Abstract: A fluid turbine may include a vertically-orientable shaft having at least one opening extending transversely therethrough, a first blade portion configured for vertical orientation on first side of the shaft, a second blade portion configured for vertical orientation on a second opposite side of the shaft, at least one rod extending through the shaft opening and connectable at a first end to the first blade portion and at a second end to the second blade portion. A reinforcing sleeve may extend through the shaft opening and may be interposed between the rod and the shaft opening for reinforcing at least one of the shaft, the at least one shaft opening, or the rod against forces exerted by the first and second blade portions when fluid impacts the first and second blade portions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling a voltage output of a turbine. Controlling a voltage output of a turbine includes a rectifier for converting an AC output of a turbine to a DC voltage; a sensor for measuring the DC voltage; a charge controller for receiving the DC voltage from the rectifier and produce a DC output, including: a first circuit meeting a first performance criterion for a first DC range, a second circuit meeting a second performance criterion for a second DC operating range, a switch channeling the DC voltage between the first and second circuits; and a processor for receiving the DC voltage measurement from the sensor, and use the switch to channel the DC voltage between the first and second circuits, thereby meeting the first and second performance criteria when the DC voltage is in the first and second DC ranges, respectively.

Abstract: A support system may secure a wind turbine above an angled roof. The angled roof may have a first angled surface, an opposite second angled surface, and a peak between the first angled surface and the second angled surface. The support surface may have a first weighted ballast located along a portion of the first angled surface and a second weighted ballast located along a portion of the second angled surface. The support system may have a connector extending between and connecting a portion of the first weighted ballast and a portion of the second weighted ballast. The connector may extend over the peak. The support system may have a mounting portion on the connector for securing a wind turbine to the connector. The first weighted ballast and the second weighted ballast may be sized and weighted to maintain the wind turbine above the peak during wind conditions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for coordinating MPPT operations for a cluster of geographically-associated fluid turbines are disclosed. Coordinating MPPT operations for a cluster of geographically-associated fluid turbines includes receiving data from the cluster of geographically-associated fluid turbines; determining changes to total power output of the cluster based on changes in loading states of individual fluid turbines in the cluster; selecting a combination of loading states for the individual fluid turbines in the cluster to coordinate total power output for the cluster; and transmitting the selected combination of loading states to at least some of the individual fluid turbines in the cluster in order to vary rotational speeds of the at least some of the individual fluid turbines in the cluster.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for a dual-channel fluid turbine controller. A dual-channel fluid turbine controller includes at least one processor configured to: receive, via an AC channel coupled to an AC output of a fluid turbine, first signals indicating fluctuations in power generated by the fluid turbine operating beneath a grid power supply threshold; access an MPPT protocol; determine a correspondence between the first signals and a portion of the MPPT protocol; apply the portion of the MPPT protocol to a generator of the fluid turbine to generate greater power than would be generated in an absence of the MPPT protocol, wherein the generated power is stored as energy in a capacitor associated with the generator; receive, via a DC channel, second signals indicating a level of energy stored in the capacitor; and use the second signals to determine when to release the stored energy.