Patent ID: 8446031

Claim:
Apparatus for generating electricity using tidal or current flow in a body of water, comprising: an arrangement of first and second pipes defining a partition having opposing sides, each of the first pipes being provided with a series of holes spaced along a length thereof, and the first pipes being arranged relative to the second pipes such that a venturi is defined between the walls of adjacent ones of the first and second pipes; a flow conduit having an inlet and an outlet; an impeller located in the flow conduit; and a generator connected to the impeller; wherein water from the body can enter the flow conduit via the inlet, and the first pipes are connected to the outlet of the flow conduit such that flow of water past the arrangement of first and second pipes from either one of the opposing sides of the partition defined by the arrangement of first and second pipes causes the first pipes to act as venturi pumps, drawing water through the flow conduit and driving the impeller.