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Apparatus for receiving and transferring kinetic energy from a flow and wave

  • US 20090152870A1
  • Filed: 12/14/2007
  • Published: 06/18/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for converting kinetic energy of a fluid flow in a fluid basin into any useable energy, the apparatus comprising a tandem axial fluid turbine unit adapted to submerge and capable of being maintained in a path of the main flow and comprising:

  • a relatively widened, rotatable front axial turbine runner assembly capable of facing, directing and speeding an oncoming part of the main flow and comprising;

    a plurality of front turbine blade members for receiving energy of the oncoming flow,a funnel-shaped member supporting and guiding the front blade members and capable of being forced into interaction with the oncoming flow to urge the oncoming flow in converging radial directions and to urge a portion of the main flow that is located immediately downstream of the funnel member in a contrary direction toward the funnel member and having;

    a front edge for facing the oncoming fluid flow,a confusor portion extending from the front edge along the axis and decreasing in a transversal dimension for forcing the oncoming flow and the adjacent downstream flow in converging radial directions, where the confusor portion is operable to move, accelerate and direct the oncoming fluid flow and to form a relatively low pressure zone in the flow immediately adjacent to and downstream of the unit, the zone sucks and further accelerates the oncoming flow in relation to the blade members of the front and rear runner assemblies by means of dynamic pressure of the main flow capable of forcing the oncoming flow against the confusor portion and from the ring portion, anda rear ring portion that having an edge opening proximate to a point of fluid discharge from the unit and operable to further accelerate the flow in the axial direction by the sucking pressure in the lower pressure zone that is capable of forcing the flow oncoming from the confusor portion in the axial direction;

    wherethe plurality of front blade members are spaced inside and around and along and fixedly mounted with their outer edges on an inner surface of the confusor portion, each front blade member is extending radially toward the axis and from a leading and trailing blade edge facing the oncoming flow thereof and being located at the front edge of the confusor portion toward an end blade edge located on a plane, the plane being perpendicular to the axis and between the confusor portion and the ring portion, in a direction diverging from the central longitudinal planes of the confusor portion and being opposite an intended direction of rotation of the front runner assembly, and progressively decreasing in a radial dimension from the leading and trailing end to the end blade edge thereof,whereby directing channels are defined by the confusor portion and the adjacent front blade members extending along and between respective front blade members in converging screw directions about and along the axis so that when the oncoming fluid flows within the front runner assembly, the front runner assembly forms an accelerating screw fluid flow about and along the axis in the diverging directions, thereby the front runner assembly rotates in the opposite intended direction; and

    a relatively narrowed, rotatable rear axial turbine runner assembly disposed co-axially in relation to the axis and comprising;

    a hub member extending along the axis;

    a plurality of rear turbine blade members spaced around and radially outward and fixedly mounted to a surface portion of the hub member and disposed with a clearance within the ring portion of the front runner assembly, each of the rear blade members having a surface portion diverged from the central longitudinal plane for facing transversally the accelerated screw flow oncoming from the front runner assembly, whereby the adjacent rear blade members, the hub member and the ring portion of the front runner assembly configure longitudinal channels diverging from the axial direction in a second direction opposite the first diverging direction and the accelerated and screwed flow within the ring portion is further accelerated in the axial direction by means of sucking into the lower pressure zone and rotates the rear runner assembly with the rear blade members in the intended direction opposite the direction of rotation of the front runner assembly;

    an axially disposed pin member supporting the front and rear runner assemblies for relative rotation and having a front end,a means for connecting the front pin end to stopper objects, where the main flow is moving relative to the stopper objects, capable of maintaining the unit in operative positions in the main flow.

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