Abstract:
A system and method is provided for converting wellhead pressure of natural gas wells, or for converting water head pressure of water towers, to rotational power for operating rotated equipment, such as electrical generators, electrical alternators, pumps, air compressors, and other rotated equipment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/321,338 filed Apr. 12, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is related to the field of generating rotational power from the wellhead pressure of natural gas wells or the head pressure of a water tower, in particular, powering turbines using high pressure gases from a natural gas wellhead, or water head pressure of a water tower, to drive the turbine coupled to a generator. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    High pressure gases or fluids can be used to drive a turbine for power generation purposes. Turbine generators often use stream to drive turbine but any high pressure gas may be used to drive the turbine. Water contained by a dam can also drive turbines to power electrical generators. Passive pressurized sources can also be used to provide the means to drive the turbine. For example, high pressure natural gas wells can be used as a source of pressurized gas. Natural gas wells often require the pressure to be reduced in order to safely transport the natural gas. The potential energy stored in the pressure of the natural gas when it is reduced for transport is often unutilized. 
         [0004]    It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system for generating rotational power using high pressure natural gas from a natural gas wellhead, or from water head pressure from a water tower, to operate rotated equipment such as turbines and the like to provide environmentally-friendly generated electricity from a source of energy that would otherwise be remain unutilized. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A system and method is provided for generating rotational power using the wellhead pressure from a natural gas well or water head pressure from a water tower. In some embodiments, the system can comprise a turbine of novel design that can be used for non-combustible application. More particularly, the turbine can use high pressure natural gas from a gas well or head pressure from a water tower to drive the turbine coupled to an electrical generator and, thus, can generate electricity. 
         [0006]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a system can be provided for generating rotational power from a gas well producing gas at a first pressure from a wellhead wherein the gas is processed to reduce the pressure of the gas to a second pressure before being transported on a main line from the gas well, the system comprising: a differential regulator operatively coupled to the wellhead, the differential regulator configured for receiving the gas from the wellhead at the first pressure and reducing the pressure of the gas to a third pressure, the third pressure being higher than the second pressure; and a turbine operatively coupled to the differential regulator, the turbine configured to receive the gas at the third pressure and to release the gas at the second pressure to the main line, the turbine further configured to rotate a rotor shaft as the gas passes through the turbine. 
         [0007]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise rotated equipment operatively coupled to the rotor shaft. 
         [0008]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a speed reducer operatively coupling the rotor shaft to the rotated equipment via an output shaft, wherein the output shaft rotates at a slower rotational speed than the rotor shaft. 
         [0009]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a speed sensor configured for sensing rotational speed of one or both of the rotor shaft and the output shaft, the speed sensor operatively coupled to the differential regulator, wherein the sensed rotational speed is used in the control and operation of the differential regulator. 
         [0010]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a pressure sensor configured for sensing the pressure of the gas released by the turbine, the pressure sensor operatively coupled to the differential regulator, wherein the sensed pressure is used in the control and operation of the differential regulator. 
         [0011]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a gas scrubber operatively disposed between the differential regulator and the turbine, the gas scrubber configured to remove impurities from the gas before the gas is received by the turbine. 
         [0012]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a method can be provided for generating rotational power from a gas well producing gas at a first pressure from a wellhead wherein the gas is processed to reduce the pressure of the gas to a second pressure before being transported on a main line from the gas well, the method comprising receiving the gas from the wellhead at the first pressure at a differential regulator, wherein the differential regulator is configured to reduce the pressure of the gas to a third pressure, the third pressure being higher than the second pressure; and passing the gas at the first pressure through a turbine operatively coupled to the differential regulator, the turbine configured to receive the gas at the third pressure and to release the gas at the second pressure to the main line, the turbine further configured to rotate a rotor shaft as the gas passes through the turbine. 
         [0013]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise rotating rotated equipment operatively coupled to the rotor shaft. 
         [0014]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise reducing rotational speed of the rotor shaft with a speed reducer, the speed reducer operatively coupling the rotor shaft to the rotated equipment via an output shaft, wherein the output shaft rotates at a slower rotational speed than the rotor shaft. 
         [0015]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise sensing the rotational speed of one or both of the rotor shaft and the output shaft with a speed sensor, the speed sensor operatively coupled to the differential regulator, wherein the sensed rotational speed is used in the control and operation of the differential regulator. 
