Wave device in need of air turbine

Australian wave developer with offices in Wales – Bombora Wave Power – is seeking a supplier of an air turbine that forms a part of its mWave wave energy converter.

Bombora’s tender, published on Welsh government’s procurement portal Sell2Wales, comprises design, fabrication and delivery of an air turbine for the mWave demonstration project.

The company is looking for a supplier of 1.5MW peak unidirectional air turbine and associated duct work including output shaft with dynamic seal, suitable for 12-month subsea deployment.

The tender is running until July 20, 2018, and follows the recent contract awards to Blackfish Engineering Design, and Custom Valve Concepts, for the delivery of valve system for Bombora’s mWave device.

The mWave wave energy converter features a series of air-inflated rubber membranes mounted to a concrete structure on the sea floor.

As waves pass over the mWave, the air inside the membranes is squeezed into a duct and through a turbine. The turbine spins a generator to produce electricity. The air is then recycled to re-inflate the membranes to prepare them for the next wave.

The membranes for the 1.5MW mWave demonstrator will be provided by the hovercraft manufacturer Griffon Hoverwork under a recently awarded contract.

To remind, Bombora established an office in the south of Wales at Pembroke Dock to house a team focused on a two and a half year, €20 million project, to design, fabricate and test the first mWave prototype.

At that time, the company said the Marine Energy Test Area (META) in Pembrokeshire , being developed by Marine Energy Wales, which includes access to an exposed ocean testing area, is being explored as test-bed for the mWave demo.