tidal paper 25-04-06 1
Developments in ducted water current turbines
(This paper was originally written in 2003 and published on www.
cyberiad.
net.
This version
includes some updates on tests conducted in 2005)
Brian Kirke
Sustainable Energy Centre,...
More
tidal paper 25-04-06 1
Developments in ducted water current turbines
(This paper was originally written in 2003 and published on www.
cyberiad.
net.
This version
includes some updates on tests conducted in 2005)
Brian Kirke
Sustainable Energy Centre, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Abstract
Unlike conventional hydro and tidal barrage installations, water current turbines in open flow can generate
power from flowing water with almost zero environmental impact, over a much wider range of sites than those available
for conventional tidal power generation.
Recent developments in current turbine design are reviewed and some potential
advantages of ducted or “diffuser-augmented” current turbines are explored.
These include improved safety, protection
from weed growth, increased power output and reduced turbine and gearbox size for a given power output.
Ducted
turbines are not subject to the so-called Betz limit, which defines an upper limit of 59.
3% of th
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