MECT, The Next Generation Current Turbine

First generation current turbines, used in the conversion of water currents to electricity, employ either unshrouded (bare) propellers, or shrouded blades, or somecombination. Shrouded water turbines have the potential for generating more power per unit of swept area than their unshrouded counterparts. However, existing shrouded turbines are aero/hydrodynamically suboptimal and are prone to failure as a result of large, fluctuating blade loads. This project will develop a new shrouded, axial-flow water-current turbine capable of delivering significantly more energy per unit swept area, with greatly reduced rotor loading compared to existing water turbines. The resulting MECT (Mixer Ejector Current Turbine) design will be more efficient and durable than existing water turbine designs. The concept incorporates three major interacting components: a mixer/ejector pump augmentor, a durable stator/rotor turbine, and high circulation multiple shrouds designed to shift loads to the static structure. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee:The Mixer Ejector Current Turbine (MECT) should provide reduced size, increased energy output per unit swept area, and lower production costs compared to current turbines used in estuary flow sites, coastal tidal current locations, and deep water ocean current applications.