A remotely operated hydrokinetic turbine to reduce the levelized cost of energy of marine turbines
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Date
2016
Authors
Hamta, Armin
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Abstract
A novel hydrokinetic turbine system is proposed to address key commercialization challenges
facing the marine energy industry. Challenges include addressing icing issues by eliminating
equipment that pierce the water/air interface; reducing the levelized cost of energy by
simplifying demanding deployment and retrieval procedures; and positioning the turbine in
the water column to maximize annual power production. Results of the experimental test
matrix shows successful operation of the scaled counter-torque mechanism which operates
with a 20 cm diameter rotor and is stabilized from the reactive nature of two point masses
located at opposite ends of a spoke connected to the nacelle. Static and dynamic analytical
modeling, computer aided design, manufacturing, and experimental testing of the prototype
is the methodology that validates the operation of the counter-torquing mechanism. The
prototype turbine is tested in a laboratory water tunnel at Reynolds numbers of 94 x 10^3,
104 x 10^3, and 115 x 10^3; with the generator loads ranging from free-wheeling to 6.2 W; and
available counter-torque capacity varying from 0% to 40%. The maximum power coefficient
obtained during the tests is 48.3% at a rotor tip speed ratio of 4.5. This research advances the
Technology Readiness Level of the proposed novel turbine system from a level one to a level
four based on the U.S. Department of Energy definition for technology development.
Description
Keywords
hydrokinetic turbine, counter-torque mechanism, buoy, marine