         [0016]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise sensing the pressure of the gas released by the turbine, the pressure sensor operatively coupled to the differential regulator, wherein the sensed pressure is used in the control and operation of the differential regulator. 
         [0017]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise scrubbing the gas of impurities before the gas is received by the turbine. 
         [0018]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the turbine can comprise: a housing further comprising an inlet operatively coupled to the differential regulator and an outlet operatively coupled to the main line; a nozzle ring disposed within the housing thereby forming an annular expansion chamber between the housing and the nozzle ring, the nozzle ring further comprising a plurality of nozzle openings disposed through the nozzle ring, the plurality of nozzle openings spaced substantially equidistant apart around a circumference of the nozzle ring; a rotor disc rotatably disposed in the nozzle ring, the disc further comprising a plurality of rotor blades disposed substantially spaced equidistant apart around the rotor disc, the rotor blades substantially aligning with the nozzle openings; and a rotor shaft operatively coupled to the rotor disc, the rotor shaft configured to rotate when the gas at the third pressure enters the housing through inlet and passes through the nozzle openings to pass through the rotor blades and then exit through the outlet at the second pressure. 
         [0019]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a turbine can be provided for generating rotational power from gas or fluid at a first pressure, the turbine comprising: a housing further comprising an inlet operatively configured for coupling to the gas or fluid, and further comprising an outlet; a nozzle ring disposed within the housing thereby forming an annular expansion chamber between the housing and the nozzle ring, the nozzle ring further comprising a plurality of nozzle openings disposed through the nozzle ring, the plurality of nozzle openings spaced substantially equidistant apart around a circumference of the nozzle ring; a rotor disc rotatably disposed in the nozzle ring, the disc further comprising a plurality of rotor blades disposed substantially spaced equidistant apart around the rotor disc, the rotor blades substantially aligning with the nozzle openings; and a rotor shaft operatively coupled to the rotor disc, the rotor shaft configured to rotate when the gas or fluid enters the housing through inlet and passes through the nozzle openings to pass through the rotor blades and then exit through the outlet at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure. 
         [0020]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the turbine&#39;s nozzle openings can comprise an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening smaller in diameter than the inlet opening. 
         [0021]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the turbine can further comprise a differential regulator, wherein the differential regulator is configured to reduce the pressure of the gas or fluid to a third pressure, the third pressure being higher than the second pressure. 
         [0022]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a system can be provided for generating rotational power from water released from a water tower, the water at a first pressure, the system comprising a turbine operatively coupled to the water tower and configured to receive the water at the first pressure and to release the water after passing therethrough to a main water line, the turbine further configured to rotate a rotor shaft as the water passes through the turbine. 
         [0023]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise rotated equipment operatively coupled to the rotor shaft. 
         [0024]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the rotated equipment can further comprise one or more of a group comprising a pump, an electrical generator, an electrical alternator and an air compressor. 
         [0025]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a speed reducer operatively coupling the rotor shaft to the rotated equipment via an output shaft, wherein the output shaft rotates at a slower rotational speed than the rotor shaft. 
         [0026]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the speed reducer can further comprise a speed sensor configured for sensing rotational speed of one or both of the rotor shaft and the output shaft, the speed sensor operatively coupled to the pressure regulator, wherein the sensed rotational speed is used in the control and operation of the pressure regulator. 
         [0027]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a pressure sensor configured for sensing the third pressure, the pressure sensor operatively coupled to the pressure regulator, wherein the sensed pressure is used in the control and operation of the pressure regulator. 
         [0028]    Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the system can further comprise a pressure sensor configured for sensing the third pressure, the pressure sensor operatively coupled to the pressure regulator, wherein the sensed pressure is used in the control and operation of the pressure regulator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a turbine-powered electrical generator using high pressure natural gas from a natural gas wellhead. 
           [0030]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a turbine-powered electrical generator using water head pressure from a water tower. 
