HydroCoil Power, Inc.

page: new technology for hydro--the way HydroCoil Turbine works

Water entry at right contacts gradual coil first. [george retseck illustration]

HYDROELECTRIC POWER -- DESIGN and FUNCTION  DETAILS

1. 1.  can be used in low-head hydro applications, does not require high velocity or high pressure entry.
2. 2.  highly-efficient design which optimizes energy conversion from kinetic to rotational.
3. exponential pitch design of the changing coils of the continuous vane.
4. the root bending stress [torsion effect] on the coiled vane is equally and constantly distributed; the extended vane is mostly self-supporting, and both the vane and the fillet can be relatively thin, unlike traditional propellers or blades at right angle to water flow.  
5. the increasing angle of Ribbon Drive captures the sequentially decreasing axial components of water's velocity, ultimately capturing most of the original axial kinetic energy and converting it into rotational torque to generate electricity.    
6. Negligible environmental impact if any. 
7. the increasing internal pressure diminishes potential cavitation and surface erosion --Diminu-Cav [R] effect.
8. simplicity of design and maintenance help decrease costs.
9. self-starting, and continues to function in variable flow conditions such as intermittent slowing.
10. scalable in clusters of several units for differing site requirements.

Innovations used for the most consistent energy transfer: 

• varying coil angles-->
• to extract and convert linear kinetic energy of water incrementally inside hydroelectric turbine, as it sequentially decelerates through gradual to steeper coils
• outer containment cylinder:
• to focus energy of stream/ ocean current, not slip through without contacting turbine
• side vents (optional, for variable flow conditions)
• for early water exit from turbine during pressure backup when current flow slows

HydroCoil Turbine development:
Proof of concept
Half-scale polymer models were fabricated by rapid-prototyping in the Villanova University Center for Engineering Research.   Tests produced electricity in low head [from 4 to 8 feet], low flow [20 gal./min.] conditions,  despite wide ribbon vane clearances. 

Consultation and assessment
Further evaluation of the helical, single vane model, provided efficiency and output estimates in 2006 at Cooper Union University in New York. 

Working with 3-D Technologies of Avondale, PA (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/3dtech ), the design underwent major changes during scale-up.  The fully functional prototype was completed in the spring of 2008.  Outdoor testing was followed by internal modifications. Definitive demonstrations and testing were conducted April 2-8, 2009.  Certified results exceeded expectations, with efficiency up an additional 20-25%, and output was tripled from prior estimates.  See short demonstration video (p.3).

The patented designs [reg. USPTO ] with few moving parts, tested by research  funded by Ben Franklin Technology Partners, produce power unlike other low-head hydro technology with their complexity, deep-draft water requirement, or more limited energy capture.  (Low flow hydro generally requires high head.)