Turbine-integrated hydrofoil

Abstract

A turbine integrated within a hydrofoil extracts energy from a free-flowing motive fluid. In the preferred embodiment, the turbine is of the crossflow variety with runner blades coaxial to the width of the hydrofoil. The foremost edge of the hydrofoil comprises a slot covered by a continuously adjustable gate for controlling the overall drag imposed by the turbine. The hydrofoil mounts to a sailing vessel by means of a gimbal on a structure affixed to the hull, enabling the turbine to optimally respond to changes in direction of the free-flowing motive fluid and facilitating guidance and stability of the vessel. Both axes of the gimbal have a combination of auxiliary generator and motor with a locking mechanism. Engaging the motor and locking mechanism controls the guidance and stability of the overall vessel, and the pitch of the hydrofoil. Disengaging the locking mechanism and motor permits any change in direction of the motive fluid to affect the gimbal thereby extracting energy via the auxiliary generators. To further control drag and output power over a range of flow velocities, the preferred turbine comprises a DC generator with voltage feedback controlling field excitation, coupled to a voltage and current regulating circuit that performs electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen fuel. The hydrogen fuel tank also functions as the vessel's ballast having adjustable draft depending upon its fullness. Integrated remote control simultaneously optimizes vessel guidance, velocity, drag, stability, ballast depth, and electrolysis processes.

1 . A sailing vessel including a generator which generates electricity in response to moving fluids, the sailing vessel comprising: 
 a hull configured to provide flotation;    a mast coupled to said hull;    one or more sails configured to be coupled to said mast, the sails configured to harness wind forces to move the hull in a desired direction; and    a hydrofoil coupled to said hull, the hydrofoil configured to reduce drag on the hull, wherein the hydrofoil includes a turbine for extracting energy from moving fluids.    
     
     
         2 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1  wherein said turbine is a cross-flow turbine.  
     
     
         3 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a battery configured to store electricity generated by said turbine.  
     
     
         4 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1  wherein said turbine comprises a DC generator.  
     
     
         5 . The sailing vessel of  claim 4  wherein said average field coil excitation current is controlled using switch mode current control.  
     
     
         6 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1  wherein said hydrofoil is coupled to said hull using a gimbal.  
     
     
         7 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said mast comprises a lightning rod configured to harness electrical energy.  
     
     
         8 . A drag reducing apparatus configured to reduce drag on a vessel and generate electricity, the drag reducing apparatus comprising: 
 a hydrofoil configured to be coupled to a vessel, said hydrofoil including a turbine operatively coupled to a generator, the generator configured to generate electricity in response to moving fluids flowing past said hydrofoil.    
     
     
         9 . The hydrofoil of  claim 8 , further comprising electrodes configured to generate gas through electrolysis of water.  
     
     
         10 . The hydrofoil of  claim 9 , wherein said gas is sequestered within a chamber of said hydrofoil to enhance buoyancy of said hydrofoil.  
     
     
         11 . The hydrofoil of  claim 8 , wherein the gas is hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         12 . The hydrofoil of  claim 8 , further comprising a gate for controlling the amount of fluids which contact said turbine, wherein the gate is configured to be adjusted incrementally between an open position and a closed position.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of drag is adjusted by adjusting the gate incrementally between the open position and the closed position.  
     
     
         14 . The hydrofoil of  claim 8 , further comprises exterior fins configured to respond to changes in the direction of the moving fluids.  
     
     
         15 . In a vessel, a gimbal, configured to couple the vessel to a hydrofoil, the gimbal comprising generators coupled to one or more axes of the gimbal, wherein the generators are configured to extract energy in response to changes in a direction of said moving fluids.  
     
     
         16 . The gimbal of  claim 15 , further comprising motors and locking mechanisms coupled to one or more axes of said gimbal and configured to control the guidance and stability of the vessel.  
     
     
         17 . The gimbal of  claim 16 , wherein said motors and locking mechanisms are further configured to control a pitch of said hydrofoil.  
     
     
         18 . The gimbal of  claim 15 , wherein a mounting structure of said gimbal comprises a system for adjusting a distance of said gimbal from the center of gravity of said vessel to control stability.  
     
     
         19 . The gimbal of  claim 18 , wherein said system for adjusting the distance of said gimbal from the center of gravity of said vessel further comprises a system configured to extract energy from compression and tension forces acting upon said gimbal.  
     
     
         20 . The gimbal of  claim 19 , wherein said system configured to extract energy comprises a piston-driven turbine.