In-pipe turbine and hydro-electric power generation system with separable housing and detachable vane arrangements

A system to generate electricity from a fluid flowing in a pipeline, the system comprising:

• a mounting arrangement to mount the system in a portion of the pipeline;
• an elongate shaft having an elongate axis;
• a turbine rotor which is mounted to the shaft, the turbine rotor being operable to rotate about the elongate axis of the shaft when fluid in the pipeline acts on the turbine rotor;
• an electrical generator arrangement comprising a first part incorporating at least one magnet and a second part comprising at least one winding, wherein one part of the generator arrangement is mounted to the turbine rotor and the other part of the generator arrangement is mounted to a stator element which is positioned adjacent the turbine rotor;
• and
• a housing which at least partly houses the turbine rotor, the shaft and the electrical generator arrangement, the housing comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• wherein the system further comprises:
• an inlet guide vane arrangement which is detachably attached to the housing adjacent to the fluid inlet, the inlet guide vane arrangement comprising a plurality of inlet guide vanes, each inlet guide vane being held at an angle relative to a direction of the flow of the fluid in the pipeline such that each inlet guide vane changes the direction of flow of the fluid in the pipeline to be at least partly in line with a rotor vane on the turbine rotor;
• and
• an outlet stay vane arrangement which is detachably attached to the housing and positioned adjacent to the fluid outlet, the outlet stay vane arrangement comprising a plurality of outlet stay vanes, each outlet stay vane being held substantially in line with the direction of flow of the fluid in the pipeline;
• and
• wherein the housing comprises two parts that are releasably attached to one another such that the two parts of the housing can be at least partly separated from one another to permit access to the turbine rotor and the electrical generator arrangement and to permit removal of the inlet guide vane arrangement and the outlet stay vane arrangement.