Water Current Turbines for River Applications - Alaska Energy ...

WCT EvaluationNRCan-06-01071Tidal Stream Turbine- SWANTURBINES (UK)Technology: The unit is a three-bladed axial flow turbine. A gearless low speed generator offers a highefficiency over a range of speeds with minimal maintenance demands through the use of novel structuraland electromagnetic topologies. To minimize CapEx and OpEx, offshore specialist CB&I John Browntransferred standard offshore technology and operations to form the basis for a new support structureconcept. A simple, robust and serviceable yawing mechanism is used for maximum flow capture and theuse of patented materials, developed by Corus will form the gravity base. In collaboration with theUniversity of Wales Swansea, using rotor-dynamic modeling, the concept was designed to allow simpleinstallation and maintenance retrieval in both shallow and deep water and to minimize vibrations, henceincreasing the maintenance period. Currently, a 1m diameter prototype with an estimated 1.5 kW outputis being tested.Application: Deep and shallow water tidal applications, but could be used in non tidal rivers.Stage of Development: The project partners are currently cost optimizing the design for a technicalfeasibility demonstration. This Collaborative Industrial Research Project is managed by SwanseaUniversity to prepare the concept design and specification for a technology demonstrator. The designphase of the project is expected to run until the end of June 2006. The partners are currently seekingfunding to build and install the demonstration device in 2006-7. The total value of the project isestimated at $608,000.Overall Schedule:2006 Design and develop medium scale demonstrator cost optimization and modeling2008 Install and operate medium scale demonstrator (350kW)2010 Design and commission pre-commercial system2011 SalesVerdant Power Canada ULC 19