THORs Power Method for Hydrokinetic Devices - Final Report

J. Turner Hunt ; Joel Rumker

关键词: CAPACITY;    CONTINENTAL SHELF;    CORIOLIS FORCE;    HYDRODYNAMICS;    ROTATION;    SALINITY;    SEAS;    TANKS;    TURBINES;    VELOCITY;    WATER CURRENTS;    RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES;    HYDROKINETIC POWER THOR LLC - Turner Hunt Ocean Renewable LLC;    THOR LLC;    Turner Hunt;    Turner Hunt Ocean;    THOR;    THOR Energy Group;    ocean current turbine;    oceancurrentturbine.com;    Gulf Stream Energy;    THOR's ROCT;    THOR's Hammer;    hydrokinetic energy;    marine hydrokinetic energy;    ocean current energy;    ocean current;    marine current turbine;    gulf stream;    Ben Franklin;    gulf stream current;    advanced energy;    oceanic energy research;    harnessing marine energy;    marine energy;    oceanic energy sources;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1048072
RP-ID  :  Final Report
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1048072
Others  :  TRN: US201217%%13

学科分类：再生能源与代替技术

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

Ocean current energy represents a vast untapped source of renewable energy that exists on the outer continental shelf areas of the 5 major continents. Ocean currents are unidirectional in nature and are perpetuated by thermal and salinity sea gradients, as well as coriolis forces imparted from the earth's rotation. This report details THORs Power Method, a breakthrough power control method that can provide dramatic increases to the capacity factor over and above existing marine hydrokinetic (MHK) devices employed in the extraction of energy from ocean currents. THORs Power Method represents a constant speed, variable depth operational method that continually locates the ocean current turbine at a depth at which the rated power of the generator is routinely achieved. Variable depth operation is achieved by using various vertical force effectors, including ballast tanks for variable weight, a hydrodynamic wing for variable lift or down force and drag flaps for variable vehicle drag forces.