The U.S. Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program has awarded 23 projects from its second Request for Technical Support (RFTS) to receive access to numerical modeling, lab testing, and tank/flume testing. The list includes two projects in which Alden's expertise will be used. As part of the TEAMER program, marine energy developers and researchers have the option to use Alden's world-class numerical modeling and analysis, or test in our wave tank and flume in order to advance their technologies. 

Congratulations to all the awardees, including the two that Alden's team will be working with:

Downeast Turbines

Downeast Turbines of Whitneyville, Maine will bring a tidal turbine prototype to Alden Research Lab, the oldest continuously operating hydraulic laboratory in the United States, and one of the oldest in the world, for testing. The prototype will be tested in Alden Lab’s big flume, capable of producing a vigorous flow of water, to see how well it works. The turbine’s rotor/channel system captures tidal current flow and feeds it into small, enclosed, fast turning rotors, to generate useful power. The discharge apparatus harnesses the action of the stream to energize flow of water through the rotors. Rotor/channel system and discharge apparatus both have US patents. Downeast Turbines seeks to commercialize its technology in the worldwide industry of large-scale tidal power for mini and micro sized hydro plants. There are implications for the industry at large. Economic benefits include reducing upfront costs of design and manufacture and improving power performance for higher lifetime revenues. Other benefits include that the rotor, being fully enclosed, poses little hazard to marine mammals or fish in nearby ocean waters, nor to nearby vessels, their lines and cables, underwater divers, or other ocean users. Downeast Turbines’ products are safe to be around. Computer simulations have shown that the discharge apparatus reduces turbulence in a turbine’s downstream wake. If that effect should prove repeatable in real application, it will mean that turbines can be mounted very closely together in cost-effective, tidal turbine farms.

Hanna Wave Energy Primary Drives Self-Rectifying, Mono-Radial Impulse Turbine

The second TEAMER awardee will take advantage of Alden's computing expertise where numerical and CFD modeling will be performed. The results of this testing will show if a twelve-inch diameter turbine will be able to perform at a level to justify additional testing and development work. Hanna Turbine. The end results of the numerical modeling will show if a twelve-inch diameter turbine will be able to perform at a level where a second round of testing can be justified.  

The Hanna Turbine is described a simple, cost-efficient turbine power take-off (PTO). It resembles the Pelton Turbine which harnesses one-way water flows inside hydroelectric power plants. The closed loop mono-radial turbine is being considered for the present numerical modelling study. Both the closed loop and open-ended turbine system harnesses the two-way motion of ocean waves. The closed loop turbine operates on confined pressure differentials flowing back and forth through the mono-radial turbine. The closed-loop air flows are equal with reduced damping effects. The open-ended system is a typical OWC air-driven turbine where the air flows are unequal. In order to achieve more balanced air flows in both directions, the new self-rectifying closed loop turbine PTO has been described by the inventor, John Clark Hanna of Coos Bay, Oregon. The project proposes to have Alden Research Laboratory in Holden, MA to perform numerical and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) evaluations for a 12-inch diameter closed loop turbine. Project deliverables will provide quantitative data that will indicate if the turbine’s simulated performance metrics will justify physical assessment of a working 3D-printed demonstrator.

Descriptions of all 23 projects selected for Second Request for Technical Support support can be found here

TEAMER Announces RFTS 3

Applications for TEAMER’s third RFTS are now open through May 9, 2021. Visit the TEAMER website for application information. Applicants are required to consult with their preferred facilities prior to applying for TEAMER support. 

Contact us to see how our team may best be able to help you. 

More about TEAMER

Alden is a member of the Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research TEAMER™ Facility Network. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and directed by the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (POET). TEAMER's mission is to accelerate the viability of marine renewables by providing access to the nation’s best facilities and expertise in order to solve challenges, build knowledge, foster innovation and drive commercialization.

The TEAMER Facility Network consists of the top tier of marine energy testing and expertise facilities in the United States. All facilities listed on the TEAMER website have been approved by the TEAMER Technical Board and are able to provide testing or expertise to TEAMER applicants. 

 
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