Portable water-powered electric generator

Abstract

The disclosed portable water-powered electric generator unit has a tubular form with opposite open inlet and outlet ends defining a longitudinal flow path for the moving stream water. The tubular form defines a converging venturi terminating at a throat between the inlet and outlet ends. An electric dynamo, having a sealed housing and external driving propeller means, is supported in the flow path downsteam of the throat, with the propeller means at the throat. The inlet end is between 2-5 times larger in area than the venturi throat, to speed up the water passing through the propeller means. The tubular form and housing together define a diverging venturi downstream from the throat, decelerating the water with minimal losses before exiting from the open outlet end. The open outlet end is 1.1-1.5 times larger in area than the open inlet end, whereby the slightly faster surrounding stream water blending with the exiting water at the open outlet end may tend to accelerate the exiting water slightly for added efficiencies. A buoyancy chamber, with remotely operated valve and gas pressure means, is on the portable electric generator unit to regulate its overall buoyancy, for adjusting its operative debth of use in the stream.