           [0031]      FIG. 1C  is a block diagram depicting a second embodiment of a turbine-powered electrical generator using water head pressure from a water tower. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-section view depicting the turbine of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view depicting a turbine enclosure for the turbine of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view depicting the exhaust port of the turbine enclosure of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view depicting a rotor disc and a rotor shaft of the turbine of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0036]      FIG. 6A  is a side elevation view depicting of the rotor shaft attached to the rotor disc of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 6B  is a top plan section depicting the rotor disc of  FIG. 6A . 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view depicting a nozzle ring rotor shaft attached to the rotor disc of  FIGS. 5 and 6A . 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a top plan enlarged view depicting a section of the rotor blades deposed on the rotor disc of  FIG. 6B . 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view depicting one embodiment of the nozzle ring of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view depicting the rotor disc of  FIG. 8  disposed in the nozzle ring of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    A turbine-powered generator is provided. Referring to  FIG. 1A , one embodiment of turbine-powered generator system  100  is shown. In this embodiment, system  100  can comprise wellhead  1  of a high-pressure natural gas well, which can have a wellhead pressure of several hundred or thousand pounds per square inch (“PSI”). In the illustrated example, the wellhead pressure at wellhead  1  is shown as 800 PSI. In a typical configuration, wellhead  1  is connected to choke valve  4 , or some other pressure control device as well known to those skilled in the art, via pipe  10 . Valve  4  lowers the wellhead gas pressure to a safe working pressure to be processed by well process equipment  9 , as well known to those skilled in the art, before being released for transport on main gas line  8 . In the illustrated example, the pressure of the natural gas is reduced to 200 PSI for transport in main line  8 . 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, system  100  adds the following components. A portion of the high pressure natural gas in wellhead  1  can be directed to differential regulator  2  via shut-off valve  5  and supply line  13 . Differential regulator  2  can reduce the pressure of the natural gas to an intermediate pressure level, such as 400 PSI as shown in the illustrated example although is it obvious to those skilled in the art that the intermediate pressure level can be set higher or lower as needed. The intermediate pressure natural gas can be directed to turbine  3  via supply line  12 . As the natural gas passes through turbine  3 , the pressure of the natural gas can reduce to the transport pressure of natural gas in main line  8 , which is 200 PSI in the illustrated example, via main line connection  11 , which can further comprise check/shut-off valve  7  disposed thereon to connect and disconnect turbine  3  with main line  8 . 
         [0044]    In some embodiments, turbine  3  can be rotationally coupled to planetary gear set or speed reducer  14  that, in turn, can be rotationally coupled to electrical generator  15  that can further provide electrical power that can be used by electrical equipment located at the wellsite, be fed back to an electrical power grid (not shown) or both. In some embodiments, gas scrubber  20  can be disposed on supply line  12  wherein intermediate pressure natural gas can pass through gas scrubber  20  to remove impurities as well known to those skilled in the art, such as H 2 S from sour gas among other impurities, before passing through turbine  3 . 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, pressure sensor  62  can be installed on main line connection  11  so that the pressure of the natural gas in main line connection  11  can be relayed back to differential regulator  2  via sensor line  19 , wherein the sensed pressure can be used by differential regulator  2  in the control and operation of differential regulator  2 . In some embodiments, the pressure sensor can comprise an electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device, as well known to those skilled in the art, configured to provide a pressure control signal that is representative of the gas pressure within main line connection  11 . The pressure control signal can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, any other signal from pressure sensing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, speed reducer  14  can further comprise speed sensor  16  disposed thereon and operatively connected to differential regulator  2  via speed sensor line  18 , wherein the speed sensor reading can be used in the control and operation of differential regulator  2 . In some embodiments, speed sensor  16  can comprise an electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device, as well known to those skilled in the art, configured to provide a speed control signal that is representative of the rotational speed of one or both of rotor shaft  2 E and output driveshaft  60  of speed reducer  14 . The speed control signal can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, any other signal from speed sensing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , a second