Patent ID: 8596955

Claim:
A bi-directional flow impulse type turbine arrangement for use with a bi-directional reversing flow through the turbine arrangement, the turbine arrangement having an axis and comprising: a rotor rotatably mounted to rotate about the axis and having a plurality of rotor blades disposed circumferentially around the rotor, a first set of guide vanes circumferentially disposed about the axis and located on one axial side of the rotor for directing the bi-directional reversing flow to and from the plurality of rotor blades; a second set of guide vanes circumferentially disposed about the axis and located on an opposite axial side of the rotor for directing the bi-directional reversing flow to and from the plurality of rotor blades; and first and second annular ducts defining annular flow passages disposed respectively between the first and second sets of guide vanes and the rotor for directing fluid from the first and second sets of guide vanes to the plurality of rotor blades, wherein the first and second sets of guide vanes are disposed at a greater radius than the plurality of rotor blades such that the first and second sets of guide vanes are radially offset from the plurality of rotor blades.