US 12,320,324 B2
Modular hydrokinetic turbine system
Abhay Patil, San Antonio, TX (US); and Jason Wilkes, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX (US)
Assigned to Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/902,934.
Prior Publication US 2024/0077055 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. F03B 17/06 (2006.01); F03B 11/00 (2006.01); F03B 11/06 (2006.01); F03B 13/10 (2006.01); F03B 13/26 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 17/061 (2013.01) [F03B 11/00 (2013.01); F03B 11/06 (2013.01); F03B 13/10 (2013.01); F03B 13/26 (2013.01); F05B 2220/32 (2013.01); F05B 2230/60 (2013.01); F05B 2230/61 (2013.01); F05B 2240/372 (2020.08); F05B 2240/50 (2013.01); F05B 2240/54 (2013.01); F05B 2240/97 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular hydrokinetic turbine system for generating energy in a water stream having a stream bed and a water stream direction, comprising:
a number of blade modules, each blade module of the number of blade modules having a blade set with a number of turbine blades, a rotor shaft portion, and a rotor shaft coupling;
wherein one or more of the rotor shaft couplings allows two or more of the blade modules to be connected in series such that one or more of the rotor shaft portions provide a rotor shaft extending in the water stream direction;
a number of support modules, each support module of the number of support modules having at least one horizontal bottom piece operable to rest on the stream bed and at least one upright piece operable to support a respective one of the blade modules;
wherein all of the support modules are coupled one to another in series, such that the number of support modules are a self-supporting support assembly that supports all of the blade modules;
wherein each rotor shaft coupling is configured to allow an associated pair of the rotor shaft portions to be raised from or lowered onto the support assembly when the modular hydrokinetic turbine system is in situ in the water stream;
wherein each of the rotor shaft portions is rotatable within a respective one of the rotor shaft couplings; and
a generator located at one end of the system operable to be driven by the rotor shaft.