Patents Assigned to Verdant Power
  • Patent number: 8303241
    Abstract: A KHP system turbine for the production of energy in an underwater environment including a yaw stop arrangement for use in flowing steams where the flow direction of water therein is changeable, including bi-directional and multi-directional current flows, so that a rotatably mounted turbine remains in an optimal position within such changing flow conditions. The KHP turbine includes a rotational portion and one or two passive yaw stop assemblies that will control turbine yaw and keep the turbine oriented to capture energy from changeable underwater current flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Verdant Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Corren, John Gray, Christopher Gray
  • Patent number: 8147201
    Abstract: A rotor hub mounting arrangement for removably mounting a plurality of turbine rotor blades to the rotor hub in a compact and secure manner. The rotor hub includes an internal mounting assembly, preferably comprised of a series of interconnected mounting plates, positioned adjacent a series of foil shaped openings in the rotor hub into which the root end of turbine blades can be inserted and removably mounted to the internal mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Verdant Power Inc.
    Inventors: John Gray, Dean Corren
  • Patent number: 7973240
    Abstract: An underwater power generating system includes an underwater power generating device, a closed nacelle and a connecting cable system that is provided with an open passage way extending there along that is sealed at one end to the interior of the closed nacelle. The cable system can be used in a number of ways, such as by having the second end being sealed, to prevent air from escaping the closed nacelle, or by having the second end connected to a source of positive pressure thereby permitting the cable to be sufficiently pressurized to provide a positive pressure internally within the closed nacelle that is at least slightly greater than the nacelle at depth pressure, and thus greater than water pressure acting on the exterior of the closed nacelle, to prevent water ingress within the nacelle, as well as to transmit power and/or other data between the nacelle and shore monitoring and control facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Verdant Power
    Inventors: Dean Corren, Douglas A. Lessig, Christopher Gray, John Gray
  • Patent number: 7891953
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting underwater turbines that includes a mechanism for correcting tilt error, including both the amount and direction of error, associated with the installation of underwater turbines onto anchoring or mounting structures so that the yaw axis of the mounted turbines will be as close as possible to a desired angle, preferably vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Verdant Power
    Inventors: John Gray, Dean Corren, Christopher Gray
  • Patent number: 7877170
    Abstract: In a power generating system the remanent voltage of an induction machine is measured. The frequency of the remanent voltage is compared to a predetermined threshold. When the frequency of the remanent voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold the induction machine is connected to the power grid. Induction machine is disconnected from power grid once generated power drops below a predetermined threshold. Once the induction machine is disconnected, it is prevented from being reconnected to the power grid until a predetermined time period elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Verdant Power
    Inventors: Dean Corren, Jamey Gerlaugh, Douglas Lessig, Christopher Gray
  • Patent number: 7789629
    Abstract: This relates to a modified turbine blade tip design using a fairing shaped design that increases the tip area efficiency of a kinetic hydropower turbine rotor blade while having a non-fouling characteristic and a tip design with the ability to shed weeds, debris, or other submerged materials that might have fouling potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Verdant Power
    Inventor: Dean Corren
  • Patent number: 7597532
    Abstract: A cantilevered power generation system and the support therefor comprising a clamping frame with first and second jaws that are relatively moveable and which permits the system to be mounted to a support located on or adjacent a shore line or water way so that power generation apparatus supported within the system can be positioned in the moving flow of water to generate power. The first and second jaws of the clamping frame support allows the power generation apparatus to be mounted adjacent a moving waterway and removed, as well as movable from one location to another and also allows the power generation apparatus to be raised thus permitting the repair and/or replacement of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Verdant Power, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Gray, Dean R. Corren
  • Publication number: 20090123283
