ABB secures tidal turbine order
An
ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 13, 2009
ABB has secured an order in excess of GBP2m for the engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of an electrical generating system for two tidal turbines rated at 2.4MW.
The first full-scale Neptune tidal stream device is the design of Edinburgh's Aquamarine Power.
The Neptune demonstration design is on schedule for delivery in 2010 at the UK tidal test centre, known as the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), located in Orkney, as a precursor to commercial deployment.
The entire Neptune generating system sources energy from the flood and ebb of the tides, converting tidal energy into electrical power to supply to the grid.
The device comprises two horizontal axis tidal turbines, which will be mounted on a monopile for the commercial demonstrator.
The device features bi-directional (flood and ebb) generation and a design heavily influenced by wind turbine technology, giving predicted efficiencies of up to 45 per cent.
This is achieved through both variable speed operation and pitch control.
Close integration of electrical and mechanical systems ensures fault tolerant design and UK grid code compliance.
The design is aimed at achieving high levels of reliability through low component count and use of duty/standby components at critical points.
Among ABB's scope of supply includes two ABB industrial drives, two 1.6 MVA Midel filled transformers, two 1.2 MW induction generators, an 11kV switchboard and two pitch control and supervisory controllers.
In addition, ABB is responsible for the grid connection engineering, interface engineering, nacelle electrical engineering and containerisation of all the equipment.
The system will include a custom-designed control system, which will allow remote monitoring, fault prevention and continuous grid quality power output.
Neptune's mechanical and electrical systems have been designed from the outset for large-scale array deployments.
For example, the electrical system is similar to some of the latest developments in off-shore wind turbine designs.
This allows for a rapid transition from commercial demonstrator to commercial farms without major re-engineering.
Also, the 'steel can' design of the Neptune nacelles enables the use of different power train components to match any site-specific requirements without major redesign.
The mechanical engineering and design is by Babcock Strachan and Henshaw, with the build and installation being carried out by Aquamarine Power.
The Neptune technology is a joint venture combining the strengths of the UK's largest renewable generator, Scottish and Southern Energy, and a major Scottish-based engineering firm.
Aquamarine Power brought the Neptune system into its portfolio in October 2007, and is now continuing to develop the device.
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