Vortex turbine can produce electricity continuously 24/7

Hydro turbines are devices that convert water energy into electricity. The Belgian company designs hydro turbines to take advantage of the currents that exist in lakes, streams, rivers and other bodies of water. The turbines can generate between 120,000 and 560,000 kWh per year, depending on their size, power and flow conditions.

Vortex turbines can produce electricity continuously. (Photo: Design Boom)

Belgian company Turbulent has developed a whirlpool turbine technology to bring affordable electricity to remote areas, Design Boom reported on January 13. The design team takes advantage of existing currents and builds a winding structure that allows water to continuously swirl. This generates electricity that residents can use to operate street lights and other devices.

Turbulent says its new technology allows for the production of energy from rivers, streams and canals that were once considered untapped . Turbulent's compact whirlpool turbines can power areas of 50 to 500 households, with each turbine generating between 120,000 and 560,000 kWh per year.

The whirlpool turbine consists of five main parts, capable of providing power 24/7, year-round. The underwater turbine blades play a key role, placed between the curved barrier and swirling the water to generate 15 to 70 kilowatts of electricity. The ramp that follows turns the flow into a low-pressure whirlpool. According to Turbulent, this structure allows aquatic creatures to swim through it without being injured.

A protective screen covers the top of the whirlpool turbine, preventing large debris from entering and contaminating the flow. The system also has an automatic sluice gate to control the flow and a guard channel below the gate to prevent large debris from flowing in.

Turbulent's whirlpool turbines are pre-assembled, making it simple to transport and install the system into place. In addition, the system is also equipped with monitoring software, allowing the operator to control and collect information about the engine anytime, anywhere.

Turbulent says the turbine uses the natural flow of water and can provide continuous power, is easy to install, can be monitored remotely, requires little maintenance, is fish-friendly, poses no risk of flooding, and has a long operating life. The company has installed this type of turbine in places such as Versailles (France), Otepää (Estonia), Green School Bali (Indonesia) and Molino California Donihue (Chile). Systems are also being built in Patagonia (Chile), Yilan (Taiwan), Mindanao (Philippines), Denver (UK) and the Democratic Republic of Congo.