NOVEL SYSTEMS FOR INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND POWER OUTPUT OF IN-CONDUIT HYDROELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM AND TURBINE
First Claim
1. A turbine, comprising:
- a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow;
a plurality of arcing blades coupled with said shaft, said blades extending radially outwardly from said shaft, and said blades including an airfoil cross-section along a substantial length of said blades; and
a hydrodynamic cap covering a location where said arcing blades couple with said shaft such that in an operating state of said turbine, presence of said hydrodynamic cap reduces an amount of bypass area, which is area outside a region that is swept by said arcing blades.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inventive systems (e.g., turbines) for harnessing hydroelectric energy are described. The turbines, includes: (1) a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; (2) a plurality of arcing blades coupled with the shaft, the blades extending radially outwardly from the shaft, and the blades including an airfoil cross-section along a substantial length of the blades; and (3) a hydrodynamic cap covering a location where the arcing blades couple with the shaft such that in an operating state of the turbine, presence of the hydrodynamic cap reduces an amount of bypass area, which is area outside a region that is swept by the arcing blades.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A turbine, comprising:
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a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; a plurality of arcing blades coupled with said shaft, said blades extending radially outwardly from said shaft, and said blades including an airfoil cross-section along a substantial length of said blades; and a hydrodynamic cap covering a location where said arcing blades couple with said shaft such that in an operating state of said turbine, presence of said hydrodynamic cap reduces an amount of bypass area, which is area outside a region that is swept by said arcing blades. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A turbine, comprising:
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a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; a plurality of arcing blades coupled with said shaft, said blades extending radially outwardly from the shaft, and said blades including an airfoil cross-section along a substantial length of said blades; and wherein said turbine has a diameter that scales with an inner diameter of a conduit, inside which said turbine is installed for generating power, such that a clearance created between said inner sidewall of said conduit and an outermost surface of said turbine, when said turbine is installed in said conduit, ranges from about 0.5% to about 2% of said outermost diameter of said turbine. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A power generating system that generates power from the movement of fluids, the system comprising:
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a turbine including; a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; a plurality of arcing blades coupled with said shaft, said blades extending radially outwardly from the shaft, and said blades including an airfoil cross-section along a substantial length of said blades; and a hydrodynamic cap covering a location where said arcing blades couple with said shaft such that in an operating state of said turbine, presence of said hydrodynamic cap forces a larger amount of liquid to flow through an equator region of said turbine than if said hydrodynamic cap was absent; and a generator operatively coupled with said shaft such that when fluid flows through said turbine, said blades and said shaft rotate around said central axis causing said generator to produce electricity. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A process for manufacturing a power generating system customized for an application, said process comprising:
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obtaining a power requirement for said application; determining dimensions of a turbine or a hydrodynamic cap that reduce a fluid bypass area and are capable of providing said power requirement for said application; coupling a plurality of blades and a shaft to form a turbine having said dimensions; installing said turbine system in a conduit; and operatively coupling a generator subassembly to said turbine system and producing said power generating system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification