Abstract: A reverse osmosis water production apparatus for use in a body of water includes a first section defining a buoyancy chamber and an elongate second section connected to the first section and configured to define an elongate chamber which extends downward beneath a waterline in use. The elongate chamber is provided with a plurality of elongate reverse osmosis membrane tubes, each tube containing a reverse osmosis membrane. A longitudinal axis of each reverse osmosis membrane tube is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate chamber and the reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged around a passage.

Abstract: A marine current turbine rotor comprises a hub and fixed and two or more pitchable blade sections configured to reduce bending moment loads on the pitch bearings and enable the use of non-standard, low-cost structural materials for the hub, blades, and pitch shaft. A submersible pitch drive mechanism or linkage in the hub rotates the pitch shaft to cause the pitchable blade section to move to a specified pitch position. The hub cavity is configured to be “wet” without the expense and maintenance requirement of seals to prevent water intrusion, utilizing water-lubricated pitch bearings.

Abstract: A marine current turbine rotor comprises a hub and fixed and two or more pitchable blade sections configured to reduce bending moment loads on the pitch bearings and enable the use of non-standard, low-cost structural materials for the hub, blades, and pitch shaft. A submersible pitch drive mechanism or linkage in the hub rotates the pitch shaft to cause the pitchable blade section to move to a specified pitch position. The hub cavity is configured to be “wet” without the expense and maintenance requirement of seals to prevent water intrusion, utilizing water-lubricated pitch bearings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel, floating, offshore wind turbine (FOWT) structure, referred to as a yawing buoy mast (YBM) structure. The YBM platform vertically combines a submerged spar buoy with outrigger legs and a mast on which a wind turbine nacelle is mounted. Compared to a conventional spar buoy wind turbine, weight is significantly reduced by optimizing how loads are borne and reacted by the floating structure. The mass of the YBM platform is reduced relative to the energy captured by the turbine resulting in a reduction in the cost of energy (COE). Platform load dynamics are coupled with the dynamics of the wind turbine by integration of the YBM platform and turbine controllers.

Abstract: A wind or ocean turbine has an input-power shaft-mounted, rotating bull-gear with smaller stationary pinion-driven powertrains including generators mounted around the periphery of the bull-gear. A controller regulates torque experienced by each powertrain to balance torque between generators at any system load. Regulation includes controlling local voltage at each generator by a transformer configured as a reactor. Coils of the transformers are wired in parallel and actively modulated with an SOR, solid-state, switching device. Each generator output is connected to a respective primary coil of a transformer and a respective secondary coil is connected to an SCR. By using pulse width modulation, the SCR is gated on and off for a portion of a 60 Hz cycle. By adjusting the duty cycle of SCR gating, any voltage between 80% and 100% is attained to satisfy immediate torque requirements.

Abstract: A controller for high torque, low RPM wind turbines and ocean current turbines. The turbine consists of a large, input power shaft-mounted, rotating bull-gear with stationary powertrains mounted around its periphery. The gear teeth on the bull-gear rotate past the teeth on pinions, causing the pinions to turn and delivering power to each smaller powertrain. A controller regulates torque experienced by each powertrain to assure that torques are balanced between generators at any given system load. The regulating includes controlling local voltage at each generator in a powertrain by a transformer configured as a reactor, in which coils of the transformers are wired in parallel and are actively modulated with an SCR, solid-state, switching device. Each generator is connected to a respective primary coil of a transformer and a respective secondary coil is connected to an SCR.

Abstract: A fluid pressure energy translating device comprising a housing defining a cavity and a drive shaft having a portion thereof rotatably mounted in the housing and extending into the cavity. The cavity has an open end remote from the drive shaft and a valve block closes the open end of the housing. A removable rotating group cartridge is positioned in the cavity between the valve block and drivingly engaged with the shaft. The cartridge comprises a valve plate engaging the valve block and an angle block, a rotatable cylinder barrel interposed between said valve plate and said angle block in abutment with the valve plate and in driving relation with the drive shaft. The cylinder barrel has a plurality of piston cylinders, each of which has a port for communicating the cylinders with a face of the valve plate, a piston in each cylinder, shoes connected to the pistons and engaging an inclined surface on the angle block. The valve plate and angle block are interconnected to form a removable cartridge.