Development

The TidalStream concept, which is now called ‘Triton’, has evolved through several stages of development including testing of a single rotor power producing unit in the Thames in London, twin rotor versions in a small tow test facility, and the largest practical scale (1/20th) of a twin rotor system in a large test facility with full wave-making capability. The latter was mains connected and demonstrated the power production capability and stability of operation while undergoing extreme operational case simulation. The test of the six rotor configuration took place at the Ifremer marine research centre deep water basin in Brest, France.

Twin Rotor Testing

The pictures below show the twin system under test including riding out the 10-year wave for the area being studied, with the turbines running and delivering power.

The test facility could replicate typical conditions that could be expected to be encountered at some stage during the deployment of the TidalStream system

The twin rotor version of the TidalStream system - the basis for the 2008 model testing. The test model had twin one metre diameter rotors each driving a generator through a gearbox. Full remote ballast control enabled simulation of operating transitions with tides running

Six Rotor Testing

This was undertaken in 2009 at a test facility run by Ifremer in Brest, France with support from the METRI programme The stability of the structure under a range of conditions exceeded expectations

This facility could also replicate conditions that could be expected to be encountered at some stage during operation of the full scale prototype and also enabled the simulation of a work boat docking during adverse conditions.

Stability of operation in both the operational and maintenance mode was very impressive. Likewise operation with random rotors stopped or even one blade removed from a rotor simulating potential fault or failure conditions demonstrated a significant level of confidence in viability at full scale.