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Louvered turbine for generating electric power from a water current

  • US 8,664,784 B2
  • Filed: 12/08/2008
  • Issued: 03/04/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A submerged turbine power generating system for generating electrical power from a water current, the system comprising:

  • a frame (254);

    a first electric generator (262) supported by the frame (254), the first electric generator (262) operably connected to a first vertical rotor (266);

    a first hollow cylindrical vertical-axis turbine (272) operably connected to the first vertical rotor (266), the first hollow cylindrical vertical-axis turbine (272) comprising;

    two end plates (282);

    a plurality of louvers (280), the plurality of louvers being operably connected to and positioned between the two end plates (282);

    wherein a plurality of receiving areas (290) is arranged along a circumference of each of said end plates (282), each of the receiving areas (290) corresponding to and receiving a respective louver (280) of the plurality of louvers (280);

    each receiving area (290) comprising a first indentation and a second indentation positioned adjacent the first indentation, the first and second indentations defining, respectively, first (292) and second (294) pivot limiting structures;

    each louver (280) of the plurality of louvers comprising a leading edge portion (300) and a trailing edge portion (302) longer than the leading edge portion (300), and each louver (280) further comprising a front side (304) and a back side (306) opposite the front side (304), the front side (304) extending between the leading edge portion (300) and the trailing edge portion (302) on one side of each of the louvers (280),wherein each louver (280) is pivotable between a first position whereat the trailing edge portion (302) of the back side (306) of the louver is in contact with the first pivot limiting structure (292), and a second position whereat the leading edge portion (300) of the back side (306) is in contact with the second pivot limiting structure (294).

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