of water flow through the turbine, whereby the hydrofoil shape of the annular diffuser serves to accelerate the flow of water through the annular diffuser and to create a negative pressure field behind the annular diffuser, and in cooperation with the hydrofoil of said accelerator shroud, said rotor hub and said blades to augment acceleration of water flow through the main accelerator shroud at the location of the rotor assembly.
-26. (canceled)
A unidirectional hydrokinetic turbine having a water entrance end and a water exit end defining a direction of water flow through the turbine, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical accelerator shroud that has a wall cross-section that comprises an asymmetrical hydrofoil shape;
- and
- a rotor assembly that is mounted for rotation within the accelerator shroud around an axis that is generally parallel to the direction of water flow through the turbine, the rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades extending radially outwardly from the center of the turbine and a rotor outer ring to which the blade tips are attached for rotation within the accelerator shroud, wherein the blades have an asymmetrical hydrofoil-shaped cross-sectional configuration, with at least some of the blades having either a cord length at their radially outer ends that is greater than the cord length at their radially inner ends, and/or a profile thickness at their radially outer ends that is greater than the profile thickness at their radially inner ends.
-54. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.