The document describes Pioneer Valley Renewables' (PVR) underwater turbine technology for generating renewable energy from tidal, run-of-river, and miniature hydro sources. PVR's turbine uses innovative foil and blade designs that increase power output by 50-300% over similar turbines. Computer modeling shows the foil design accelerates water flow into the blades. Field tests in Holyoke, MA validated the turbine generated more power at lower flow speeds than a control turbine. The document outlines PVR's team and technology, which could expand renewable energy production to new areas by lowering the water speed needed to generate power.

1. The Leviathan Energy Group
Clean Power from Waves, Wind, and Hydro
PIONEER VALLEY RENEWABLES, LLC
UNDERWATER TURBINES

2. THE PRODUCT
Pioneer Valley Renewables’ (PVR) underwater turbine
produces 50 – 300% more electricity, depending on the size,
than turbines of similar blade size.
Validity of technology confirmed by the
US Navy and Holyoke Gas & Electric (MA).
The most fish friendly underwater turbine,
as it allows the attachment of a protective
mesh cone. Pioneer Valley Renewables
Turbine

3. 3 HYDROKINETIC TURBINE MARKETS
1. Tidal.
2. Run of river.
3. Miniature hydro.
• For Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and other control
mechanisms, for example.
In all cases, by lowering the water speed at which we
can produce usable energy, we will redraw the world
map of where underwater power is available.

4. TWO COMPLEMENTARY PATENTS:
INNOVATION 1:
 Foil Shapes: Flow Deflection Devices and Methods for Energy Capture Machines.
 March 18, 2007, PCT IL2007/000348.
 Fundamental and original patent. Granted in US.
• National phase in many other areas.
INNOVATION 2:
 BLADES: Shrouded Turbine Blade Design.
 February 12, 2009, IB2009/050579.
 Under exam in US.
• National phase in many other areas.
The combination of two innovative designs working
cooperatively is powerful. The advantages are much more
power per system size and the ability to generate electricity
at lower flow rates.
FOILS AND BLADES

5. THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY
Disruptive innovation – based on making huge increases in
cost effectiveness by structuring the flow into the turbines
based on an understanding of the basic physics.
• PVR uses the science of Computational Fluid Dynamics to
design the components.
Since power output is related to the velocity cubed, our
technique of making the velocity higher at the point that
it hits the blades puts this proprietary technology way
ahead of any competition.
 In a flow of water: Power in watts = ½ x density x area x velocity cubed.
• After that, one adjusts to maximize efficiencies.

6. FOIL SHAPE COMPUTER MODELS
Note the large red
area at 172 in foil test
simulation.
The lower picture
shows the lower
power output when
the leading edge (171)
is too small.
Red is higher velocity.
Partial Foil Outline Flow Pictures

7. COMPUTER MODELING: 10 METER BLADES
The outside velocity of the water is 1.0 m/s.
The water inside the foils is accelerated to at least 1.3 m/s.
(The scale goes from low to high velocity.)

8. THREE BLADE SIZES
Computer modeling was performed for three blade diameters (Db) with PVR’s patented
shroud.
When the blades are at exactly the right position,
the percentage power increase (% APG) is enormous.

9. THE BLADES
The blades have a
unique shape that
does not taper
towards the end,
for example.
This matches the
flow profile shown
for the shroud
effect.

10. IMPACT ON CUT-IN SPEED
The speed at which the turbine starts to turn is
lowered substantially by presenting effectively faster
water to the turbine.
This was validated during testing, where it was
apparent that the PVR test turbine was producing
power at lower speeds than the control turbine.

11. POWER PRODUCTION COMPARISON
 The estimated power output in
kilowatts, as a function of the
turbine diameter (Db) and the
current velocity (U) with and
without PVR’s technology.
 The rotor efficiency is assumed
to be 35%; the gain was assumed
to be independent of the current
velocity; and the cut in velocity is
assumed to be below 0.5 m/s.
Db = 10m Db = 5m Db = 1m
U (m/s) Competitor PVR Competitor PVR Competitor PVR
0.5 1.7 3.6 0.4 1.3 0.0 0.1
1.0 14 29 3.4 10 0.1 0.4
1.5 46 98 12 34 0.5 1.5
2.0 110 232 27 81 1.1 3.5
2.5 215 452 54 158 2.1 6.8
3.0 371 781 93 273 3.7 12
3.5 589 1241 147 433 5.9 19
4.0 880 1852 220 647 8.8 28

12. VALIDATION IN FACT
In Nov. 2014, PVR tested its prototype turbine and a control
turbine in the canals of the Connecticut River in Holyoke, MA,
under the supervision of Holyoke Gas and Electric.
Here are the results:
Summary
Load
Watts Produced
% Increase
Control PVR Prototype
P1 10.45 38.94 373
P2 9.19 31.73 345
P3 9.45 22.75 241
P4 9 30.45 338

13. A PHOTO OF THE TESTING IN HOLYOKE

14. EXAMPLE OF ROI IN A CANAL
Blade Size 2.5 meters
Diameter with Shroud 3 meters
Flow Speed 1.5 – 2.0 m/s
Hourly Output 10 kW
Yearly Output 87,600 kW
Price per kW/h $0.12
Annual Income (less $1000 maintenance) $9,512
Cost of Turbine + Installation $40,000
ROI 25%

15. COMPARISON WITH FUNNELS
 People often ask, “Isn’t this just a funnel?”
• The answer is “No.”
 A funnel or concentrator does not work as well, because it does
not concentrate energy
to the desired point –
the plane of the blades.
 This picture shows
how making the shape
more funnel-like does
NOT work.

16. COMPARISON WITH LARGER BLADES
 Another frequent question, “Since the foils add to the diameter,
would it be just as effective to enlarge the blade diameter?”
• Again, the answer is “No.”
Calculated Results for a
10 Meter Blade in 1 m/s water flow
Competition 14 kW
Competition Enlarging Blades 18 kW
Pioneer Valley 29 kW

17. COMPARISON WITH DAMS
Positive Element for Dams:
 They operate with all available water with high efficiency turbines
Positive Element for Run of River:
 They don’t lose energy by stopping the water.
 More ecologically friendly.
• However, they do require more units to extract the energy.
 Less disruptive and less costly infrastructure with no flooded areas.
 Return on investment may be better.

18. TEAM BIOS 1
 Dr. Daniel Farb, CEO – Founder and patent owner with 30 patents in
renewable energy, plus various awards for his technologies.
 Jonathan Edwards, COO – Clean tech and political leader based in
Western Massachusetts with an expertise in organizational
management, strategic design, government relations, and
communications.
 Kevin E McCormack, CFO – Background in renewable energy
management. Career banker & finance professional with a expertise in
business, HR and marketing.
 Prof. Moshe Rosenfeld, Director Computer Modeling – Department of
Fluid Mechanics – Tel-Aviv University. Author of hundreds of articles.
Consultant to NASA. Guest professor at Caltech.

19. TEAM BIOS 2
 Joe Giffune, Director of Manufacturing – Precision manufacturing and
engineering professional in Western Mass. who also has degrees in
Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.
 Ya Wang, Energy Engineer – Professor at Stony Brook University, PhD.
from Virginia Tech.
 Ed Day, Grant Writer – Experienced project manager, also an engineer.

20. PIONEER VALLEY RENEWABLES
Technology developed in the U.S. and Israel. The company relocated to the
beautiful Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts, with numerous
universities in the Innovation Corridor and high-tech manufacturing facilities.
A technology pioneer for the Pioneer Valley in the Leviathan Energy group.
Amherst, MA
www.pioneervalleyrenewables.com