Vortex Hydrokinetics LLC
56 Burgundy B , Delray Beach, Florida, United States

Eco-friendly Bladeless Hydraulic Turbine SETUR is based on vortex phenomenon. It harnesses energy of low velocity / low hydraulic head water sources e.g. ocean currents, tidal streams, rivers, canals and other sources of hydrokinetic energy.  SETUR turbine can be cost-effectively used as a standalone self-contained system or in multi-unit hydro power farms.  The turbine has been successfully tested over the years and is now commercially available.  Since 2008 Turbine SETUR has won several prestigious international awards, including E.On Energy Globe Award 2014, as well as the Finalist for the European Inventor Award 2016.

Technology

Hydro-energy is currently the biggest commodity of renewable energy. The process of hydrokinetic energy conversion normally implies utilization of kinetic energy contained in rivers, ocean currents, tidal streams, or man-made waterways for generation of electricity. At the same time, however, the traditional hydro-energy in many places around the world is considered to be exhausted, at least in respect of the potential of the bigger energy resources. The accessibility of power energy at relatively low prices pushed to the background its actual externalities. It should be noted, however, that interest in the traditional renewable resource of water is permanent, long-term and not liable to surges of short term interest.  In recent years we have tended to encounter some new approach towards energy production, and this is usually found in an effort to use smaller amounts of renewable resources, in various marginal sources of water potential (waste-water treatment plant, small streams and creeks, low-speed low-volume ocean currents). From this viewpoint we focused on a very small rolling liquid turbine, which could bring about a certain benefit from these non-traditional hydrokinetic sources. It has already been verified in practice that it is technically feasible to sufficiently convert very small water potentials (read low flow capacity and hydraulic gradient) to an effective output. It can deal with both the case of renewable energy, for example of a mountain stream, and the case of hydropower, and which has been until now thwarted as a nonutilized potential in various systems of the production process or within the framework of the operation of higher buildings, etc. One of the biggest energy consumers in modern society are the so called statistically average households.

Description of the bladeless turbine 

The rotor and the stator create in a quiescent state a symmetrical coaxial diffuser as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, this state is unstable and as a consequence of the instability of the flow through the gap between the rotor and the stator it changes to an asymmetrical one. The shape of the rotor and stator can be variable i.e. it might be improved or optimized. In practice the most common rotors are hemispheres as in Fig. 1, but what really matters is the diffusion angle of the gap between the rotor and the stator.  One tip of the rotors shaft is fixed, so that the rotor can roll along the inner side of the confuser. When the fluid flows along the rotor, then due to the flow field instability, the fluid starts to rotate and vorticity is generated. The direct consequence of the vorticity generation is the onset of velocity circulation and the force interaction between the fluid and the rotor. This fluid structure interaction results in the rotation of the shaft on which the rotor is placed.

All SETUR turbines are assumed to be installed under the following standard conditions:

• Turbine must be installed by or with a help or under a supervision of an experienced professional.
• Turbine must be fully submerged in water unless the water flow is routed to the turbine via a pipe.
• Turbine must be installed in clean water free of any corrosive and dangerous chemicals, as well as debris.
• Turbine must be safely installed at a properly prepared installation site. The turbines frame can be mounted in a variety of ways. To determine the best of them is the users responsibility.
• Turbine must be installed in such a way that it withstands with a safe margin the maximum anticipated pressure of the water flow.
• Turbine must be electrically grounded in full compliance with the national and local codes, rules and regulations.
• The access to the installation site must be via a terrain that allows safe turbine carrying, use of lifting equipment, pipe, if any, and power cable laying etc.
• The user must make sure that the site is not slippery, icy, flooded, exposed to falling rocks or trees etc. Where such conditions exist, it is the users responsibility to rectify or avoid.
• Turbine must be installed at the site in such a way that prevents any possible physical access by the general public, especially children.
• Appropriate intake screen should be installed to prevent any mechanical damage to the turbine by any debris that might be in water.
• The turbine should not be exposed to excessive water pressure and/or water flow velocity, which must not exceed the recommended value of 11 m/s.
• The user must read and follow the users manual and the inverters users manual before starting the installation.
• The user must follow all the installation and connection instructions provided in the inverters users manual.