Post on 09-Feb-2022
Data and Information Needs for Hydrokinetic Energy Development
J. B. Johnson Alaska Hydrokinetic Energy Research Center
University of Alaska Fairbanks
August 24, 2011
Outline
• AHERC projects in-progress and in-development • Project activities and findings
• Information and data needs to facilitate development of hydrokinetic energy in Alaska
• AHERC goals and objectives
AHERC Structure & Purpose
• Focused on developing technology, methods, and information to facilitate the development of an environmentally compatible hydrokinetic power industry in Alaska
– Hydrokinetic power resource assessment – Evaluation of interactions between aquatic environment and
hydrokinetic turbines. – Develop technology and methods to mitigate challenges – Develop and disseminate data and information needed by stakeholders
to make informed decisions
• Provide a statewide research and information resource • Strategic plan developed and creating an advisory council
– Industry, resource agencies, regulatory agencies, utilities and power advocates
• Resides within ACEP which reports to the INE director
AHERC Projects and Activities • Projects in-progress
– Tanana River characterization at Nenana (AEA) • The river environment & its potential impact on hydrokinetic devices
(hydrodynamics, debris, fish, sediment, ice, river bed morphology) – Debris mitigations study and technology development (AP&T/
Denali Commission) • Debris characterization and mitigation technology development • Fish • New Energy Turbine technology assessment (with ABS)
– Subsurface debris flow characterization in the Tanana River at Nenana (ORPC/ Denali Commission)
• Projects in-development – Hydrokinetic power generation device technology development,
assessment, and demonstration • Vortex Hydro • Pulse Tidal • Boschma Engineering • Baker Hughes
• Ice
Hydrokinetic Generation Devices
New Energy*: Encurrent Cross-flow turbines
Ocean Renewable Power Company*
*Turbine images used with permission
Pulse tidal* hydrofoil
VIVACE*: vortex induced vibration
• Tanana River Test Site Development (Nenana, AK)
– In collaboration with ORPC
• Goals: Assess river conditions prior to - and after - installation of a hydrokinetic turbine
– The river power resource: summer & winter
– The river environment – River debris conditions – Fish behavior and mortality – Turbine technology test site
!"#$%&'#()*+,$%-(.-%/"&)*+,0,1'-)&'/#,23(4'%1,
56,7()1$,8%'1,
o ,,539:;'"&,,,,,8*$.,1.3/-'(,o ,,,<=2,>,?@A,,o ,,,BCD=,
D./-3*#'-,;%,@'(("1./-,, EF,G,HHIH,&JK1L,
2'-)&'/#,#("/1M.(#,
0
5
10
15
20
25
0
1
2
3
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Bed
Loa
d (g
/s)
Susp
. Sed
. Con
c. (g
/l)
Discharge (m3/s)
Susp. Sed. Bed load
=.N'(,-'/1)#%,E/3&'()*"9,&.-'9)/OL,
P("Q)9,)*',"**3&39":./, @3(;39'/*',,
2'"1./"9,-)1*$"(O',4"()":./,
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
May-10 Aug-10
Dis
char
ge (m
3/s)
Date
P)1$,=.M39":./1,
0
500
1000
1500
2000
0
0.005
0.01
0.015
0.02
0.025
0.03
5/2/2010 6/21/2010 8/10/2010 9/29/2010
Dis
char
ge (m
3/s)
Stee
pnes
s ra
tio (!
/")
Date
dune small dune discharge
!'-,R.(&,1#";)9)#%,
Factors Affecting the Hydrokinetic Resource
• Current velocity [site location; economic viability] – Power density – Seasonal & temporal variation – Bathymetric and channel effects
• Turbulence [engineering design & power recovery efficiency] – Recoverable power – Infrastructure stress – Variation with current and bathymetry
• Suspended & bed load sediment transport [operation & maintenance (O&M)] – deposition and erosion – Infrastructure abrasion and clogging – Channel stability – Infrastructure integrity – bed scour, foundation stability
Factors Affecting the Hydrokinetic Resource
• Debris [Site location; O&M] – Type, size and frequency of occurrence, spatial location (lateral
and depth)
• Ice [O&M] – Frazil ice accumulation – Depth & frequency of occurrence – Solid ice conditions
• Fish [permit approval; site location; O&M] – Seasonal populations and behavior – Spatial distribution