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Provided are, among other things, systems, methods, apparatuses and techniques for generating energy from water current. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes: a paddlewheel having multiple individual paddles, an axis of rotation, a front side that is forward of the axis

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods, apparatuses and techniques for generating energy from water current. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes: a paddlewheel having multiple individual paddles, an axis of rotation, a front side that is forward of the axis of rotation, and a rear side that is behind the axis of rotation; and a covering structure having a front portion that (a) covers a first part of the front side of the paddlewheel, leaving a second part of the front side of the paddlewheel uncovered by said front portion and (b) extends a distance forward of the front side of the paddlewheel, with the front portion of the covering structure being tapered, becoming thinner as it extends further forward of the paddlewheel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for generating energy from water current, comprising: a paddlewheel having plural individual paddles, an axis of rotation, a front side that is forward of the axis of rotation, and a rear side that is behind the axis of rotation; anda covering structure having a front portion that (a

1. An apparatus for generating energy from water current, comprising: a paddlewheel having plural individual paddles, an axis of rotation, a front side that is forward of the axis of rotation, and a rear side that is behind the axis of rotation; anda covering structure having a front portion that (a) covers a first part of the front side of the paddlewheel, leaving a second part of the front side of the paddlewheel uncovered by said front portion and (b) extends a distance forward of the front side of the paddlewheel,wherein the front portion of the covering structure is tapered, becoming thinner as it extends further forward of the paddlewheel,wherein when in use, the entire paddlewheel is exposed to, and turns in, the water,wherein the covering structure includes at least one ballast tank for controlling overall buoyancy of said apparatus, andwherein, when in use, said apparatus is held in place by being attached to an anchor. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the front side of the paddlewheel that is covered by said front portion is a bottom portion of the paddlewheel, and the second part of the front side of the paddlewheel that is uncovered by said front portion is a top portion of the paddlewheel. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional paddlewheel that has the same axis of rotation as the paddlewheel and is also partly covered by the covering structure. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covering structure also has a rear portion that has mirror symmetry with the front portion. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covering structure also has a rear portion that has diagonal symmetry with the front portion. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a generator coupled to and turned by the paddlewheel. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is at least 75 feet wide, as measured along the axis of rotation. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covering structure also has a rear portion and each of the front portion and the rear portion has at least one ballast tank for controlling overall buoyancy of said apparatus. 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covering structure also includes a rear portion, and wherein the rear portion is tapered, becoming thinner as it extends further rearward of the paddlewheel. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the individual paddles is fixed into position so that it extends outwardly from the axis of rotation. 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the front side of the paddlewheel that is covered by said front portion is a top portion of the paddlewheel, and the second part of the front side of the paddlewheel that is uncovered by said front portion is a bottom portion of the paddlewheel. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a top surface of the front portion of the covering structure is sloped downwardly relative to the horizontal plane as said top surface extends further forward of the paddlewheel, and a bottom surface of the front portion of the covering structure is sloped upwardly relative to the horizontal plane as said bottom surface extends further forward of the paddlewheel. 13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a top surface of the front portion of the covering structure is substantially horizontal, and the bottom surface of the front portion of the covering structure is sloped upwardly relative to the horizontal plane as said bottom surface extends further forward of the paddlewheel. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the top surface of the front portion of the covering structure functions as at least one of a floating dock or a pontoon bridge when said apparatus is in use. 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus has positive buoyancy when in use. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the covering structure is fabricated primarily from concrete. 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of the individual paddles comprises a suspended sheet of pliable material. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the suspended sheet of pliable material is water resistant. 19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sheet of pliable material is a fabric material. 20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the suspended sheet of pliable material is suspended along just two opposite sides by a pair of elongated members. 21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the elongated members are rods. 22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the paddlewheel also includes a left end structure at a left end of the axis of rotation and a right end structure at an opposite right end of the axis of rotation, and wherein at least one of said elongated members is attached to the left end structure at one of its ends and is attached to the right end structure at its opposite end. 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein each of said first elongated member and said second elongated member is fixedly attached to each of the left end structure and the right end structure such that each of the plurality of individual paddles extends outwardly from the axis of rotation.