The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
May. 14, 1999
James R Beyer, York, PA (US);
Richard K Fisher, Jr, Jacobus, PA (US);
Robert G Grubb, York, PA (US);
Christian G Cabou, Milwaukee, MI (US);
Voith Hydro, Inc., York, PA (US);
Abstract
A turbine installation is adapted for enhancing the level of dissolved gas in water flowing therethrough. The installation comprises a water passageway for containing turbine components including a turbine runner. The water passageway extends from an upper elevation source of water to a lower elevation discharge region. The turbine runner is disposed in the passageway so that water flowing therethrough impinges on the runner. The runner includes a plurality of blades extending from the hub at circumferentially spaced intervals. Each blade is defined by a pressure surface, an oppositely facing suction surface, a leading edge and an spaced apart trailing edge. At least one of the blades has an integrally formed gas passage extending from a gas inlet aperture in the hub to the trailing edge. The installation further comprises an oxygen containing gas source coupled to the gas inlet aperture and a control system for controlling the flow of gas to the gas inlet aperture to regulate the dissolved oxygen level in the water. A method of increasing the dissolved oxygen level in such a turbine installation is also disclosed.