Comments on: Seagen Tidal Power Installation

By: Martin O'Looney

Martin O'Looney — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:59:22 +0000

While Seagen is the best design for tidal power that I have seen to date I do not believe the technology itself is very feasible in a worldwide context. My reasoning is mainly due to their limitation of 10 hours generation time per day while the tides are ebbing and flowing, but mainly the scarcity of sites suitable for sufficient energy production vastly limits the validity of this technology as a meaningful renewable energy solution.

By: paul dimaggio

paul dimaggio — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:55:18 +0000

I’ve invented a device that caputures tidal energy. Although the sea gen is a great begining there are many faults. I’m in the pattent process. I have a prototype, i hope to finish this soon. When it gets out to the world, i hope i could depend on everyones honest opinion on how to improve.I call it “GMAX technology”. If anyone has patenting experience, please contact me. I’m open to working partnerships. Have a great holiday! and lets change the world- pd

By: john davies

john davies — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:46:13 +0000

Sorry for delay in responding. Indeed your speed calculations are correct but unfortunately life & physics ai’nt that simple.

The leading edge of any body moving through fluid produces a bow wave which pushes objects away to one side.

When you complete the equation taking ALL factors into consideration, eg:- Hydrodynamic Divergent Bow Waves, Surface Flow, Compressible Flow, Water Density Kinetic energy etc,[This is the calculation just for the Wedge Bow Resistance,- (Rb ~ CD·?U6/g2 (3))], you will find that the machine, while efficient at extracting energy is poor at producing sea lion paté or fish paste.
(shame, a good business opportunity missed !!)

For further reading try :-

Hydrodynamics of Ship Propellers
John P. Breslin, Poul Andersen

Detailed Design of Ship Propellers
Gonzalo Perez Gomez & Juan Gonzalez Adalid

and works by Rankine, Greenhill and RE Froude

or search google.

Good reading, John.

By: drbob

drbob — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:49:02 +0000

@john davies

10-30 rpm is not slow. The MCT website claims 10-15 rpm.

At 15 rpm a 20 meter rotor has a tip speed of 56kph (35 miles an hour). Have you ever seen a fish that can swim that fast? 30rpm would entail a tip speed of 70 miles an hour! Anyone for sea lion paté?

I think people should wait for the trial results before declaring this a viable solution.

By: john davies

john davies — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:33:59 +0000

(From Mickey G – The first commercial tidal power station that I saw was in Nova Scotia so I can’t accept the first for this article. http://www.nspower.ca/environment/green_power/tidal/index.shtml)

Watch the video – it’s a TIDAL BARRAGE not a Marine Current system !!!

The double turbine blades rotate very slowly (10-30 rpm) dependent on the water speed therefor any fish would be moving at approx the same speed and can move out of the way.

By: Alfredo Pereira

Alfredo Pereira — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:11:48 +0000

Dear Sirs:

Our company, web page (www.get.pt) is working in order to present a proposal to a cancer clinic institute for the Portuguese “Champalimaud Foundation” in Lisbon- Portugal. The building has about 50.000 sq. meters and it will be constructed just near river “Tejo”. We need to have an idea of the investment to a tidal electric power generation system for 0, 5 MW to 1 MW. Please be so kind in order to give us a approximate price for such a system.

Yours sincerely, Alfredo Costa Pereira (www.get.pt)

By: Damien Kane

Damien Kane — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:29:16 +0000

I attended a presentation today by MCT in Belfast, and then had a tour of the dual turbine under construction at Harland & Wolff shipyard. It is a very impressive piece of kit – and shows incredible potential for harnessing tidal power. I wish MCT every success with this venture and hope it is the first of many in the UK and Ireland.
What they have achieved with a team of just 15 people – and a clear vision of the future of marine power generation – is nothing short of amazing.

By: Elliot Cafritz

Elliot Cafritz — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:21:52 +0000

Very exciting development. How does this design prevent possible marine accidents? In other words, can the turbine blades harm fish?

By: ades

ades — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:12:13 +0000

i believe pelamis is wave energy but predates this ‘tidal energy’ as a large scale implementation by a lot

By: Green Energy TV

Green Energy TV — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:09:44 +0000

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By: Mickey G

Mickey G — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:18:32 +0000

The first commercial tidal power station that I saw was in Nova Scotia so I can’t accept the first for this article. http://www.nspower.ca/environment/green_power/tidal/index.shtml

By: Adrian Akau

Adrian Akau — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:33:27 +0000

The design of the SeaGen is one of my favorites, not because of its double turbine balance, which is in itself a touch of genius, but mostly because of the fact that it can be raised out of water for adjustment and repairs. Where currents are strong, it is not easy or safe to work on equipment in water.

Yes, the system may have to be limited to relatively shallow waters and perhaps a different system (tethered turbines) will probably be better for currents in deeper waters but the design of the SeaGen is breath taking and beautiful.

adrianakau2aol.com