Patent ID: 6402477
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
A turbine installation adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, comprising:a turbine disposed in the flow of water for producing electrical energy, the turbine including, a hollow hub having spaced apart inner and outer surfaces and longitudinal axis, a plurality of runner blades, each blade comprising a hydrofoil having an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface, each blade being pivotally connected to the hub about a rotational axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that its inner edge is proximate the hub, each blade being rotatable from a maximum pitch position, in which the water directing surface is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, to a minimum pitch position in which the water directing surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and at least one spring biased member extending into a gap formed between the inner edge of at least one of the blades and the outer surface of the hub as the blade is rotated between the minimum and maximum pitch positions, the at least one spring biased member being situated in a recess formed in an inner edge of the blade and having a surface configured for sliding contact with the outer surface of the hub; and an electrical closed-loop control system including an electrical controller and a plurality of sensors, the sensors selectively generating electrical signals indicative of turbine speed, blade pitch and net head, the electrical controller receiving and processing the electrical signals from the sensors and capable of adjusting the blades in position in response thereto.