Tidal Power to Spin Micro Hydro Turbine or Hydro Generator

Micro Hydro-Turbine Puts Spin On Tidal Power

by Pete Danko, October 19th, 2011

An Australian company is winning praise for its uniquely designed micro hydro-turbinesystem aimed at providing power mainly in remote communities, where expensive, high-emissions diesel is often the fuel of necessity.

Sundermann Water Power, located in Hamilton South in New South Wales, Australia, earned a spot as a finalist in the recent Australian Cleantech Ideas Competition (and some love from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where we happened upon the story) for its Sundermann Hydro Turbine. What’s so special about its Hydro Generator? It’s all in the blade configuration, the company says.

image via Sundermann Water Power

Instead of being fixed, the hydro turbine’s blades tilt during the rotating cycle, turning half a revolution for each full revolution of the central shaft. “This configuration allows each blade to contribute a unidirectional force to the central shaft, for virtually the entire rotational cycle,” the company says. “In this way they can efficiently utilize the kinetic energy of the moving water.”

image via Sundermann Water Power

Sundermann says its hydro turbine is 90 percent more efficient that traditional tidal power devices, where water hits the blade and flows past or around it. This allows the hydro generator to function in low-flow situations, reaching maximum operational efficiency in rivers or ocean currents moving at just 6 to 12 knots.

The company says that the turbine can work solo to deliver up to 100 kilowatts (kW) of power, or production scaled up to 1 megawatt using multiple hydro turbines. As for environmental impact, it generates clean energy, and the company says impact on marine life is minimized by the slow rotational speed of the turbine along with protective barriers.