New tidal turbine Marine Current Turbines Ltd. (MCT) of the United Kingdom is carrying out the third and final test to prove its tidal stream turbine technology. Off the coast of Northern Ireland in the Strangford Lough, it is preparing to deploy a tidal stream turbine, the last step in its Seagen project. The turbine harnesses the power of a constant, predictable and powerful tide. It works by using the force of the tide to spin a rotor, which then transfers that force into a gearbox and onto a generator. As the tide goes both in and out, the bidirectional rotor blades change their pitch depending on the state of the tide. A patented arrangement aids reverse the pitch of the rotor blades, rather like an old-fashioned aircraft or propeller-driven aircraft. When they want to reverse thrust, the pitch can be truned back to front and blow forwards rather than backwards. Once installed, these tidal turbines will pass the electricity produced to the power grid. While developing the technology, MCT had to prove its minimal impact to the marine environment that surrounds the turbines. Studies were performed by Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the sea mammals research unit at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. These studies will continue for the duration of the project. Source: www.designnews.com Wave of success in tidal power In the United Kingdom, the University of Hull has been working on an electricity-generating device, specifically designed for shallow water, for the past two years. On the surface the device looks like pontoon floating on the river, but the finely honed equipment housed beneath the Neptune Proteus is capable of harnessing tidal power. Researchers report to have made a design breakthrough, improving the amount of energy the device can produce by 50 per cent. They say that ten such machines would meet the city’s renewable energy targets for 2010. Neptune Proteus consists of a computer-controlled set of shutters, which directs the flow of water on to a large turbine, like a water wheel, on its side. Neptune Renewable Energy, the company behind its development, is now looking for funding to build a full-scale model. Neptune Proteus has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible – for example it does not need foundations to tether it to the bed of the river. Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk