Renewable Devices Marine has developed a tidal turbine system that can be floated to the installation site, and work in both flow directions.
The Capricorn turbine has a horizontal axis, contra-rotating, twin rotor architecture.
Each rotor has three blades designed to be bi-directional in operation, which means that the turbine produces electricity both on ebb and flow tide.
The bi-directional design eliminated the need for constructing the yaw mechanism, according to Renewable Devices Marine.
There are two types of Capricorn Marine Turbine:
Capricorn Marine Turbine comprises Bk97 buoyancy control system that allows the turbine to be floated out to its deployment site.
The system also provides a controllable method of sinking the turbine to its foundations, and lifting it for maintenance purposes using small and medium sized vessels.
At full buoyancy the turbine floats, which allows the servicing of the turbine on the deployment site.
According to Renewable Devices Marine, the Capricorn Marine Turbine could produce electricity at costs under GBP 128 MW/h, compared to the existing cost of energy from tidal generation estimated to be approximately GBP 300 MW/h.
The Renewables Devices group cosists of engineering companies that focus on the design of sustainable renewable energy technologies. Through Renewable Devices Ltd, RD Marine, RD Remote Power and RD Charitable Trust the group designs and manufactures renewable energy technologies.
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Source/Image: Renewable Devices Marine