SUBMERSIBLE POWER PLANT Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: mobile power plants for converting water-flow kinetic energy to electricity. SUBSTANCE: power plant has shaft-mounted turbine with shaft placed in casing. Shaft carries radially arranged guide vanes which carry cylinder-shaped members rotating about their axes. Secured on inner surface of casing are flexible members made in the form of shells each having its inner space communicating through flexible pipeline with respective section of reservoir filled with liquid dielectric. Piezoelectric film is placed in each section between substrates provided with sealed leads. Water flow falling on turbine blades sets shaft in rotary motion and cylinder-shaped members rotating about their axes run onto flexible shells causing elastic strain of the latter. Pressure within flexible member rises causing proportional increase in pressure within reservoir sections. Piezoelectric film deformation occurring in the process sets up potential difference across substrates. Connecting load to leads causes electric current flow through its circuit. EFFECT: enhanced operating reliability of power plant. 2 dwg