embodiment of turbine-powered generator system  100  is shown. In this embodiment, system  100  can comprise water tower  102  further comprise of reservoir tank  103  mounted on pedestal  105 , which be positioned a suitable distance above ground  101  to provide a source of pressurized supply water as well known to those skilled in the art, and wherein water  104  can be contained in tank  103 . In a typical water tower supplying water to a community, the water pressure of water supplied at ground level by the water tower can range from 50 to 100 psi, depending on how many feet tank  103  is elevated above ground  101 . In some embodiments, supply line  106  can connect tank  103  via tee  107  to cut-off valve  108  that, in turn, can connect to pressure regulator  110  via supply line  109 . Regulator  110  can be used in some embodiments to lower or regulate water pressure to a useable pressure suitable for operating to water turbine  114 . Water exiting regulator  110  can pass through supply line  111  to cut-off valve  112 , and then pass through supply line  113  to turbine  114 . Water exiting turbine  114  can pass through supply line  116  to cut-off valve  118  prior to passing through supply line  120  to main water supply  122 . Cut-off valves  108 ,  112  and  118  can provide means for controlling the flow of water through system  100 . 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, turbine  114  can be rotationally coupled to planetary gear set or speed reducer  126  via rotor shaft  124 . Speed reducer  126  can then, in turn, can be rotationally coupled to electrical generator  130  via output shaft  128  that can further provide electrical power on electrical power leads  132  that can be used by electrical equipment located at the wellsite, be fed back to an electrical power grid (not shown) or both. 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, pressure sensor  134  can be installed on supply line  116  so that the pressure of the water in supply line  116  can be relayed back to pressure regulator  110  via sensor line  136 , wherein the sensed pressure can be used by pressure regulator  110  in the control and operation of pressure regulator  110 . In some embodiments, pressure sensor  134  can comprise an electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device, as well known to those skilled in the art, configured to provide a pressure control signal that is representative of the water pressure within supply line  116 . The pressure control signal can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, any other signal from pressure sensing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, speed reducer  126  can further comprise speed sensor  138  disposed thereon and operatively connected to pressure regulator  110  via speed sensor line  140 , wherein the speed sensor reading can be used in the control and operation of pressure regulator  110 . In some embodiments, speed sensor  138  can comprise an electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device, as well known to those skilled in the art, configured to provide a speed control signal that is representative of the rotational speed of one or both of rotor shaft  124  and output shaft  128  of speed reducer  126 . The speed control signal can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, any other signal from speed sensing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 1C , another embodiment of turbine-powered generator system  100  is shown. In this embodiment, system  100  can comprise water tower  102  further comprise of reservoir tank  103  mounted on pedestal  105 , which be positioned a suitable distance above ground  101  to provide a source of pressurized supply water as well known to those skilled in the art, and wherein water  104  can be contained in tank  103 . In a typical water tower supplying water to a community, the water pressure of water supplied at ground level by the water tower can range from 50 to 100 psi, depending on how many feet tank  103  is elevated above ground  101 . In some embodiments, turbine  114  can act as a pressure regulator, similar to pressure regular  110  shown in  FIG. 1B . In some embodiments, system  100  can comprise bypass line  141 , which can comprise of tee  143 , line  144 , cut-off valve  146 , line  148  and tee  150  that can enable the ability to bypass turbine  114  to enable the ability to service system  100  and still maintain water flow to main water supply  122 . In some embodiments, main water supply  122  can comprise pressure regulator  110  downstream of system  100  to regulate the main water supply pressure, as required and as determined by those skilled in the art. 
         [0050]    In some embodiments, supply line  106  can connect tank  103  to turbine  114  via tee  142 , supply line  111 , cut-off valve  112  and supply line  113 . Water exiting turbine  114  can pass through supply line  116  to cut-off valve  118  prior to passing through supply line  120  to main water supply  122  via tee  150 , supply line  121  and cut-off valve  152  of bypass line  141 . 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, turbine  114  can be rotationally coupled to planetary gear set or speed reducer  126  via rotor shaft  124 . Speed reducer  126  can then, in turn, can be rotationally coupled to electrical generator  130  via output shaft  128  that can further provide electrical power on electrical power leads  132  that can be used by electrical equipment located at the wellsite, be fed back to an electrical power grid (not shown) or both. 
