Innovative tidal turbine with central deflector for the exploitation of river and sea currents in on-shore installations

• Published in: Applied energy 2012-09, Vol.97, p.944-955
• Main Authors: Amelio, Mario, Barbarelli, Silvio, Florio, Gaetano, Scornaienchi, Nino Michele, Minniti, Giovanni, Cutrupi, Antonino, Sánchez-Blanco, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 500 kW on-shore installation; Applied sciences; coasts; cost effectiveness; design; efficiency; electric power; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Renewable marine energy; rivers; steel; systems; Tidal currents; Tidal power; tides; Turbine design; Turbine with deflector; water currents; working conditions
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.11.044

► A self-balancing system, to exploit energy from tidal and river currents, is proposed. ► The main innovation is inherent in the possibility of installation on-shore. ► No interference with the seabed and, therefore, minimal environmental impact. ► The structure is subjected only to tensile stresses so it is lighter and cheaper. ► Installation costs and revenues in the Strait of Messina are sustainable. The paper presents an innovative system for the collection of energy from river and tidal currents, designed with the objective of combining high performance, cost-efficiency and simplicity. The proposed system consists of a kinetic turbine able to be immersed inside water currents and kept in equilibrium by the action of a central deflector and a steel cable anchored to the shore. The size and the orientation of the deflector are defined according to the working conditions and desired equilibrium position. The paper also describes the design parameters of a demonstrative installation at Punta Pezzo (Villa San Giovanni, Italy), located in the Strait of Messina. In the selected site, nearby the coast, the peak current speed reaches 3m/s (6kn). The turbine and its components have been designed assuming that the machine will always work under maximum power coefficient conditions. This implies a variable rotational speed, so the use of an inverter becomes mandatory. Preliminary performance estimations show that the system can provide electrical power of about 470kW, with 43% efficiency when the system works under optimal conditions.