Oceana Energy has concluded the first phase of in-river hydrokinetic turbine testing at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP).
The testing was conducted in ACEP’s Power Systems Integration Laboratory to determine the generation characteristics of Oceana’s run-of-the-river turbine.
The first phase, completed last week, included turbine assembly, generating voltage in a dry and wet tank, and running the turbine at up to 80 rpm.
The second phase is scheduled for early December and will include tying the turbine to the lab grid to ensure the system can export power, ACEP informed.
Finally, the turbine will be tested with varying rotational speeds to mimic the water flow in the river.
To remind, ACEP tested a turbine made by Oceana in Nenana in Alaska in 2014 and 2015.
The turbine was deployed into the Tanana River from a barge. The test proved the system could handle real-world conditions, including varying river velocities, changing water levels, and turbulence, according to ACEP.
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.