Abstract: A turbine installation comprising a turbine in combination with an electrical closed-loop control system. The turbine is disposed in a flow of water for producing electrical energy. The turbine includes a hollow hub and a plurality of runner blades pivotally connected to a hollow hub. Each blade comprises a hydrofoil being bounded by an inner surface and a distal outer surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. The blades are adjustable in pitch from a maximum pitch position in which an inner portion of the water directing surface extends substantially in a direction of the water flow, to a minimum pitch position in which an outer portion of the water directing surface is substantially perpendicular to the water flow. The hollow hub has spaced apart inner and outer surfaces and a hub longitudinal axis. Each blade is pivotally connected to the hub about a rotational axis.

Abstract: A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with a gap shielding device designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis. The gap shielding device may comprise a plurality of independently biased pins, a plurality of fluid jets, a plurality of flexible members, a fluid-filled boot, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A turbine disposed in a water passageway includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The water passageway includes a spherically-shaped discharge ring that conforms to the outer edges of the blades to improve certain turbine parameters such as cavitation, efficiency, flow disturbance, and fish survivability. The turbine hub may also include a spherically-shaped outer surface in a region swept by the inner edges of the blades when the blades are rotated from maximum to minimum pitch, as well as seals attached to the inner edges of the blades. The hub may also be associated with blades in which the chord is reduced in the root region of the blade.

Abstract: A turbine installation having reduced inner and outer gaps comprises a water passageway and a turbine runner disposed in the passageway downstream of a discharge ring. The turbine runner includes a hollow hub having spaced apart inner and outer surfaces and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of runner blades. Each blade comprises a hydrofoil having an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is pivotally connected to the hub about a rotational axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that its inner edge is proximate the hub. Each blade is rotatable between a maximum pitch position and a minimum pitch position. The discharge ring has a spherical configuration cooperable with the outer edge of each of the blades to reduce an outer gap formed between the outer edge of each of the blades and the passageway.

Abstract: A turbine, disposed in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner surface and a distal outer surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The hub includes a spherically-shaped outer surface in a region of the hub swept by the inner surface of the blades when the blades are rotated from maximum to minimum pitch. The hub may also be associated with blades in which the chord is reduced in the root region of the blade. The turbine may also include seals attached to the blade inner surface and an essentially spherically-shaped discharge ring to improve certain turbine parameters such as cavitation, efficiency, flow disturbance, and fish survivability.

Abstract: A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with features designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis.

Abstract: A shrouded turbine for enhancing the levels of dissolved gas such as oxygen in water flowing therethrough. The turbine comprises a rotatably mounted runner within a stationary casing. The casing includes a head cover, a discharge ring and a draft tube which together define a water passage extending from an upstream inlet port to a downstream outlet port. A gas chamber substantially surrounds a peripheral portion of the draft tube, and a gas discharge slot connects the gas chamber to the water passage. The slot is substantially continuous and extends substantially about an entire circumference of the water passage. An oxygen containing gas source is connected to the gas chamber, and the gas pressure in the gas chamber is greater than a water pressure in the water passage adjacent the slot. Gas is discharged from the slot into the water passage so that the level of dissolved oxygen in the water discharged from the downstream port is increased.

Abstract: A turbine installation for regulating the levels of dissolved gas such as oxygen in water flowing therethrough. The turbine installation comprises a runner rotatably mounted within a stationary casing. The runner includes a crown, a band, and a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band. The stationary casing includes a head cover disposed concentric with and spaced from the crown and a discharge ring concentric with and spaced from the band. At least one annular seal is disposed between the casing the runner to limit water leakage into a mixing chamber formed between the relatively rotating casing and runner. A gas supply is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber for supplying a flow of a gas thereto, and a control system controls the flow of gas into the mixing chamber for regulating the level of dissolved gas in the water discharged from the turbine installation.

Abstract: A shrouded turbine for enhancing the levels of dissolved gas such as oxygen in water flowing therethrough. The turbine comprises a rotatably mounted runner, a stationary discharge ring and a band seal. The runner includes a crown, a band, and a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band. The discharge ring is concentric with the band and spaced therefrom to permit relative rotation of the band and discharge ring. The band seal is disposed near an upstream edge of the band between the discharge ring and the band to limit water leakage into a band mixing chamber formed therebetween. The seal and the chamber are configured such that the band mixing chamber remains substantially flooded during turbine operation. A gas admission aperture allows gas to be injected into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is configured to promote mixing of the gas with the water leaking into the chamber during turbine operation. An additional mixing chamber may be provided above the crown.