The heart of the hydropower system is a turbine. Our patents pending technology employs the vertical axis underwater turbines of three types, namely:
- Wheel-type Turbine with Sinkable Blades;
- Wing-type Turbine with Sinkable and Floatable Blades;
- Direct Drive Dual Turbine (3DT).

The high efficiency of the presented turbines comes from creating maximum drug force by vertically oriented blades on the power generating side and practically zero frictional force produced by blades on the resting side of the turbine.

The flow accelerator funnels incoming water current through the working side of the turbine and protects the resting side of the turbine from moving water. It reduces resistance to the turbine rotation, and increases the fluid velocity through the turbine thus enhancing the efficiency of the system.

Wheel-type Underwater Turbine with Sinkable Blades

Videos of operation of this turbine may be seen by clicking on the following links:

Video 1

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Wing-type Underwater Turbine with Sinkable and Floatable Blades

The turbine comprises an arrangement of two sets of paddles with asymmetrically fixed blades to increase the torque and power output.

The radial support members attach both sets of the paddles to the hub and provide the integrity and structural strength of the turbine.

The first set of paddles with floatable blades is located above the radial support members, as the second set of paddles with sinkable blades is located below the support members. A plurality of stops, built into the hub and support members, allow the free rotation of the paddles in the 90 degrees angle range.

Vertically oriented blades on the power generating side create maximum drug force while the amount of frictional force is negligible because the frictional area of the horizontally oriented blades on the resting side of the paddlewheel is close to zero.

The system assembly comprises an array of interconnected submersible modules capable of harvesting the kinetic energy from river, channel or ocean currents.

This water flow accelerator creates a funneling channel with a gradually contracting rectangular cross-section area that heads to the turbine blades on the energy generating side and protects the resting part of the turbine from moving water. It increases the fluid velocity through the turbine and further decreases the blades’ friction thereby enhancing the power output of the converter.

The protective screen, made of steel net, prevents clogging of the converter by submerged objects (debris), as well as fish entrapment.

Video 2

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This module is ideal for shallow water implementations.

Installations downstream of existing dams look exceptionally promising.

The apparatus can be easily deployed and removed. It is of simple construction and, therefore, inexpensive to produce, install, and maintain.

Load Control System and Torque Evaluation

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The torque of the turbine was evaluated by tightening a brake lever, which then pressed on the axis of the turbine while it was rotating.

The friction force F was measured using a spring scale and then the torque was calculated as T = lF, where l is the distance from the centre of the axis to the scale.

The torque is gained by an increase in horizontal distance instead of an increase in vertical distance, which allows it to be used in shallow water currents with a very low head.

The 3DT system module comprises a pair of contra-rotating vertical axis turbines, a water flow accelerator, and a buoyant mooring mechanism.

It is capable of self-adjusting to the optimal position in water currents, vertically with changing water levels and horizontally, depending on the direction of a water flow.

The 3DT technology eliminates the necessity of a speed increaser (gearing) between the turbines and the generators for larger turbine sizes. Consequently, this tremendously reduces the number of components, making this technology simple, reliable and highly cost-effective.

It can be easily relocated.

An array of system modules can be connected to an underwater transmission line to create mobile, robust and efficient power generation systems.

Currently this technology is under development. We will post more information when it is available.

The presented venturi-shaped water flow accelerator plays a vital role in improving the efficiency of the system.

Example 1

For example, the 0.55m-radius and 0.5m-height turbine may have an attached water flow accelerator with inlet A_in and narrow outlet A_out areas of up to 1.0m²(2.0m x 0.5m) and 0.275m²(0.55m x 0.5m) respectively. This accelerator is capable to increase the incoming 0.5m deep water current velocity from V_in=1.0m/s up to V_out=2.0m/s and to strike the blades cross section area of A_in.

Applying the coefficient of a mechanical turbine's efficiency C_m in the range=(0.8-0.85), and providing that maximum power occurs when the peripheral velocity V_f of the runner is equal to

The experimental data, received during the field testing of the prototype with analogous dimensions, confirmed these calculations. At the water velocity of 1.0m/s, it generated 110W of the mechanical power calculated as

Example 2

At the water velocity of 2.5m/s, the same apparatus is capable to produce about

Optimpower technology covers the wide market niche - regions with shallow water currents. It is a relatively new market segment with an enormous potential for growth. The evaluation of this market segment was performed by Verdant Power LLC. The estimated worldwide market size is $90 billion.

Optimpower has filed numerous patent applications to dominate our market segment. The Optimpower's technology currently has patents pending status.

1. Our patents pending technology covers the wide market application (shallow water currents) not reachable to our competitors. We will focus on this segment of the market and attempt to achieve the best reputation in that segment.

2. We believe Optimpower will be the number one supplier of in-stream hydroelectric devices for the regions with shallow water flows around the globe.

1. The need in our product is obvious, because it is unique and highly competitive in terms of capability, productivity and price.

3. It is suitable for use in either deep or shallow water flows, thus providing a vast number of possible site-locations for installation.

4. It is operable in water depths ranging from about 0.5 up to 30 meters and at a water stream velocity of 1-6 m/s.

5. It can be produced in differing physical sizes ranging from only several meters in length/width to 30 meters or more.

6. It can be easily deployed and dismantled.

7. It is simple and reliable.

8. It has a low cost of manufacture and maintenance with regard to both materials and labor.

9. It has a modular structure. An array of interconnected modules can be used to create versatile forms of robust hydroelectric power systems, which are inexpensive to install, and maintain.

10. The system modules include the novell vertical axis turbines and have an advanced performance because of their built-in water flow accelerators.

11. The protective screens, made of steel nets or bars, prevent clogging of the modules by submerged objects and prevent fish entrapment.

12. A preliminary estimate of the capital cost of generating electricity is about $ 2,000 per kilowatt, or roughly two times less than present-day marine and wind technologies. It takes into account production, installation and maintenance costs.

Note: Our novel technology is under further optimization and pre-commercial testing. Detailed product catalogs with technical information, product specifications and prices will be made available at a later date. We are also interested in building collaborative partnerships leading to technology commercialization.