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News Release prepared by David
Tulloch,
Da Vinci and Sikorsky would be elated with the invention of Heyfield 66-year-old farmer Fred Sundermann.
His new water driven electricity-generating turbine based on the rotary system but with a masterful breakthrough.
The Sundermann turbine’s vertical “blades” present their full face to the water flow direction but – and here’s the master stroke – the blades feather to present their leading edge to the water on the upstream half of their rotation.
The “feathering” translates to a practical, low-cost power generating turbine which can produce power in a range of hydro environments from low-grade streams to ocean tides.
The Sundermann breakthrough outperforms other energy sources including paddle-type hydro turbines, and solar and wind powered producers in terms of generating electricity consistently.
It can be built small to place in a farm irrigation channel or large to operate in rivers.
The Sundermann $50,000 proto-type has been successfully tested in low flow local irrigation channels in the Macalister Irrigation District.
Consulting engineer Don Walters of Churchill who has tested the turbine, predicts the invention has potential to supply a substantial volume of renewable energy.
"Fred’s idea is brilliant," he said, "for years engineers have looked to high pressure hydrology to produce electricity but the Sundermann turbine extracts power from low grade flow, including the ocean tidal movements, and that’s the brilliance in the invention."
Fred Sundermann said his turbine could be permanently fixed in waterways or, in the ocean, mounted on anchored floats.
"It’s ideal for third world countries not only because of its low cost of manufacture, but also it does not need high water pressure.
"It could, for example, be placed in an inland waterway and one unit could provide sufficient lighting power for a whole small village."
The Sundermann invention is now open to entrepreneurial industry to take it further but Mr. Sundermann is initially hoping to interest the Federal Government and poor country aid agencies.