Norwegian Ocean Power has wrapped up the trials on its Pulsus horizontal-axis spiral-design tidal turbine.
Norwegian Ocean Power tow-tested the bearing, and the load in the turbine blades at Drammensfjorden in Norway.
The engineering, design, and the bearing itself was supplied by Vesconite Bearings, while Norwegian Ocean Power looked at deflection and the bearing’s ability to absorb structural vibration resulting from turbulence.
Kent Thoresen , Technical Director at Norwegian Ocean Power, said: “We crossed the boat back and forth in front of the turbine to find data on the behavior in turbulent streams. The bearing performed flawlessly, having no problem handling sustained loads, shock loads or vibration.”
Norwegian Ocean Power has developed a tidal current turbine based on the Darrieus-turbine design with one moving part that drives a variable speed direct drive generator, which in turns produces electricity.
The company is focused on the development of its first commercial unit, planned to have the capacity of 350kW. The size of the turbine will be approximately 12 by 6 meters, with the ability to operate at water depths from 15 meters further.
Last year, Norwegian Ocean Power applied for a license to test their tidal turbine north of the Arctic Circle, in Gimsøystraumen, Norway.
The application is still being processed by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), while Thoresen confirmed that Norwegian Ocean Power expects to receive it in March 2017.