Data and Information Needs for Hydrokinetic Energy Development

J. B. Johnson Alaska Hydrokinetic Energy Research Center

University of Alaska Fairbanks

August 24, 2011

H. Toniolo A. Seitz

J. Schmid P. Duvoy C. Walsh

Collaborators

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,

Study site

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