DesignPro lifts veil off hydrokinetic device

Irish company DesignPro Renewables has unveiled its new and improved turbine design for its 25kW hydrokinetic device that will deployed at SEENEOH test site this September.

While the innovative, flow accelerating concept – originally developed by GKinetic Energy – remains the same, the new design features an integrated platform and technology that allows for the turbines to be raised out of the water easily to access blades and components most likely to fault without having to remove the entire device, according to DesignPro Renewables.

The modifications of the device, performed over the last months, have been carried out as part of the company’s Horizon 2020 SME instrument €2.7 million project to commercialize 25kW and 60kW hydrokinetic turbines.

The technology concept involves two vertical axis turbines placed on either side of a tear-drop shaped vessel, the bluff body.

The vessel coupled with the patent pending Blade Pitch Control system accelerates the flow of water into the turbines to produce energy in low flow speeds.

The turbine blades rotate outward, naturally diverting marine life and debris away from the device rotating at a safe, controlled speed of 40 rpm, according to DesignPro Renewables.

 
“The novel additions to this original concept create a unique deployment system and further eases transport to and from a site. The largest advantage of the new design is the simplification for the end user of operations and maintenance procedures, increasing efficiency, performance and safety while reducing delays and costs,” said DesignPro Renewables.

The official launch of this enhanced model will be revealed when the company’s 25kW device is deployed at SEENEOH site in the French city of Bordeaux later this summer.

This unit is currently undergoing optimizations at the DesignPro facility in Limerick, before being shipped to France at the end of July.

The 25kW device will undergo extensive environmental and operational testing at SEENEOH while the company continues working on its subsequent 60kW machine.