Hydrokinetic Turbine Hydrofoil Shrouds for Flow Acceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydrokinetic turbines are inefficient and often require larger sizes to increase energy output, lacking sophisticated designs that can effectively harness renewable energy from water currents with minimal environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A unidirectional hydrokinetic turbine design featuring asymmetrical hydrofoil shapes in components such as the accelerator shroud, rotor blades, and annular diffuser, which accelerate water flow and create a negative pressure field, enhancing energy extraction efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional hydrokinetic turbine designs are used, then the turbine structure is simple, but the power output is low and efficiency is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidturbine structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The turbine is divided into multiple functional components: accelerator shroud, rotor assembly with blades, diffuser, and generator. Each component performs a specific function to optimize overall power extraction efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor blades employ asymmetrical airfoil cross-sections with optimized camber and thickness distributions. This asymmetry maximizes lift-to-drag ratios and enhances power extraction efficiency from the water current, directly addressing the low power output problem

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Power

If larger turbine sizes are used to increase energy output, then the power output increases, but the device complexity and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy outputVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The design optimizes key parameters including blade aspect ratio, tip-speed ratio, and angle of attack to maximize power coefficient. By achieving higher efficiency at smaller scales, the turbine reduces environmental footprint while maintaining competitive energy output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The accelerator shroud and diffuser work together to create a venturi effect that accelerates water flow through the rotor. This converts the natural water current into a high-velocity jet, significantly enhancing power extraction efficiency without requiring larger turbine dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Speed

If conventional turbine designs are used, then the design is straightforward, but the flow velocity through the turbine is insufficient for efficient energy extraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow velocityVSAvoiddesign sophistication

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The accelerator shroud acts as an intermediary component that channels and accelerates water flow before it reaches the rotor blades. This intermediary structure creates a focused high-velocity flow path, significantly increasing the speed parameter without complicating the overall design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The design employs hydraulic principles through the venturi effect created by the accelerator shroud and diffuser. Water pressure differential drives the acceleration process, converting potential energy into kinetic energy to achieve high flow velocities through the rotor assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design achieves a flow velocity increase of up to three times the ambient speed, resulting in a significant 25-80% increase in power output compared to conventional turbines, with minimal environmental impact and scalability to various water flow conditions.

Implementation Method 1

asymmetrical hydrofoil shapes in components such as the accelerator shroud, rotor blades, and annular diffuser, which accelerate water flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrofoil effect: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 2

create a negative pressure field, enhancing energy extraction efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBernoulli effect: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 3

hydrokinetic turbines designed for the purpose of generating electricity... harness renewable energy from water currents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrokinetic energy extraction: Turbine

Implementation Method 4

The basic principle of using permanent magnets and copper coils to generate electricity is still being used today in many different forms, including using flowing water and water turbines to drive electrical generators and alternators

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12359649B2Hydroelectric/hydrokinetic turbine and methods for making and using same

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 HYDROKINETIC ENERGY CORP

AI summary

The application relates to unidirectional hydrokinetic turbines having an improved flow acceleration system that uses asymmetrical hydrofoil shapes on some or all of the key components of the turbine. These components that may be hydrofoil shaped include, e.g., the rotor blades (34), the center hub (36), the rotor blade shroud (38), the accelerator shroud (20), annular diffuser(s) (40), the wildlife and debris excluder (10, 18) and the tail rudder (60). The fabrication method designs various components to cooperate in optimizing the extraction of energy, while other components reduce or eliminate turbulence that could negatively affect other component(s).