Abstract: A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows is described. The power generation apparatus includes: a generator; a first blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation in a selected direction in response to flowing water from a selected direction; a second blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation and operatively connected to the first blade set, the second blade set being disposed coaxially with, and downstream of or in a wake zone of, the first blade set; wherein the generator is adapted to be driven by at least one of the blade sets, the generator being disposed generally coaxially between the first and second blade sets.

Abstract: A turbine blade is described which includes a blade root; a blade tip; a leading edge extending from the blade root to the blade tip; a trailing edge extending from the blade root to the blade tip; a blade root chord defined as a straight line between the leading edge and the trailing edge at the blade root; a blade tip chord defined as a straight line between the leading edge and the trailing edge at the blade tip; wherein the blade tip chord is angularly displaced from the blade root chord by a twist angle of between 50° and 90°.

Abstract: A central axis water turbine is described which comprises a turbine body having a central axis; a rotor mounted on the turbine body for rotation about the central axis, the rotor comprising a central hub supporting a plurality of blades, each blade extending from a blade root mounted on the hub to a blade tip; a generator driven by the rotor; and a housing surrounding the rotor and adapted to direct water flow towards the rotor, the housing converging from a front opening forward of the rotor to a narrower throat adjacent the turbine body; wherein the blades are splayed rearward from the blade root to the blade tip by a tilt angle of 1° to 20° from a plane perpendicular to the central axis.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows is described. The power generation apparatus includes: a generator; a first blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation in a selected direction in response to flowing water from a selected direction; a second blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation and operatively connected to the first blade set, the second blade set being disposed coaxially with, and downstream of or in a wake zone of, the first blade set; wherein the generator is adapted to be driven by at least one of the blade sets, the generator being disposed generally coaxially between the first and second blade sets.

Abstract: A central axis water turbine is described which comprises a turbine body having a central axis; a rotor mounted on the turbine body for rotation about the central axis, the rotor comprising a central hub supporting a plurality of blades, each blade extending from a blade root mounted on the hub to a blade tip; a generator driven by the rotor; and a housing surrounding the rotor and adapted to direct water flow towards the rotor, the housing converging from a front opening forward of the rotor to a narrower throat adjacent the turbine body; wherein the blades are splayed rearward from the blade root to the blade tip by a tilt angle of 1° to 20° from a plane perpendicular to the central axis.

Abstract: A bidirectional turbine blade including: a blade root and blade tip; a first face and a second face running between the blade root and blade tip; a cross-sectional profile which is symmetrical about a chord line extending between longitudinal edges of the blade; and a twist of between about 5 and 35 degrees from the chord line, wherein the blade is capable of driving an underwater turbine from flowing water incident at the first face or the second face.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a rotor adapted for rotation about a rotation axis, the rotor comprising a blade assembly including a plurality of blades operatively mounted to the rotor and extending therefrom from and adapted to be acted upon by flowing water from a direction generally perpendicular to the rotation axis to rotate the rotor; wherein the rotor includes an integral rotor body adapted to rotate about a stator body disposed internally relative thereto to generate usable power.

Abstract: An underwater power generator (10) comprises a support structure (14) including a pylon (22) having a male boss (24) at an upper end of the pylon (22). A generation unit (12) has a housing (15) and a blade set (16). A female socket (28) is provided on the generation unit (12) and is configured to receive the male boss (24). A rotation unit (30) comprises a motorised pinion (56) mounted on an upper section (50) and a fixed ring gear (58) mounted on a lower section (52), wherein operation of the motorised pinion (56) rotates the upper section (50) relative to the lower section (52) about a yaw axis. A seal arrangement (60) is provided between the upper and lower sections (50, 52) to inhibit the ingress of water into the rotation unit (30).

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling operation of an underwater power generator is described, as well as computing componentry for controlling the operation of the underwater power generator. The system comprises: meters for measuring selected properties associated with blade speed and inward water flow of the underwater power generator; a drive for altering one or more selected aspects of operation of the underwater power generator; and a data processing apparatus comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory operatively connected to the CPU, the memory containing a program adapted to be executed by the CPU, wherein the CPU and/or memory are operatively adapted to receive information from the meters to calculate a Tip Speed Ratio (TSR or ?) and implement an instruction to the drive to change the one or more selected operating parameters of the underwater power generator in response to the calculated TSR or ?.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows is described. The power generation apparatus includes: a generator; a first blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation in a selected direction in response to flowing water from a selected direction; a second blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation and operatively connected to the first blade set, the second blade set being disposed coaxially with, and downstream of or in a wake zone of, the first blade set; wherein the generator is adapted to be driven by at least one of the blade sets, the generator being disposed generally coaxially between the first and second blade sets.

Abstract: A central axis water turbine is described which comprises a turbine body having a central axis; a rotor mounted on the turbine body for rotation about the central axis, the rotor comprising a central hub supporting a plurality of blades, each blade extending from a blade root mounted on the hub to a blade tip; a generator driven by the rotor; and a housing surrounding the rotor and adapted to direct water flow towards the rotor, the housing converging from a front opening forward of the rotor to a narrower throat adjacent the turbine body; wherein the blades are splayed rearward from the blade root to the blade tip by a tilt angle of 1° to 20° from a plane perpendicular to the central axis.

Abstract: A turbine blade is described which includes a blade root;a blade tip; a leading edge extending from the blade root to the blade tip; a trailing edge extending from the blade root to the blade tip; a blade root chord defined as a straight line between the leading edge and the trailing edge at the blade root; a blade tip chord defined as a straight line between the leading edge and the trailing edge at the blade tip; wherein the blade tip chord is angularly displaced from the blade root chord by a twist angle of between 50° and 90°.

Abstract: A method for controlling the initiation of an electronic detonator when located in surrounding ground, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the actual spatial position of the said detonator in relation to one or more adjacent detonators; and calculating the time of initiation of the said detonator based upon its actual spatial position.

Abstract: A method for controlling the initiation of an electronic detonator when located in surrounding ground, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the actual spatial position of the said detonator in relation to one or more adjacent detonators; and calculating the time of initiation of the said detonator based upon its actual spatial position.