Turbine with radial inlet and outlet rotor for use in bidirectional flows

Abstract

The present invention relates to a turbine which can absorb energy from bi-directional reversing flows, as is the case of ocean wave energy converters. In the periphery of the bladed rotor () of the turbine there are two openings () through which the fluid alternately enters, or exits from, the rotor, the outward flow being radially centrifugal and the inward flow being radially centripetal. The turbine stator comprises two sets of guide vanes () for alternately directing the bi-directional reversing flow to, and from, the rotor, and two ducts () disposed between the rotor and the guide vanes and extending radially beyond the guide vanes. Two stator arrangements are considered. In both arrangements, the inlet guide vanes deflect the inward flow and impart a circumferential swirl component in the same direction as the normal rotational direction of the rotor. In one of the arrangements, the twin guide vane set () is close to the rotor periphery () and can be moved axially so that it guides the inward flow into the rotor and does not intersect the outward flow. In the other arrangement, both sets of guide vanes () are axially fixed and are radially offset from the rotor.