Hydrovolts has invented new ways to make power from
free-flowing water. Evaluating a tidal energy site for
Tacoma Power we
studied all the river and tidal tidal turbines that have actually been built and
demonstrated.
Hydrovolts has
invented and is patenting two new turbine rotors. They are truly
novel, efficient and inexpensive. The turbines are being developed in
collaboration with the US Dept. of Energy's Pacific Northwest Laboratory and
the University of Washington. They will be tested in 2008 in canals,
rivers, tidal currents and conduits.
At left is the Hydrovolts test turbine, a "Gorlov" helical
cross-axis rotor in a heavy steel frame suitable for deployment by crane or
boat. This frame is used to test different rotors. The
frame has RPM, torque and current velocity sensors and transmits both power
and data to the surface. The Gorlov rotor is only one of many
cross-axis turbine designs that can be tested in this frame.
The Hydrovolts new cross-flow turbine is revolutionary -
it will be less expensive and more efficient than any competing device. Watch a
video of early testing .
The turbine can be installed vertically or horizontally.
It can be floated vertically and attached to a bridge or dock piling.
It can be installed horizontally in canals or rivers.
Small turbines can be deployed in chains to make more
power if there is enough space in the stream. This is suitable for
large rivers such as the Amazon, which has flood season velocities up to 7
knots (3.5 m/sec) reported by cruise ships and boaters. In the Amazon
the Hydrovolts turbines can be deployed by the thousands, making megawatts
of power. A Gorlov-type turbine has already been demonstrated in the
Amazon by a non-profit organization (picture and link below)
Other large rivers in the world are also suitable for
large-scale deployment of small turbines, particularly in regions with
monsoons such as India and SE Asia. Tidal channels along coastlines
are also suitable.
Suitable sites for small turbines include canals and
spillways. 
Some regions allow electricity users to sell excess
electricity back to the grid. They can make their electric meters run
backwards and reduce their monthly electricity costs. Or the
electricity can be used on site.
All Hydrovolts solutions are safe for fish of any size.
The turbine blades spin with the water current, generating their force from drag
AND lift and no possibility of a slashing strike such as a propeller can cause.
We
will demonstrate fish safety using controlled tests in irrigation canals using
hatchery-raised fish that we purchase for the tests.
Hydrovolts is developing three distinct product lines:
- The Small Turbine: A new cross-flow
turbine rotor that is inexpensive, fits any size channel easily, is
resistant to debris and clogging and is highly efficient up to 70% in
engineered channels such as irrigation canals. Suitable for flows of minimum 1 meter square size and 2 m/sec velocity, up
to 2x6 m size and 15-40 kW output.
- The Big Turbine: A rim-drive turbine up to
4m diameter with efficiency of 60%, suitable for large river and tidal
channels. Cannot hurt fish or marine life. Highly resistant
to clogging or debris and self-orienting to the current.
- The Generator: Adaptation of a new motor technology
that enables high energy production at relatively low RPM with very low
maintenance and long life. Suitable for mass production in standard
sizes at low cost.
