ADVANCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR TIDAL TURBINE BLADES

摘要

The energy potential of harnessing the kinetic energy of the world's ocean and tidal currents is part of the US's renewable energy plan. Technologies that improve the performance and reliability of marine current energy systems are needed. Marine current energy systems convert kinetic energy of moving tides and currents into electrical energy via underwater turbines. These turbine blades are designed to withstand the challenges of the marine environment including high hydrodynamic forces, corrosion due to salt water, and erosion due to cavitation, and impact from suspended particle. Advanced composites are attractive for constructing tidal turbine blades. However performance improvements are needed regarding impact-damage and cavitation-erosion resistance. If not properly addressed, this could dramatically reduce the size, efficiency, reliability and life span of tidal turbines thereby reducing the viability of marine current energy systems. Recent work focused on composite ship propellers have shown substantially improved cavitation-erosion and impact-damage resistance in comparison to industry-standard materials while also possessing necessary mechanical properties and processing characteristics. Adaptation of these cavitation resistant composite materials can significantly improve the performance and economic feasibility of ocean tidal systems.