Abstract: A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure is provided. The structure includes an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and encapsulating at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid exerting an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure. A method of retrofitting a structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure, the structure comprising an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and having at least one interior volume is also provided. The method includes sealing the elongate body to encapsulate the at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid; associating at least one valve with the at least one interior volume; and modifying interior fluid content via the at least one valve to produce an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure.

Abstract: A structure for a turbine, the structure comprising a body having a multi-layer construction including an interior layer with substantially uniform concentrations throughout of facultative anaerobic organisms (FAO) that have gene sets capable of producing the enzyme urease and/or the proteins purloin, lustre A and perlustrin, along with glucose, and non-uniform concentrations throughout of a structural composition, the structural composition including a chitin-based component with silk fibronectin and water; an exterior layer of urea, water, calcium ions and facultative anaerobic organisms (FAOs) including urease, aragonite; and a binding layer of conchiolin protein intermediate the interior layer and the exterior layer. The facultative anaeorobic organisms (FAOs) are organisms classified in one of the Saccharomyces, Escherichia and Bacillus genuses.

Abstract: A fluidic structure configured to be mounted onto the hub of a fluidic turbine comprising a hub that rotates about a center axis, aligned to a main shaft that contributes torque to the main shaft of the turbine via the principle of lift and/or drag. The fluidic structure can be rigid or have some flexibility. The structure has two or more curved fluidic elements that extend from an upstream tip that aligns to the center axis of rotation, to a downstream end at some further radial position away from the center axis, and rotates about the center axis, wherein the two or more curved fluidic elements contain chord sections that are generally more wide at the upstream position and general more narrow at the downstream position.

Abstract: A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment includes an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge; and a rigid winglet associated with the wingtip and having a winglet body extending substantially normal to one of a suction side and a pressure side of the elongate body to a termination point that is rearward of the trailing edge. In an embodiment, the structure is a rotor blade that may be incorporated into a wind turbine.

Abstract: A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure is provided. The structure includes an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and encapsulating at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid exerting an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure. A method of retrofitting a structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure, the structure comprising an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and having at least one interior volume is also provided. The method includes sealing the elongate body to encapsulate the at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid; associating at least one valve with the at least one interior volume; and modifying interior fluid content via the at least one valve to produce an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure.