Hydroelectric in-pipe turbine blades

摘要

The special circumstances of working with hydroelectric turbines in pipes require innovations in blade shapes and systems that are presented here. An example is streamlining of the blades greater than that found in traditional hydroelectric turbines.

主权项

1. A turbine, comprising:
a central support member; and, a plurality of cups arranged along the central support member in accordance with a direction of motion of the central support member, each of the cups in communication with the central support member, each of the cups including a closed leading edge oppositely disposed from an open trailing edge, a body intermediate the closed leading edge and the open trailing edge and tapering outward from the closed leading edge to the open trailing edge, the leading edge defining a first arc of a first radius of curvature and the trailing edge defining a second arc of a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature smaller than the second radius of curvature, and the cups are positioned with respect to each other such that leading edge of subsequent cup follows trailing edge of previous cup.