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A fluid-powered energy conversion device converts energy in a moving fluid into mechanical energy. A rigid cylindrical frame of toroidal baffles forms an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of the chambers having open sides to allow entry of the fluid. The toroidal baffle

A fluid-powered energy conversion device converts energy in a moving fluid into mechanical energy. A rigid cylindrical frame of toroidal baffles forms an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of the chambers having open sides to allow entry of the fluid. The toroidal baffles create an upstream drive vortex in an upstream central vortex chamber, and a downstream extraction vortex rotating in the opposite direction in a downstream central vortex chamber. A plurality of hinged louvers surround the vortex chambers and allow the fluid to enter each chamber only in the direction of vortex rotation, and prevent the fluid from exiting through the sides of the device. The drive vortex passes through and rotates a turbine in a central aperture between the chambers. The turbine is rotated by rotational momentum of the drive vortex, lift from each turbine blade, and additional momentum imparted by the vortex reversal.

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1. A fluid-powered energy conversion device for converting energy in a moving fluid into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of the mov

1. A fluid-powered energy conversion device for converting energy in a moving fluid into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of the moving fluid;a first plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the upstream chamber that operate to create in the upstream chamber, an upstream drive vortex rotating in a first direction when the moving fluid enters the upstream chamber through the upstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a first plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the first plurality of baffles and encircling an upstream central vortex chamber centered around a central longitudinal axis of the device, said first plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the moving fluid into the upstream central vortex chamber only when the fluid is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the fluid from exiting the upstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a floor of the upstream annular chamber that slopes toward the downstream chamber as the floor approaches the central longitudinal axis of the device, said floor causing the drive vortex to flow downstream through the upstream central vortex chamber and pass through a central aperture located between the upstream annular chamber and the downstream annular chamber;a longitudinal drive shaft centrally mounted in the central aperture; anda turbine mounted on the drive shaft in the central aperture, said turbine being rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the central aperture. 2. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 1 further comprising a second plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the downstream chamber that operate to create in the downstream chamber, a downstream extraction vortex rotating in a direction opposite to the first direction when the moving fluid enters the downstream chamber through the downstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles, whereby the turbine is rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the turbine and reverses direction to match the direction of the extraction vortex. 3. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 2 further comprising an annular central divider between the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, said divider having a downstream surface that slopes downstream as it approaches the central longitudinal axis of the device, said downstream surface causing the extraction vortex to flow downstream, thereby creating an area of reduced fluid pressure downstream of the turbine. 4. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 2 further comprising a second plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the second plurality of baffles and encircling a downstream central vortex chamber centered around the central longitudinal axis of the device, said second plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the moving fluid into the downstream central vortex chamber only when the fluid is rotating in the direction opposite to the first direction, and to prevent the fluid from exiting the downstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device. 5. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 4 wherein said first plurality of baffles are curved to form a toroidal pattern in the first direction, and said second plurality of baffles are curved to form a toroidal pattern in the direction opposite to the first direction. 6. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 5 wherein said turbine comprises a plurality of rotating blades, each of said blades having a cross-sectional shape of a curved airfoil that generates a lift force, said lift force being directed in the direction of rotation of the turbine. 7. The fluid-powered energy conversion device o f claim 1 further comprising a flywheel mounted on the drive shaft, said flywheel having sufficient mass to operate as an internal energy storage device due to its angular momentum. 8. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 7 wherein said flywheel is a permanent magnet. 9. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 7 wherein said flywheel is a fluid-filled flywheel that rotates with the drive shaft in a direction of rotation, said fluid-filled flywheel comprising:a hollow disk-shaped shell filled with fluid; anda plurality of radial bulkheads that separate the interior of the shell into separate sections, each of said bulkheads having at least one gate pivotally mounted thereon to open in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation, said gate covering an aperture in the bulkhead when the gate is pivoted to a closed position, and said gate opening the aperture when the gate is pivoted to an open position;whereby the gates are opened by the fluid when the flywheel accelerates in the direction of rotation, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the apertures in the bulkheads and reduce start-up inertia of the flywheel, and whereby the gates are closed by the fluid when the flywheel decelerates, thus preventing the fluid from flowing through the apertures, and causing the flywheel to maintain angular momentum like a solid flywheel. 10. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 9 wherein the hollow disk-shaped shell includes:an annular compartment filled with the fluid; anda cooling fan mounted in a central hub section of the shell. 11. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 1 further comprising an electrical generator mounted on the drive shaft, said generator converting mechanical energy from the rotation of the shaft into electrical energy. 12. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 11 further comprising a cooling fan mounted on the drive shaft, said cooling fan directing cooling air through the generator. 