Abstract: One or more variable pitch airfoils in fluid communication with a rotor of a fluid turbine can control the amount of energy directed to the rotor, and further control the amount of energy generated by the turbine. Varying the pitch of the airfoils may provide a means of controlling the power output of a fluid turbine without the need to control the pitch of the rotor blades, and may further provide a means of mitigating the effects of wind shear on the rotor. Variable pitch airfoils may also include a means of controlling the active power, reactive power and SCADA, of a group of fluid turbines.

Abstract: A system having improved trapping force for acoustophoresis is described where the trapping force is improved by manipulation of the frequency of the ultrasonic transducer. The transducer includes a ceramic crystal. The crystal may be directly exposed to fluid flow. The crystal may be air backed, resulting in a higher Q factor.

Abstract: A fluid turbine comprises a turbine shroud, an ejector shroud, and a means for extracting energy from a fluid stream. The means for extracting energy is located in the annulus between the turbine shroud and the ejector shroud. High-energy fluid can flow through the turbine shroud to bypass the means for extracting energy. Energy is extracted from the fluid passing through the means to form a low-energy fluid stream. The high-energy fluid and the low-energy fluid can then be mixed. The turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud has mixing lobes to increase the mixing of the two fluid streams.

Abstract: An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as oil from an oil-water mixture, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of the oil as the oil coalesces, agglomerates, and becomes more buoyant than the water.

Abstract: Disclosed are wind turbines comprising a turbine shroud and optionally an ejector shroud. The shrouds are segmented, or in other words have longitudinal spaces between segments. Such wind turbines have reduced drag load, particularly those loads due to off-axis wind forces.

Abstract: A shrouded fluid turbine includes a ringed airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an outer surface, an inner surface, and a body extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The shrouded turbine further includes a rotor surrounded by the ringed airfoil. The rotor is disposed downstream of the leading edge and about a central axis of the fluid turbine. The shrouded turbine further includes an aperture extending through the body of the ringed airfoil between the outer surface and the inner surface. The aperture is configured to mix a first fluid flow adjacent to the outer surface of the ringed airfoil and a second fluid flow downstream of the rotor.

Abstract: A ring airfoil with a voluminous leading edge region, an intermediate region, a trailing edge region including a flap. The ringed structural leading edge region combined with a rigid trailing edge region having intermediate discrete support portions extending therebetween provides sufficient rigidity to support the flap on the trailing edge region while using a membrane intermediate surface to form a portion of the intermediate region of the airfoil.

Abstract: Systems for protecting a wind turbine in high wind conditions are disclosed. A shrouded turbine may have an ejector shroud disposed adjacent and downstream of a turbine shroud. In one version, the ejector shroud can move to surround the turbine shroud. In another version, the turbine can be pivoted on a support tower to cover the intake end of the turbine and rotate the turbine about an axis at a right angle to the tower axis. In another version, the turbine is supported by a telescoping tower which may be retracted to lower the turbine in high winds. In another version, the tower sections may be connected by a pivotable connection and supported by guy wire(s) which may be lengthened to lower the upper tower section pivotally.

Abstract: A shrouded wind turbine includes a shroud with an exterior surface that includes a smooth outer surface. The smooth outer surface is large enough that additional devices, particularly advertising displays or solar panels, can be mounted to the shroud to more efficiently use available surface area, both on the wind turbine itself and on the footprint of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A Controlled Unaided Surge and Purge Suppressor for firearms uses the blast and plume characteristics inherent to the ballistic discharge process to develop a new two-step controlled surge and purge system centered around advanced mixer-ejector concepts. The blast surge noise is reduced by controlling the flow expansion, and the flash effects are reduced by controlling inflow and outflow gas purges. This is a C-I-P application. In the preferred C-I-P embodiment, the blast surge is mitigated via a slotted mixer nozzle; a first expansion chamber; a generally “wagon-wheel” shaped blast baffle with a vent hole; a series of alternating baffles, with vent holes, strategically located along the suppressor's inner wall surface; a second expansion chamber; and an exit opening. This preferred C-I-P embodiment contains no “outside” vent holes (i.e., throughbores) which extend through the suppressor's outer or longitudinal wall.

Abstract: A wind turbine has an impeller surrounded by a turbine shroud and/or an ejector shroud, wherein the turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud include inflatable portions and/or flexible inflatable portions. In some embodiments, the turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud include internal rib members whose shape or length can be changed to alter the characteristics of the wind turbine.

Abstract: Turbine systems for extracting energy from water traveling relative to the turbine system can include a rotor assembly for extracting the energy, a turbine shroud having a turbine shroud inner volume within which at least a portion of the rotor assembly is disposed, and an ejector shroud disposed adjacent to the turbine shroud. The turbine shroud and the ejector shroud can each have a terminus comprising a plurality of turbine shroud mixer elements or ejector shroud mixer elements, respectively. One or more of the mixer elements and ejector shrouds comprise a mixer/ejector pump which increases the energy extraction potential of the turbine system. One or more of the turbine shroud mixer elements, ejector shroud mixer elements, and ejector shroud and turbine shroud inlets can be asymmetric along a plane passing through the axis of rotation of the rotor assembly.

Abstract: A Controlled Unaided Surge and Purge (CUSPS) suppressor for firearms uses the blast and plume characteristics inherent to the ballistic discharge process to develop a new two-step controlled surge and purge system centered around advanced mixer-ejector concepts. The blast surge noise is reduced by controlling the flow expansion, and the flash effects are reduced by controlling inflow and outflow gas purges. In the preferred embodiment, suppressor vent holes are convergently contoured to better reduce the blast surge. Preferably a two-stage supersonic mixer/ejector system, in combination with adjacent vent holes in the suppressor housing and a divergent entrance nozzle, is used to control or eliminate the external Mach disk, while rapidly mixing and diluting the propellant with purged gases. A diffuser downstream of the mixer/ejector system further increases ejector performance and pumping. The pumped gases are used to self-clean and cool the CUSPS suppressor.