Australian University of Adelaide Considers SMCE Turbine Commercialization

Following several years of research, the University of Adelaide’s team, which has been developing the Sustainable Marine Current Energy (SMCE) turbine, is thinking of commercializing the device, says the EcoGeneration news site.

In 2009, the University has engaged the final-year students in development of a prototype marine current turbine. At that time a simplified scale model that optimized diffuser configuration came to life.

Two years later, the project developed to a stage when optimizing a state-of-the art blade configuration incorporating tubercles, based on the concept of pectoral fins on a Humpback Whale, took place. This resulted in energy production continuing in a wider range of current flows, where old-style blades could not function well.

Currently, a new team behind the 2012 version of the SMCE is preoccupied with the design, optimization, construction and testing of a larger-scale axial flow marine current turbine, incorporating both a slotted channeling device and tubercles.

Finally, the turbine is scheduled to be manufactured and tested in a marine environment in the next few months. The developers expect results which will encourage investors to recognize the project as worthy and give room for its commercialization. of the device.

[mappress]
Subsea World News Staff , July 19, 2012;  Image: University of Adelaide