Patent ID: 6518680
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: F03D,F04D,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
A fluid-powered energy conversion device for converting energy in a moving fluid into mechanical energy, said device comprising:a rigid cylindrical frame having an upstream annular chamber and a downstream annular chamber, each of said chambers having sides that are open to allow entry of the moving fluid; a first plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the upstream chamber that operate to create in the upstream chamber, an upstream drive vortex rotating in a first direction when the moving fluid enters the upstream chamber through the upstream chamber's open sides; a second plurality of baffles longitudinally mounted in the downstream chamber that operate to create in the downstream chamber, a downstream extraction vortex rotating in a direction opposite to the first direction when the moving fluid enters the downstream chamber through the downstream chamber's open sides; a floor of the upstream annular chamber that slopes toward the downstream chamber as the floor approaches a central longitudinal axis of the device, said floor causing the drive vortex to flow downstream and pass through a central aperture located between the upstream annular chamber and the downstream annular chamber; a longitudinal drive shaft centrally mounted in the central aperture; and a turbine mounted on the drive shaft in the central aperture, said turbine being rotated by the drive vortex as the drive vortex passes through the turbine and reverses direction to match the direction of the extraction vortex.