ACEP to assess Oceana turbine with new equipment

Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) will use its new ST100 fast signal isolators in the upcoming testing activities on the Oceana Energy’s hydrokinetic turbine.

The new high-speed signal transmitter ST100, developed by ACEP, will be used in the test of Oceana’s hydrokinetic turbine generator in ACEP’s Power System Integration Lab this winter.

The device will enable high speed measurements to capture the generator dynamics, according to ACEP, providing a better understanding of the generator performance.

The ST100 accepts an input voltage or current signal, electrically isolates it, conditions it and outputs the resulting signal.

The output is connected to the measurement system (data acquisition or control system) which stores the value or uses it to make a control decision.

Signal isolation means there is no electrical connection between the input and output signal, what ACEP considers essential in providing protection for expensive measurement systems from high voltage and current spikes.

As reported earlier, ACEP’s team started the preparatory activities for the Oceana testing back in September 2016.

Oceana Energy is US-based technology company focused on developing marine turbines that produce electric power from flowing currents of ocean tides and rivers.

Based at the University of Alaska, ACEP is dedicated to applied energy research and testing focused on lowering the cost of energy throughout Alaska.