In October, Minesto’s quarter-scale sea trials of the Deep Green technology have reached new highs of electricity generation. The results correspond to full power production for a full-scale power plant.
Quarter-scale sea tests of Minesto’s unique technology for producing electricity from low-velocity ocean and tidal currents, Deep Green, has been ongoing at Minesto’s test facility in Northern Ireland since 2013. The test results now surpass previously noted maximum levels of electricity generation.
“Following technical development progress in design and control system, the kite is flying with higher trajectory precision than before – which means improved electricity production performance”, says Dr Heije Westberg, CTO at Minesto.
Quarter-scale sea tests of Minesto’s unique technology for producing electricity from low-velocity ocean and tidal currents, Deep Green, has been ongoing at Minesto’s test facility in Northern Ireland since 2013. The test results now surpass previously noted maximum levels of electricity generation.
“Following technical development progress in design and control system, the kite is flying with higher trajectory precision than before – which means improved electricity production performance”, says Dr Heije Westberg, CTO at Minesto.
In the tests which Dr Westberg refers to, the quarter-scale model generated an output of more than 3 kW at a tidal current velocity of 0.8 m/s. The results correspond to full power production for a full-scale 0.5MW power plant at 1.75 m/s current velocity. These conclusions are consistently drawn from three independent computational models which Minesto use for simulating full-scale performance.
“This means that our quarter-scale tests indicate adequate power generation performance for the corresponding design of the power plant at full scale. It reduces technical risks in our full-scale project and further strengthens our belief in the commercial viability of the Deep Green technology”, says Dr Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto.
“We now move forward to see how we through various test methods and simulation can increase performance of the technology further. The next step is to, in the weeks to come, begin testing of a new improved wing design”, says Dr Heije Westberg.
The latest development is a new and improved wing for the 1/4 scale test device. After having undergone a 3D scan and a few test assemblies, the 3m long wing will be shipped from Minesto’s Gothenburg office to the team at Northern Ireland’s test site for the upcoming testing activities. The wing has improved hydrodynamic performance to increase power capture. It also has detachable wingtips to allow investigation of different concepts.
“This means that our quarter-scale tests indicate adequate power generation performance for the corresponding design of the power plant at full scale. It reduces technical risks in our full-scale project and further strengthens our belief in the commercial viability of the Deep Green technology”, says Dr Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto.
“We now move forward to see how we through various test methods and simulation can increase performance of the technology further. The next step is to, in the weeks to come, begin testing of a new improved wing design”, says Dr Heije Westberg.
The latest development is a new and improved wing for the 1/4 scale test device. After having undergone a 3D scan and a few test assemblies, the 3m long wing will be shipped from Minesto’s Gothenburg office to the team at Northern Ireland’s test site for the upcoming testing activities. The wing has improved hydrodynamic performance to increase power capture. It also has detachable wingtips to allow investigation of different concepts.
Deep Green produces electricity by a unique principle illustrated in the figure below. The water current creates a hydrodynamic lift force on the wing which pushes the kite forward (1). The kite is steered in an 8-shaped trajectory by a rudder and reaches a speed up to ten times the water current speed (2). As the kite moves, water flows through the turbine and electricity is produced in the gearless generator (3). The electricity is transmitted through a cable in the tether attached to the wing (4). The electricity continues in sub-sea cables on the seabed to the shore (5).
Deep Green consists of a wing (1), which carries a turbine (2) directly coupled to a generator in a nacelle (3). A rudder (4), a servo and control system steers the kite in an 8-shaped trajectory. The struts (5) are connected to the tether (6) which attaches the kite to a swivel fastened to a foundation on the seabed. The tether accommodates power and communication cables.
For more information on the underwater kite visit Minesto HERE.
In the meantime here's a video illustrating the concept.
In the meantime here's a video illustrating the concept.
