Flexible turbine blade

Abstract

Systems and techniques relating to blades, in particular to symmetrical blades for turbines. In one general implementation, the present application relates to a method for increasing efficiency of a symmetrical blade comprising providing a rigid portion of the symmetrical blade and providing a flexible portion of the symmetrical blade. The rigid portion of the symmetrical blade can be connected to the flexible portion of the symmetrical blade. The flexible portion of the symmetrical blade can be adapted to bend with a flow across the symmetrical blade. The symmetrical blade can be adapted to rotate in one direction for a bi-directional flow across the symmetrical blade. The symmetrical blade can be adapted for at least one of a Wells Energy Conversion (WEC) system, a fan, an exhaust system, a blowing system, and a suction system. The rigid portion of the symmetrical blade can be fixed to an axis perpendicular to a direction of flow. The symmetrical blade can be rotated in a direction orthogonal to the direction of flow and orthogonal to the bending of the symmetrical blade. The rigid portion may comprise metal, wood, and plastic. The flexible portion may comprise plastic and rubber. The symmetrical blade may comprise a pear-shaped blade or a rectangular-shaped blade.

1 . A method for increasing efficiency of a symmetrical blade, the method comprising: 
 providing a rigid portion of the symmetrical blade; and    providing a flexible portion of the symmetrical blade, wherein the rigid portion of the symmetrical blade is connected to the flexible portion of the symmetrical blade, wherein the flexible portion of the symmetrical blade is adapted to bend with a flow across the symmetrical blade.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the symmetrical blade is adapted to rotate in one direction for a bi-directional flow across the symmetrical blade.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the symmetrical blade is adapted for at least one of a Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) system, a fan, an exhaust system, a blowing system, and a suction system.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 fixing the rigid portion of the symmetrical blade to an axis perpendicular to a direction of flow.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 rotating the symmetrical blade in a direction orthogonal to the direction of flow and orthogonal to the bending of the symmetrical blade.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid portion comprises metal, wood, and plastic, wherein the flexible portion comprises plastic and rubber.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the symmetrical blade comprises a pear-shaped blade.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the symmetrical blade comprises a rectangular-shaped blade.  
   
   
       9 . A system for increasing the efficiency of a turbine with a symmetrical blade, the system comprising: 
 a rigid portion of the symmetrical blade; and    a flexible portion of the symmetrical blade, the flexible portion of the symmetrical blade connecting to the rigid portion of the symmetrical blade, wherein the flexible portion is adapted to bend in a direction of flow across the symmetrical blade.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a geometry of the symmetrical blade varies to reduce an amount of loss from an entirely rigid, symmetrical blade.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a geometry of the symmetrical blade varies to increase the efficiency of the symmetrical blade over an entirely rigid symmetrical blade.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the geometry of the symmetrical blade varies with the direction of flow.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the symmetrical blade is adapted to rotate in a single direction for a bi-directional flow across the symmetrical blade.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the symmetrical blade comprises plastic and metal.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus comprising a flexible symmetric blade adapted to increase an efficiency of a Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) system, wherein the geometry of the symmetrical blade is adapted to vary to reduce the loss of the symmetrical blade over an entirely rigid symmetrical blade.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible symmetric blade remains unfixed to an axis perpendicular to a direction of flow, the flexible symmetric blade comprising an entirely flexible symmetric blade.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible symmetric blade is adapted to provide additional impulse to the apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . A turbine system, the turbine system comprising a rigid symmetrical blade adapted to rotate in a direction orthogonal to a direction of flow across the symmetrical blade.  
   
   
       19 . A turbine system, the turbine system comprising: 
 a first rigid portion of a symmetrical blade;    a second rigid portion of the symmetrical blade and    a flexible portion of the symmetrical blade, the flexible portion of the symmetrical blade connected between the first and the second rigid portions of the symmetrical blade, wherein the flexible portion is adapted to bend in a direction of flow across the symmetrical blade.    
   
   
       20 . The turbine system of  claim 19 , wherein the symmetrical blade may rotate around an axis perpendicular to the direction of flow, wherein the symmetrical blade is adapted to rotate in a single direction regardless of the direction of flow.