The underwater electric kite East River deployment

A description is given of an efficient kinetic hydro energy conversion system that utilizes river or tidal water current without need of impoundment behind dams. An artificial head is actually created within the machine. A very sophisticated draw-tube arrangement utilizes the outside housing like a venturi tube, and the rotating hollow blade of the first-stage turbine acts like a centrifugal pump. The power turbine, or second-stage turbine, is much smaller and directly drives a conventional generator through mechanical pitch control and small setup gearing. If a variable-speed isosynchronous generator is used, no pitch control is necessary. The site and installation are also discussed.<>