    Abstract: A KHP system turbine for the production of energy in an underwater environment including a yaw stop arrangement for use in flowing steams where the flow direction of water therein is changeable, including bi-directional and multi-directional current flows, so that a rotatably mounted turbine remains in an optimal position within such changing flow conditions. The KHP turbine includes a rotational portion and one or two passive yaw stop assemblies that will control turbine yaw and keep the turbine oriented to capture energy from changeable underwater current flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Verdant Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Corren, John Gray, Christopher Gray
  • Publication number: 20090041584
    Abstract: A rotor hub mounting arrangement for removably mounting a plurality of turbine rotor blades to the rotor hub in a compact and secure manner. The rotor hub includes an internal mounting assembly, preferably comprised of a series of interconnected mounting plates, positioned adjacent a series of foil shaped openings in the rotor hub into which the root end of turbine blades can be inserted and removably mounted to the internal mounting assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Verdant Power
    Inventors: John Gray, Dean Corren
  • Publication number: 20080290735
    Abstract: In a power generating system the remanent voltage of an induction machine is measured. The frequency of the remanent voltage is compared to a predetermined threshold. When the frequency of the remanent voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold the induction machine is connected to the power grid. Induction machine is disconnected from power grid once generated power drops below a predetermined threshold. Once the induction machine is disconnected, it is prevented from being reconnected to the power grid until a predetermined time period elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Verdant Power
    Inventors: Dean Corren, Jamey Gerlaugh, Douglas A. Lessig, Christopher Gray
  • Patent number: 7456514
    Abstract: A power generation flume for use with fluid or water flow channels that includes an acceleration zone where a power generation system can be used in an accelerated flow to generate power in a cost efficient manner. The flume can have a variety of dimensions and can be used at one or at multiple locations along or across the flow channel without effecting upstream flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Verdant Power
    Inventor: Jameel Ahmad
  • Publication number: 20080271803
    Abstract: An underwater power generating system includes an underwater power generating device, a closed nacelle and a connecting cable system that is provided with an open passage way extending there along that is sealed at one end to the interior of the closed nacelle. The cable system can be used in a number of ways, such as by having the second end being sealed, to prevent air from escaping the closed nacelle, or by having the second end connected to a source of positive pressure thereby permitting the cable to be sufficiently pressurized to provide a positive pressure internally within the closed nacelle that is at least slightly greater than the nacelle at depth pressure, and thus greater than water pressure acting on the exterior of the closed nacelle, to prevent water ingress within the nacelle, as well as to transmit power and/or other data between the nacelle and shore monitoring and control facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Verdant Power
    Inventors: Dean Corren, Douglas A. Lessig, Christopher Gray, John Gray
  • Publication number: 20080138206
    Abstract: This relates to a modified turbine blade tip design using a fairing shaped design that increases the tip area efficiency of a kinetic hydropower turbine rotor blade while having a non-fouling characteristic and a tip design with the ability to shed weeds, debris, or other submerged materials that might have fouling potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Verdant Power
    Inventor: Dean Corren
  • Publication number: 20080056906
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting underwater turbines that includes a mechanism for correcting tilt error, including both the amount and direction of error, associated with the installation of underwater turbines onto anchoring or mounting structures so that the yaw axis of the mounted turbines will be as close as possible to a desired angle, preferably vertical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: VERDANT POWER
    Inventors: John Gray, Dean Corren, Christopher Gray
  • Publication number: 20070063520
    Abstract: A power generation flume for use with fluid or water flow channels that includes an acceleration zone where a power generation system can be used in an accelerated flow to generate power in a cost efficient manner. The flume can have a variety of dimensions and can be used at one or at multiple locations along or across the flow channel without effecting upstream flow conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: Verdant Power
    Inventor: Jameel Ahmad
  • Publication number: 20060251510
    Abstract: We describe a cantilevered power generation system and the support therefor which permits the system to be easily mounted to a fixed shore line or water way so that a vertically oriented rotor can be positioned in the moving flow and be rotted to generate power. The support structure allows the power generation system to be easily removed, moved and also allow the structure to be raised thus permitting the repair and/or replacement of the rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: VERDANT POWER
    Inventors: John Gray, Dean Corren