13. A wind-powered energy conversion device for converting wind energy into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber, a downstream annular chamber, and an annular central divider between the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of ambient wind, and said annular central divider having a central aperture therein and having a downstream surface that slopes downstream as it approaches a central longitudinal axis of the device;a first plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the upstream chamber and curved to form a toroidal pattern that operates to create in an upstream central vortex chamber centered around a central longitudinal axis of the device, an upstream drive vortex rotating in a first direction when the ambient wind enters the upstream chamber through the upstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a first plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the first plurality of baffles and encircling the upstream central vortex chamber, said first plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the wind into the upstream central vortex chamber only when the wind is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the wind from exiting the upstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a second plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the downstream chamber and curved to form a toroidal pattern operable to create in a downstream central vortex chamber centered around the central longitudinal axis of the device, a downstream extraction vortex rotating in a direction opposite to the first direction when the ambient wind enters the downstream chamber through the downstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a second plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the second plurality of baffles and encircling the d ownstream central vortex chamber, said second plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the wind into the downstream central vortex chamber only when the wind is rotating in the direction opposite to the first direction, and to prevent the wind from exiting the downstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a floor of the upstream annular chamber that slopes downstream as the floor approaches a central longitudinal axis of the device, said floor causing the drive vortex to flow downstream and pass through the central aperture in the annular central divider;a longitudinal drive shaft centrally mounted in the central aperture; anda turbine mounted on the drive shaft in the central aperture, said turbine comprising a plurality of rotating blades, each of said blades having a cross-sectional shape of a curved airfoil that generates a lift force, said lift force being directed in the direction of rotation of the turbine, said turbine being rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the turbine and reverses direction to match the direction of the extraction vortex. 14. The wind-powered energy conversion device of claim 13 further comprising a flywheel mounted on the drive shaft, said flywheel having sufficient mass to operate as an internal energy storage device due to its angular momentum. 15. The wind-powered energy conversion device of claim 13 further comprising an electrical generator mounted on the drive shaft, said generator converting mechanical energy from the rotation of the shaft into electrical energy. 16. The wind-powered energy conversion device of claim 13 wherein the extraction vortex rotates in a counter-cyclonic direction so that the extraction vortex dissipates after it exits the downstream chamber. 17. A wind-powered energy conversion device for converting high-speed wind energy into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of the high-speed wind;a first plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the upstream chamber that create in an upstream central vortex chamber, an upstream drive vortex rotating in a first direction when the high-speed wind enters the upstream chamber through the upstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a first plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the first plurality of baffles and encircling the upstream central vortex chamber, said first plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the wind into the upstream central vortex chamber only when the wind is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the wind from exiting the upstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a second plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the downstream chamber that create in a downstream central vortex chamber, a downstream extraction vortex rotating in the first direction when the high-speed wind enters the downstream chamber through the downstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a second plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the second plurality of baffles and encircling the downstream central vortex chamber, said second plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the wind into the downstream central vortex chamber only when the wind is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the wind from exiting the downstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a floor of the upstream annular chamber that slopes downstream as the floor approaches a central longitudinal axis of the device, said floor causing the drive vortex to flow downstream and pass through a central aperture located between the upstream annular chamber and the downstream annular chamber;a longitudinal drive shaft centrally mounted in the central aperture; and a turbine mounted on the drive shaft in the central aperture, said turbine being rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the turbine. 18. The wind-powered energy conversion device of claim 17 further comprising a fluid-filled flywheel mounted on the drive shaft that rotates with the drive shaft in a direction of rotation, said fluid-filled flywheel comprising:a hollow disk-shaped shell filled with fluid; anda plurality of radial bulkheads that separate the interior of the shell into separate sections, each of said bulkheads having at least one gate pivotally mounted thereon to open in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation, said gate covering an aperture in the bulkhead when the gate is pivoted to a closed position, and said gate opening the aperture when the gate is pivoted to an open position;whereby the gates are opened by the fluid when the flywheel accelerates in the direction of rotation, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the apertures in the bulkheads and reduce start-up inertia of the flywheel, and whereby the gates are closed by the fluid when the flywheel decelerates, thus preventing the fluid from flowing through the apertures, and causing the flywheel to maintain angular momentum like a solid flywheel. 