Hydraulic turbine for enhancing the level of dissolved gas in water

Abstract

A hydraulic turbine installation comprises a hollow hub and a plurality of variable pitch projecting generally radially outwardly therefrom at radially spaced locations. The hollow hub has a first gas passage extending therethrough, the first gas passage being fluidly coupled to a gas source. Each blade is bounded by an inner edge and a distal outer edge, and a leading edge and an opposed trailing edge separated from the leading edge by a water directing surface. The inner edge of each blade generally sweeps a region of the outer surface of the hub during variations in pitch of the blades. At least one of the blades has a second gas passage extending therethrough from a root region of the blade to a spaced apart gas discharge aperture. The at least one of the blades is pivotally mounted in the hub by a blade support assembly. The blade support assembly includes a third gas passage which fluidly couples the first gas passage in the hub to the second gas passage in the at least one of the blades. An electrical control system controls the pitch of the at least one of the blades and regulates a flow of gas from the gas source to the gas discharge aperture.