초록 ▼

The present invention is a hydrokinetic turbine consisting of a multi-stage suction-producing engine for converting the kinetic energy of canal or river flow into mechanical energy to power an electrical generator. It can be described as a ducted rotary hydro-craft, which has a buoyant body of fiber

The present invention is a hydrokinetic turbine consisting of a multi-stage suction-producing engine for converting the kinetic energy of canal or river flow into mechanical energy to power an electrical generator. It can be described as a ducted rotary hydro-craft, which has a buoyant body of fiberglass, ABS plastic, or other suitable material, comprising a concentric funnel and nozzle which enclose a torpedo-shaped hydrofoil structure at their center. A rotor or propeller attached to the torpedo-shaped internal structure drives an electrical generator. These ducts create suction forces that pull water through the rotor by creating an extreme low pressure zone behind the rotor, and this force combined with the direct pressure of canal flow onto the face of the rotor, produces an augmented volume of power.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for extracting energy from fluid flow comprising: an inlet duct having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion, the inlet duct having an annular inner surface tapering in a direction from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion, the inlet duct defining a central flow a

1. An apparatus for extracting energy from fluid flow comprising: an inlet duct having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion, the inlet duct having an annular inner surface tapering in a direction from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion, the inlet duct defining a central flow axis;an elongated body aligned along the central flow axis and extending rearwardly past the outlet end portion of the inlet duct, the elongated body having a forward end portion and rearward end portion;a rotor coupled to the elongated body, the rotor comprising a plurality of rotatable blades that are rotatable about the central flow axis; anda nozzle positioned concentrically about the elongated body, the nozzle having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, the forward end portion being disposed adjacent the outlet end portion of the inlet duct to define an annular flow channel between the forward end portion of the nozzle and the outlet end portion of the inlet duct for channeling fluid inwardly onto the outer surface of the elongated body;wherein the nozzle has an inner surface configured to channel fluid outside of the inlet duct to flow inwardly through the flow channel and contact the outer surface of the elongated body, thereby creating a suction that enhances fluid flow through the inlet duct and the blades of the rotor;wherein a cross-sectional profile of the nozzle in a plane extending through the nozzle and along the central flow axis comprises an outer surface in the shape of a hydrofoil;wherein the cross-sectional profile of the nozzle has an inner surface comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the inner surface tapering from a forward end of the nozzle to an intermediate location, the second portion of the inner surface diverging from the intermediate location to a rearward end of the nozzle, wherein the first and second portions of the inner surface are flat in the cross-sectional profile. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated body comprises a housing that houses a generator. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises an outer surface comprising a hydrofoil cross-sectional profile in a plane extending through the housing and along the central flow axis. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blades are disposed within the outlet end portion of the inlet duct. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet duct has an outer surface comprising a hydrofoil cross-sectional profile in a plane extending through the inlet duct and along the central flow axis. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forward end portion of the nozzle partially overlaps the outlet end portion of the inlet duct. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flotation device supporting the inlet duct, the elongated body and the nozzle. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable spacer connecting the inlet duct to the nozzle, the spacer being configured to adjust the spacing between the inlet duct and the nozzle in an axial direction along the length of the central flow axis. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a sensor configured to measure the flow of fluid through the apparatus, the adjustable spacer being configured to automatically adjust the spacing between the inlet duct and the nozzle based on the measured flow of the fluid. 10. An apparatus for extracting energy from fluid flow comprising: an inlet duct having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion, the inlet duct defining a central flow axis and configured to direct fluid to flow through the inlet duct in a direction extending from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion;an elongated body aligned along the central flow axis, the elongated body having a forward end portion and rearward end portion;a rotor coupled to the elongated body, the rotor being rotatable about the central flow axis; anda nozzle positioned concentrically about the elongated body, the nozzle having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, the forward end portion being disposed adjacent the outlet end portion of the inlet duct to define an annular flow channel between the forward end portion of the nozzle and the outlet end portion of the inlet duct for channeling fluid inwardly onto the outer surface of the elongated body;wherein the nozzle is configured to channel fluid outside of the inlet duct to flow inwardly through the flow channel and contact the outer surface of the elongated body, thereby creating a suction that enhances fluid flow through the inlet duct and the blades of the rotor;wherein the nozzle has a hydrofoil-shaped outer surface and an inner surface comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the inner surface tapering from a forward end of the nozzle to an intermediate location, the second portion of the inner surface diverging from the intermediate location to a rearward end of the nozzle, wherein the first and second portions of the inner surface are flat in a cross-sectional profile taken along a plane bisecting the nozzle and extending along the central flow axis. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rearward end portion of the elongated body extends downstream of the outlet end portion of the inlet duct in a direction extending along the central flow axis. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotor is mounted on the forward end portion of the elongated body and the rotor comprises a plurality of blades disposed within the outlet end portion of the inlet duct. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongated body portion comprises a housing that houses a generator connected to the rotor. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a flotation device supporting the inlet duct, the elongated body and the nozzle. 15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an adjustable spacer connecting the inlet duct to the nozzle, the spacer being configured to adjust the spacing between the inlet duct and the nozzle in an axial direction along the length of the central flow axis. 16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the inlet end portion of the inlet duct has a first inner diameter and the outlet end portion has a second inner diameter, smaller than the first inner diameter. 17. An apparatus for extracting energy from fluid flow comprising: an inlet duct having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion, the inlet duct having an annular inner surface tapering in a direction from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion, the inlet duct defining a central flow axis;an elongated housing aligned along the central flow axis and extending rearwardly past the outlet end portion of the inlet duct, the elongated housing having a forward end portion and rearward end portion;a rotor mounted on the forward end portion of the elongated housing, the rotor comprising a plurality of rotatable blades that are rotatable about the central flow axis, the rotor being disposed within the outlet end portion of the inlet duct;a generator housed within the housing and connected to the rotor;a nozzle positioned concentrically about the elongated housing, the nozzle having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, the forward end portion being disposed adjacent the outlet end portion of the inlet duct to define an annular flow channel between the forward end portion of the nozzle and the outlet end portion of the inlet duct for channeling fluid inwardly onto the outer surface of the elongated housing;wherein the nozzle has an inner surface configured to channel fluid outside of the inlet duct to flow inwardly through the flow channel and contact the outer surface of the elongated housing, thereby creating a suction seal that enhances the volume of fluid flow through the inlet duct and the blades of the rotor;an adjustable spacer connecting the inlet duct to the nozzle, the spacer being configured to adjust the spacing between the inlet duct and the nozzle in an axial direction along the length of the central flow axis;a sensor configured to measure the flow of fluid through the apparatus, the adjustable spacer being configured to automatically adjust the spacing between the inlet duct and the nozzle based on the measured flow of the fluid; anda flotation device supporting the inlet duct, the elongated housing and the nozzle.