Design and preliminary testing of a novel concept low depth hydropower device

Abstract

This paper introduces a new type of kinetic hydropower generator, ideally suited to relatively small shallow rivers and channels. The design utilizes rectangular hydroplanes (‘sails’) moving around the device. The device extracts energy from a flow of water using an elongated vertical axis turbine, where a series of sails are mounted between two belts at the top and bottom of the device, rotating in the horizontal plane.