In-conduit turbines and hydroelectric power systems

Abstract

Inventive systems (e.g., turbines) for harnessing hydroelectric energy are described. The turbines include: (1) a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; (2) a plurality of substantially circularly arcing blades designed to couple to the shaft, each of the substantially circularly arcing blades having defined at one end one or more blade apertures; and (3) a fastening sub-assembly including fasteners, the fastening sub-assembly used for coupling the circularly arcing blades to the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbine comprising:
 a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow;   a plurality of substantially circularly arcing blades designed to be coupled to said shaft, and each of said substantially circularly arcing blades having defined at one end one or more blade apertures;   a fastening sub-assembly including fasteners and said fastening sub-assembly used for coupling said substantially circularly arcing blades to said shaft; and   wherein, in an assembled configuration of said turbine, a sweep of said arcing blades defines a substantially spherical shape when said arcing blades rotate with said shaft, and when said fastening sub-assembly couples said arcing blades to said shaft, said fasteners pass through said one or more blade apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each end of said substantially circularly arcing blades extends outwardly from said shaft such that a plane defined by each of said blades is not parallel to said central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising another fastening sub-assembly, such that said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly are designed to be disposed at opposite ends of said shaft and couple opposite ends of said substantially circularly arcing blades to said shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine of  claim 2 , wherein each of said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly includes a hub plate having defined therein hub apertures such that said fasteners are designed to pass through said hub apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine of  claim 3 , wherein each of said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly includes an auxiliary plate having defined therein auxiliary apertures such that said fasteners are designed to pass through said auxiliary apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine of  claim 4 , wherein in an assembled configuration of said turbine, each of opposite ends of said substantially circularly arcing blades is sandwiched between said corresponding hub plate and said corresponding auxiliary plate, and a first portion of each of said fasteners is on one side of each of said substantially circularly arcing blades, and a second portion of each of said fasteners is on the other side of each of said substantially circularly arcing blades. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine of  claim 5 , wherein, in an assembled configuration of said turbine, corresponding ones of said blade apertures, said hub apertures and said auxiliary apertures align such that said fasteners fasten corresponding ones of said hub plate, said auxiliary plate and said substantially circularly arcing blades. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising opposing shaft couplers for securely affixing each of said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly to said shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each of said substantially circularly arcing blades includes, along a substantial length, an airfoil cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the plane defined by each of said substantially circularly arcing blades and said central axis of said shaft is a value between about 5 degrees and about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially circularly arcing blades are made from one material selected from a group consisting of composite, plastic and metal. 
     
     
         12 . A power generating system, comprising
 a turbine, comprising
 a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; 
 a plurality of substantially circularly arcing blades designed to be coupled with said shaft, and each of said substantially circularly arcing blades having defined at one end one or more blade apertures; 
 a fastening sub-assembly including fasteners and said fastening subassembly used for coupling said substantially circularly arcing blades to said shaft; and 
 wherein, in an assembled configuration of said turbine, a sweep of said arcing blades defines a substantially spherical shape when said arcing blades rotate with said shaft, and when said fastening sub-assembly couples said arcing blades to said shaft, said fasteners pass through said one or more blade apertures; and 
   a generator capable of being operatively coupled to said shaft of said turbine and, during an operational state of said power generating system, said generator generates power from rotation of said turbine caused by a fluid impinging on said blades.   
     
     
         13 . The power generating system of  claim 12 , wherein each end of said substantially circularly arcing blades extends outwardly from said shaft such that a plane defined by each of said blades is not parallel to said central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The power generating system of  claim 12 , wherein said turbine further comprises another fastening sub-assembly, such that said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly are designed to be disposed at opposite ends of said shaft and couple opposite ends of said substantially circularly arcing blades to said shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The power generating system of  claim 14 , wherein each of said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly includes a hub plate having defined therein hub apertures such that said fasteners are designed to pass through said hub apertures. 
     
     
         16 . The power generating system of  claim 15 , wherein each of said fastening sub-assembly and said another fastening sub-assembly includes an auxiliary plate having defined therein auxiliary apertures such that said fasteners are designed to pass through said auxiliary apertures. 
     
     
         17 . The power generating system of  claim 16 , wherein in an assembled configuration of said turbine, each of opposite ends of said substantially circularly arcing blades is sandwiched between said corresponding hub plate and said corresponding auxiliary plate, and a first portion of each of said fasteners is on one side of each of said substantially circularly arcing blades, and a second portion of each of said fasteners is on the other side of each of said substantially circularly arcing blades. 
     
     
         18 . The power generating system of  claim 17 , wherein, in an assembled configuration of said turbine, corresponding ones of said blade apertures, said hub apertures and said auxiliary apertures align such that said fasteners fasten corresponding ones of said hub plate, said auxiliary plate and said substantially circularly arcing blades. 
     
     
         19 . An electric power generating system, comprising
 a conduit for conveying a fluid;   a turbine disposed inside said conduit, comprising
 a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; 
 a plurality of substantially circularly arcing blades designed to be coupled with said shaft, and each of said substantially circularly arcing blades having defined at one end one or more blade apertures; 
 a fastening sub-assembly including fasteners and said fastening subassembly used for coupling said substantially circularly arcing blades to said shaft; and 
 wherein, in an assembled configuration of said turbine, a sweep of said arcing blades defines a substantially spherical shape when said arcing blades rotate with said shaft, and when said fastening sub-assembly couples said arcing blades to said shaft, said fasteners pass through said one or more blade apertures; and 
   a generator capable of being operatively coupled to said shaft of said turbine and, during an operational state of said power generating system, said generator generates power from rotation of said turbine caused by a fluid impinging on said blades.   
     
     
         20 . The electric power generating system of  claim 19 , wherein the diameter of a cross section of said conduit is a value that is between about 12 inches and about 144 inches.