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Harvesting the Power of Ocean and
Tidal Energy
Aug 1, 2007 - RenewableEnergyAccess.com
A small team of engineers based in Cornwall, England,
have made a breakthrough with the development of a
turbine that they claim could solve the commercial
viability of tidal power. Known as the Osprey turbine,
the technology can be used to create electricity offshore
at sea -- or in tidal rivers and inland waterways.
The Osprey turbine is a vertical axis free flow device
which produces power independently or as part of a
larger system. Power output is expected to be from
1 kW up to 5 MW in a multiple system. It is the brainchild
of Fowey-based FreeFlow 69 Ltd., research and development
consultants in renewable energy, which is headed up
by Pat Cooke. The team conceived the unique turbine
concept while working on design and development for
their offshore Ocean Hydro Electricity Generator (OHEG),
a concept using tidal energy to create electricity
24 hours a day. Following successful testing of a
model rotor, a reduced-scale model prototype has been
developed to assist in the design of a full-scale
prototype.
"There is still some way to go before the Osprey is
fully commissioned and starts to generate electricity
for the national grid," said Cooke. "But if, as we
envisage it will, the Osprey performs successfully,
it could play a key role in providing a simple 24-7
green power system—possibly in conjunction with a
simplified version of our original OHEG concept."
With the advantage of having the gearbox and generator
above the water level, the technology operates effectively
in variable depths to maximize the efficiency of the
power available through the tidal cycle, or in differing
river heights.
It is also environmentally friendly and will not interfere
with marine or river life, can be mounted on the sea
bed or suspended on pontoons, is bi-directional and
will turn the same way in a flooding or ebbing tide.
Due to its modular design, a bank of Osprey turbines
can be built up and added to in order to generate
more power.
"We already have a patent application in place and
plan to build a full size prototype by the Autumn,"
said Cooke. "If this is successful, as we are confident
it will be, we intend to manufacture a range of small
units for river applications, followed by a range
of cross flow turbines for conventional micro hydro
plants."
A prototype for an Archimedes screw type version turbine
will also be produced for rivers where a weir or leat
is available, such as old mill sites. Able Engineering
will manufacture the river turbines and take on the
project management of the larger river systems, while
FreeFlow 69 will act as developer for the larger offshore
systems.
Cooke, who is Chairman of Able Engineering as well
as leading the FreeFlow 69 team, believes that exploiting
tidal power from the sea and rivers can play a significant
role in achieving the UK government's targets for
renewable energy.
"It is estimated by the Carbon Trust that wave and
tidal power can provide a fifth of the UK's electricity
needs," he said. "The benefits of ramping up investment
in tidal power generation would be considerable, providing
not only a reliable source of energy, but the opportunity
for Britain to be at the forefront of the global market
in the same way that Danish companies took an early
lead in the wind turbine industry."
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