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This paper describes the helical turbine as an efficient new instrument for converting the kinetic energy of hydro streams into electric or other mechanical energy. A multi-megawatt project is proposed, conceived as an ocean power farm equipped with a number of helical turbines, along with a floating factory for in situ production of hydrogen fuel by means of electrolyzing ocean waters. Besides mega hydro-power farms, mini-power stations with helical turbines of afew kilowatts each are also proposed as possibilities for small communities or even individual households located near tidal shorelines or river banks with strong water currents. No construction of hydro dams is necessary for such applications.
INTRODUCTION
The kinetic energy of ocean streams such as the Gulf Stream or the Kuroshiwo Current near Japan, as well as tidal and monsoon streams, is tremendous. The absence of an efficient, low cost and environmentally friendly apparatus for power extraction from free flow water is still the major barrier to exploitation of this renewable energy source. Another well-known impediment to development of renewable energy is, unfortunately, the low cost of oil and coal that remain the principal component of world electric energy production. However, it is time to realize that the reserves of oil or coal are limited and rapidly dwindling. Moreover, since hydrocarbons such as oil and coal are of considerable importance as raw materials for industry, especially for future generations, their burning, which also leads to global warming, should be limited.
For many years scientists and engineers have tried unsuccessfully to utilize conventional turbines for lowhead and free flow hydroelectric power generation. However, the very efficient hydraulic turbines in high heads have become so expensive in applications for ultra low-head or free streams hydro electric stations that only a very modest development of this kind can be found in practice.
In 1931 Darrieus patented his new reaction turbine that, in contrast to the commonly used wheel-type turbines, has a barreled shape with a number of straight or curved-in-plane airfoil blades and a shaft that is perpendicular to the fluid flow. The Darrieus turbine was enthusiastically met by engineers and scientists in both wind and hydro power industries because of its simplicity and because the turbine allowed high speed to develop in slow fluids, maintaining...