Importance

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Abstract

A turbine apparatus (10) for deployment in a waterway, comprises a rotor support system (12), a rotor mechanism (14) and a power take-off device (16). The rotor support system (12) is operable to support and align the rotor mechanism (14) with a direction of flow of flowing water in the waterway. Deployment of the turbine apparatus (10) in flowing water generates power. The rotor support system (12) includes an elongated shaft (13), which includes a buoyancy adjusting component (17); a flexible coupling (15) at a first end; and the rotor mechanism (14) being attachable to a second free end of the elongated shaft (13). The flexible coupling (15) facilitates connection of the first end of the elongated shaft to a support structure and facilitates a substantially freely yawing connection of the axial flow turbine apparatus to a support structure located in the waterway in which the turbine apparatus is deployed. The flexible coupling (15) also controls pitching motion of the turbine apparatus (10) relative to the support structure; and in use, permits a predetermined range of yawing motion of the turbine apparatus relative to the support structure; and responds to changes in flow of the flowing water, to maintain the turbine apparatus (10) with a compliant attitude, thereby maintaining alignment of the axis of the elongated shaft and the rotor mechanism with the direction of flow. The buoyancy adjusting component (17) being operable to maintain the deployed turbine apparatus with substantially neutral buoyancy relative to the waterway in which the turbine apparatus is deployed.

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First Claim