Patent ID: 7378750

Claim:
A turbine, said turbine producing electricity from bi-directional water flow in a first water flow direction and an opposite second water flow direction without reversing the position of said turbine relative to the water flow direction, each of said water flow directions defining an upstream side and a downstream side, said turbine comprising: a rotor comprising blades extending axially inward from an outer rim, said rotor capable of rotating in a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction; a housing comprising retaining means to retain said rotor in the axial and the radial directions, said housing allowing said rotor to shift in either axial direction responsive to the bi-directional water flow; anti-friction means disposed on said retaining means and on said outer rim to reduce frictional drag between said retaining means and said rotor; and means to generate electricity as a result of rotation of said rotor in either said first rotation direction or said second rotation direction.