         [0052]    In some embodiments, pressure sensor  134  can be installed on supply line  116  so that the pressure of the water in supply line  116  can be used by turbine  114  in the control and operation of turbine  114 . In some embodiments, pressure sensor  134  can comprise an electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device, as well known to those skilled in the art, configured to provide a pressure control signal that is representative of the water pressure within supply line  116 . The pressure control signal can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, any other signal from pressure sensing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, speed reducer  126  can further comprise speed sensor  138  disposed thereon and operatively connected to turbine  114  via speed sensor line  140 , wherein the speed sensor reading can be used in the control and operation of turbine  114 . In some embodiments, speed sensor  138  can comprise an electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device, as well known to those skilled in the art, configured to provide a speed control signal that is representative of the rotational speed of one or both of rotor shaft  124  and output shaft  128  of speed reducer  126 . The speed control signal can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, any other signal from speed sensing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 2  through to  8 , one embodiment of turbine  3  is shown. In some embodiments, turbine  3  can comprise housing  22  disposed around nozzle ring  2 C operatively coupled to rotor  2 D, wherein rotor  2 D can be rotatably coupled to housing  22  via thrust bearing  24 . In some embodiments, turbine  3  can comprise end plate  2 H attached to housing  22  via fasteners  26  to form annular expansion chamber  2 G disposed around nozzle ring  2 C inside housing  22 . End  21  of nozzle ring  2 C can be disposed in opening  23  disposed on the inside surface of end plate  2 H. Bottom edge  46  of nozzle ring  2 C can contact an upper surface of thrust bearing  24 , wherein ledge  44  of rotor disc  2 D can contact a lower surface of thrust bearing  24 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, rotor  2 D can comprise rotor shaft  2 E extending substantially perpendicular therefrom. In some embodiments, turbine  3  can comprise bearing support  2 K coupled to housing  22  via fasteners  26 . Bearing support  2 K can comprise bearings  2 M and  2 N disposed therein to support shaft  2 E. Bearing support  2 K can further comprise shaft seals  2 F disposed on either side of the bearings as a means to prevent pressurized escaping from housing  22 . Housing  22  can further comprise inlet flange  2 J formed around inlet  2 A as a means for coupling to supply line  13 . Housing  22  can further comprise outlet flange  2 I formed around outlet  2 B as a means for coupling to main line connection  11 . In some embodiments, bearing support  2 K can be fashioned so as to form mounting points  2 L for accessory equipment to be driven by shaft  2 E, such as speed reducer  14  or other items requiring a rotational power input such as a pump, an electrical generator, an electrical alternator, an air compressor or other rotating equipment. 
         [0055]    In some embodiments, housing  22  can be of simple design as a welded or cast structure of suitable material and will provide a method of attaching pressure inlet  2 A and outlet  2 B to system  100 . In operation, pressurized gas from wellhead  1  can enter inlet  2 A of turbine  3  and into expansion chamber  2 G. From here, pressurized gas can pass through openings  36  disposed through nozzle ring  2 C to flow through adjacent rotor blades  40  disposed on rotor disc  2 D and into interior chamber  25  before exiting out through outlet  2 B. Gas flowing between adjacent rotor blades  40  can cause rotor disc  2 D to rotate and, thus, rotor shaft  2 E. The rotation of shaft  2 E can then operate electrical generator  15  via speed reducer  14 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , one embodiment of rotor disc  2 D is shown. In some embodiments, rotor disc  2 D can comprise splined opening  30  configured for receiving splined end  28  of rotor shaft  2 E. In other embodiments, disc  2 D and shaft  2 E could be cast or machined to incorporate the shaft and disc as one piece. In some embodiments, rotor disc  2 D can comprise a plurality of shaped fins  40  disposed circumferentially around on surface  41  of rotor disc  2 D, wherein outside surfaces  42  of adjacent fins  40  can be spaced 0.125″ apart. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , one embodiment of nozzle ring  2 C is shown. In some embodiments, nozzle ring  2 C can comprise a plurality of nozzle openings  36  disposed through sidewall  34 , wherein openings  36  can be spaced substantially equidistant apart around a circumference of nozzle ring  2 C. Nozzle ring  2 C can be constructed as a casting, or can be easily machined from a variety of materials. In some embodiments, each opening  36  can comprise sloped sidewall  38  to impart a tangential trajectory, with respect to rotor disc  2 D, for pressurized gas flowing therethrough. This design can increase the efficiency of turbine rotor disc  2 D, with the pressure (force) of gas or fluid passing through openings  36 . Sloped sidewalls  38  direct incoming gas or fluid pressure onto rotor blades  40  at equally spaced intervals. In some embodiments, a ratio of 2:1 or 2 rotor blades  40  per nozzle opening  36  has proven satisfactory but other combinations can also be possible. 
