Patent ID: 7832979

Claim:
Apparatus for generating electric power from water currents comprising: a housing having at least one pair of channels, each channel of the pair having an axial intake, an axial discharge opening and a side intake, each said side intake extending along a length of said channel and facing in an upstream direction to receive a side inflow of water and direct said side inflow up against an interior surface of said channel to create a vortical flow structure having a low pressure core; a partition extending between said at least one pair of channels near said axial intakes; at least one pair of turbine assemblies, each turbine assembly of the pair rotatably mounted in a corresponding one of said channels proximal to said axial intakes so that said vortical flow structures are produced downstream of said turbine assemblies to effect an increase in a pressure drop across each of said turbine assemblies, each of said turbine assemblies being driven by an axial inflow of water received by a corresponding one of said axial intakes; and at least one pair of generator assemblies, each generator assembly of the pair connected to a corresponding turbine assembly of said at least one pair of turbine assemblies, said generator assemblies generating electric power as said turbine assemblies rotate, wherein a difference between the low pressure cores of said vortical flow structures and a pressure upstream of said turbine assemblies provides an increase in mechanical fluid energy for driving said turbine assemblies and a corresponding increase in electric power generated by said generator assemblies.