Abstract: A breastshot waterwheel is configured to extract energy from an incoming water flow. The waterwheel is rotatable about an axis and comprises a plurality of paddles, each of the said paddles being in communication with the incoming water flow for a respective water receiving portion of a rotation cycle of the waterwheel about the axis. During the water receiving portion of the rotation cycle for a said paddle, the incoming water flow flows onto a water receiving surface of the paddle. The water receiving surface extends between first and second ends of the paddle. The first end is upstream of the second end and is configured such that, during at least a portion of said water receiving portion of the rotation cycle for said paddle, the incoming water flow flows in a substantially horizontal direction across said first end of the paddle onto an upstream portion of the water receiving surface.

Abstract: A breastshot waterwheel is configured to extract energy from an incoming water flow. The waterwheel is rotatable about an axis and comprises a plurality of paddles, each of the said paddles being in communication with the incoming water flow for a respective water receiving portion of a rotation cycle of the waterwheel about the axis. During the water receiving portion of the rotation cycle for a said paddle, the incoming water flow flows onto a water receiving surface of the paddle. The water receiving surface extends between first and second ends of the paddle. The first end is upstream of the second end and is configured such that, during at least a portion of said water receiving portion of the rotation cycle for said paddle, the incoming water flow flows in a substantially horizontal direction across said first end of the paddle onto an upstream portion of the water receiving surface.