         [0058]    Nozzle ring assembly  2 C can be cast or machined from a variety of materials. The nozzle to rotor blade angle can be such that gas pressure exiting nozzle opening  36  can be directed optimally onto the surface of rotor blades  40  of rotor disc  2 D. In some embodiments, the diameter of nozzle opening  36  can narrow or taper in diameter such that outlet opening  39  is less than inlet opening  37 . This can enable concentrating, aligning and/or focusing the gas flow optimally towards rotor blades  40  to maximize the amount of gas flowing through rotor blades  40 . 
         [0059]    In some embodiments, the design of rotor blades  40  can be configured such that as the pressurized gas passes through the adjacent rotor blades  40 , the gas can enter mouth  45  and compress or converge at centre  8 A of the blade radius between concave side  50  of a leading rotor blade  40  and convex peak  48  on the trailing side of the following rotor blade  40 , and can then allow the gas to expand as it passes peak  48 , thus speeding its discharge into chamber  25  and can further increase the power exerted on rotor disc  2 D versus standard rotor designs, as the gas or fluid pressure exiting rotor blades  40  can be turned or directed to the centre of rotor disc  2 D, and can further exit through the centre of nozzle ring  2 C and outlet  2 B where it can be exhausted or redirected into a lower pressure area to recover energy. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , one embodiment of nozzle ring  2 C is shown. In some embodiments, axis  60  of one or more nozzle  36  can be angled relative to radius r of nozzle ring  2 C, as illustrated by angle Θ. In the illustrated embodiment where there are 16 nozzles  36  disposed in nozzle ring  2 C, Θ can be 22.5°. Correspondingly, angle D between adjacent nozzles  36  can also be 22.5°, as shown between nozzles  36   a  and  36   b.  The number of nozzles  36  is a function of the size of nozzle ring  2 C. In the illustrated embodiment, nozzle ring  2 C is sized such that its internal diameter is dimensioned to accommodate a rotor disc  2 D having a diameter of 3 inches and, thus, can accommodate up to 16 nozzles  36 . As the diameter of rotor disc  2 D is increased or decreased, so can the number of nozzles  36  can increase or decrease, as can be determined by one skilled in the art. Correspondingly, as the diameter of rotor disc  2 D is increased or decreased, so can the number of rotor blades  40  can increase or decrease, and can further maintain the ratio of two rotor blades  40  per nozzle  36  although in some embodiments, this ratio can also increase or decrease, as determined by the size of rotor blades  40  and the diameter of nozzle ring  2 C. 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, inlet  37  can have a large diameter than outlet  39 , with narrowing transition C disposed therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, inlet  37 , also shown as “B”, can have a diameter of 0.3125 inches. Correspondingly, outlet  39 , also shown as “A”, can have a diameter of 0.180 inches. Narrowing transition C can comprise a chamfer angle of 30°. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the arrangement of nozzle  36  as shown in  FIG. 9 , and as described above, is shown with rotor disc  2 D disposed therein to illustrate how nozzle  36  can align with rotor blades  40 , in particular, how outlet  39  can align with mouth  45  between adjacent rotor blades  40 . 
         [0063]    In the embodiments described herein, it is envisioned that the systems and methods can be used with high-pressure gas off a gas well head for operating rotated equipment. It is also envisioned that the systems and methods described herein can be used with pressurized fluids, one example being using pressurized water from a water pipeline, or from a head or stand of water (such as a water tower or a flow of falling water), to provide the energy required to operate a turbine coupled to rotated equipment such as an electrical generator for generating electricity as but one example of an alternate application of the systems and methods described herein. 
         [0064]    In some embodiments, it is envisioned that the systems and methods described herein can be used in large facilities such as bottling plants or processing plants having a pressurized water supply as an input to processes carried out in those plants to provide a localized supply of power derived from the water supply driving the turbine. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein can be suitable for such plants having pressurized water supplied thereto in water main pipes having a diameter of 12 inches and under. The design of the turbine in these situations can provide an efficient design makes it feasible in small scale applications of the systems and methods described herein. 
         [0065]    Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to these embodiments without changing or departing from their scope, intent or functionality. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.