19. A water-powered energy conversion device for converting energy in a moving stream of water into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of the stream of water;a first plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the upstream chamber that create in an upstream central vortex chamber, an upstream drive vortex rotating in a first direction when the stream of water enters the upstream chamber through the upstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a first plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the first plurality of baffles and encircling the upstream central vortex chamber, said first plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the water into the upstream central vortex chamber only when the water is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the water from exiting the upstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a second plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the downstream chamber that create in a downstream central vortex chamber, a downstream extraction vortex rotating in the first direction when the stream of water enters the downstream chamber through the downstream chamber's open sides and through openings between the baffles;a second plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the second plurality of baffles and encircling the downstream central vortex chamber, said second plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the water into the downstream central vortex chamber only when the water is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the water from exiting the downstream central vortex chamber through the sides of the device;a floor of the upstream annular chamber that slopes downstream as the floor approaches a central longitudinal axis of the device, said floor causing the drive vortex to flow downstream and pass through a central aperture located between the upstream annular chamber and the downstream annular chamber;a longitudinal drive shaft centrally mounted in the central aperture; anda turbine mounted on the drive shaft in the central aperture, said turbine being rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the turbine. 20. The water-powered energy conversion device of claim 19 further comprising a fluid-filled flywheel mounted on the drive shaft that rotates with the drive shaft in a direction of rotation, said fluid-filled flywheel comprising:a hollow disk-shaped shell filled with fluid; anda plurality of radial bulkheads that separate the interior of the shell into separate sections, each of said bulkheads having at least one gate pivotally mounted thereon to open in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation, said gate covering an aperture in the bulkhead when the gate is pivoted to a closed position, and said gate opening the aperture when the gate is pivoted to an open position;whereby the gates are opened by the fluid when the flywheel accelerates in the direction of rotation, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the apertures in the bulkheads and reduce start-up inertia of the flywheel, and whereby the gates are closed by the fluid when the flywheel decelerates, thus preventing the fluid from flowing through the apertures, and causing the flywheel to maintain angular momentum like a solid flywheel. 21. A fluid-powered energy conversion device for converting energy in a moving fluid into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber centered around a longitudinal axis, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of the moving fluid in a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said upstream and downstream chambers being separated by an annular divider having a central aperture therein;a longitudinal drive shaft centrally mounted along the longitudinal axis and passing through the central aperture;a turbine mounted on the drive shaft in the central aperture;means for creating in the upstream chamber an upstream drive vortex rotating in a first direction when the moving fluid enters the upstream chamber through the upstream chamber's open sides:means for creating in the downstream chamber, a downstream extraction vortex rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the moving fluid enters the downstream chamber through the downstream chamber's open sides; endmeans for causing the drive vortex to flow downstream and pass through the turbine, said turbine being rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the turbine and reverses direction to match the direction of the extraction vortex. 22. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 21 wherein the means for creating an upstream drive vortex in the upstream chamber includes a first plurality of longitudinally mounted baffles having openings therebetween through which the moving fluid enters the upstream chamber, said first plurality of baffles being curved to form a toroidal pattern in the first direction. 23. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 22 wherein the means for creating an upstream drive vortex in the upstream chamber includes a first plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the first plurality of baffles and encircling the upstream chamber, said first plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the moving fluid into the upstream chamber only when the fluid is rotating in the first direction, and to prevent the fluid from exiting the upstream chamber through the sides of the device. 24. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 23 wherein the means for creating a downstream extraction vortex in the downstream chamber includes a second plurality of longitudinally mounted baffles having openings therebetween through which the moving fluid enters the upstream chamber, said second plurality of baffles being curved to form a toroidal pattern in the second direction. 25. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 24 wherein the means for creating a downstream extraction vortex in the downstream chamber includes a second plurality of hinged louvers positioned in the openings between the second plurality of baffles and encircling the downstream chamber, said second plurality of louvers being operable to permit entry of the moving fluid into the downstream chamber only when the fluid is rotating in the second direction, and to prevent the fluid from exiting the downstream chamber through the sides of the device. 26. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 25 wherein the means for causing the drive vortex to flow downstream includes means for creating a pressure differential in which the fluid pressure in the downstream chamber is less than the fluid pressure in the upstream chamber. 27. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 26 wherein the means for creating a pressure differential includes a downstream surface of the annular divider that slopes downstream as it approaches the central longitudinal axis of the device, said downstream surface causing the extraction vortex to flow downstream, thereby creating an area of reduced fluid pressure downstream of the turbine. 28. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 27 wherein the means for causing the drive vortex to flow downstream includes a floor of the upstream annular chamber that slopes toward the downstream chamber as the floor approaches the central longitudinal axis of the device, said floor causing the drive vortex to flow downstream and pass through the turbine. 29. The fluid-powered energy conversion device of claim 21 further comprising a fluid-filled flywheel that rotates with the drive shaft in a direction of rotation, said fluid-filled flywheel comprising:a hollow disk-shaped shell filled with fluid: anda plurality of radial bulkheads that separate the interior of the shell into separate sections, each of said bulkheads having at least one gate pivotally mounted thereon to open in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation, said gate covering an aperture in the bulkhead when the gate is pivoted to a closed position, and said gate opening the aperture when the gate is pivoted to an open position;whereby the gates are opened by the fluid when the flywheel accelerates in the direction of rotation, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the apertures in the bulkheads and reduce start-up inertia of the flywheel, and whereby the gates are closed by the fluid when the flywheel decelerates, thus preventing the fluid from flowing through the apertures, and causing the flywheel to maintain angular momentum like a solid flywheel.