Tyson turbine is a conical water turbine with helical blades that was invented by Australian farmer Warren N. Tyson in the 1980s. It is a hydrokinetic turbine designed to extract power from the kinetic energy of flowing water (the flow of water) rather than from the fall of water (static head), which powers most conventional hydropower systems.
Design and Construction
The turbine features a conical body with helical blades that emerge partway down from the apex of the cone. The blades gradually increase in radial dimension and decrease in pitch as they spiral toward the base of the cone. A channel is defined between adjacent blades, and this channel diverges in the downstream direction. The base of the body extends transversely to the axis of the body and cooperates with the blade structure to create a zone of relatively low pressure near the axial region, enabling efficient operation.
The design does not require a casement or housing, as the turbine is inserted directly into flowing water.
Operation
The Tyson turbine is typically mounted below a raft or floating platform, driving a power system (such as a lift irrigation pump or generator) located on top of the raft via a belt or gear drive. The entire assembly is towed into the middle of a river or stream where the flow is fastest, and is tied off to the shore. It requires no local civil engineering or permanent infrastructure, and can be easily moved to other locations.
Applications
The turbine is intended for small-scale and micro-hydro installations, particularly in remote or rural areas. It is designed to harness energy from slow-moving river currents at zero static head, making it suitable for water pumping or electricity generation without requiring dams, weirs, or other civil infrastructure.
Patent
Warren N. Tyson of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, was granted U.S. Patent No. 4,722,665 on February 2, 1988, for the turbine design (filed November 4, 1985, with priority dates from Australian applications filed in November 1984 and May 1985).
References
- U.S. Patent 4,722,665, Warren N. Tyson, published 1988-02-02
- Tuckey, A.M.; D.J. Patterson; and J. Swenson (November 1997). A Kinetic Energy Tidal Generator in the Northern Territory – Results. 23rd International Conference on Industrial Electronics, Control and Instrumentation IECON 97. pp. 937–942.
- Khan, M.J.; G. Bhuyana; M.T. Iqbal; J.E. Quaicoe (2009). "Hydrokinetic energy conversion systems and assessment of horizontal and vertical axis turbines for river and tidal applications: A technology status review". Applied Energy. 86 (10): 1823–1835.
- Anyi, Martin; Brian Kirke (2010). "Evaluation of small axial flow hydrokinetic turbines for remote communities". Energy for Sustainable Development. 14 (2): 110–116.
