Page 53 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication

Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation 53
The TAOIDE Project
On November 1st, 2018
the TAOIDE Project
entered the final year
of its 3-year duration
and this signals the beginning of
the all-important test phase of the
Project. The overarching goal of the
project is to develop a novel ‘wet
gap’ electrical generator powered by
a Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) turbine
that performs in the hostile deployed
environment with a high degree of
reliability and availability.
Over the first two years of the project from the subsystem testing will
a detailed design of the ‘wet gap’
generator was developed for MHK
developer, ORPC, and the designed
machine is currently being built
by their chosen manufacturer, IKM
Elektro in Norway. Other important
contributions developed during this
first phase were the bearing and
seal systems for both the generator
and driveline by project partner, SKF
and the predictive maintenance
procedures and operating protocols
of the entire system developed
by Letterkenny IT (LYIT). A suite of
algorithms to control the torque,
speed and power of the generator
has been developed by project
partner, Fraunhofer IEE. Researchers
from MaREI, the Centre for Marine
and Renewable Energy at University
College Cork (UCC) have undertaken
the development of the power
electronics to control the variable
voltage, variable frequency output
from the ‘wet-gap’ generator
to enable grid connectivity and
optimised performance.
The test phase involves the operation
of elements of the generator system
under lab conditions in two test
This project has received funding from the European Union’s
H2020 research and innovation programme under grant
agreement number 727465
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
COMMUNICATION
The ORPC RivGen® Power System on
station in Kvichak River, Igiugig, Alaska
programmes. The first will be a test highly suited for use with other MRE
of the subsystems. This will involve systems. By developing a common
the testing of the SKF developed architecture system, developers can
SIMPLEX© seals and an ORPC focus on enhancing performance of
developed PCD (Polycrystalline their prime mover. The acceptance
Diamond) bearing, both mounted on of a common platform will result in a
the test driveline. Preparations for reduction of risk and should present
subsystem testing are well underway cost advantages due to economies
with the programme to commence of scale. Reduction in capital costs
in December at UCC. The learnings and adoption of high reliability
components will reduce overall life
inform system improvements before cycle costs of MRE projects and
the second round of testing which should accelerate commercialisation
will involve a rigorous programme of of the technology. Lower cost
running the ‘wet gap’ generator itself. systems will allow lower intensity
This lab testing will commence in resource sites to be considered as
the Spring of 2019 and will continue commercially viable, and so will
to project end in October. The test expand the available market for MRE.
data gathered will be validated
against field data gathered from a To be able to provide reliable
deployment of the same design of electrical generation within a marine
generator by ORPC in Alaska later in environment it is crucial to develop
the year. a generator that can withstand water
intrusion. By designing and developing
The innovative ‘wet-gap’ generator a ‘wet-gap’ generator capable of
system developed during the project continuous operation in a fully-
will be the first of its kind for a flooded condition, the TAOIDE project
Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) is striving to fulfil this current gap in
device. Once successfully proven, it is the market. l
believed that the generator would be
More information:
The H2020 TAOIDE project is
co-ordinated by the MaREI centre
at UCC. For more information, please
visit www.TAOIDE.eu and
http://www.marei.ie/