NAREC INDUSTRY PROFILE
3MW DRIVE TRAIN TEST FACILITY In 2012 Narec opened a new 3MW drive train test facility for the testing of tidal turbine drive trains. Following the facility’s successful
Matthew Reed, Engineering Director, MCT: “The Narec facility provides us with the opportunity to perform extensive characterisation and endurance testing of our latest tidal turbine powertrains allowing us to fully load the powertrain for prolonged periods of time, both in terms of rotor power (torque and speed) but also the spectrum of rotor thrust loads. The versatility of the Narec facility also allows our complete grid connection system to be included in the test, enabling us to prove the quality of the design prior to deployment in turbine arrays.”
DOCK 2
Has an artificial seabed, made of clay and sand, characteristic of North Sea seabed conditions which has played an instrumental role in the testing and trialling of cable protection systems and novel cutting devices for trenching equipment.
DOCK 3
Used as a large still water tank, allowing for the submerged testing of ROVs, tether management systems and subsea foundation structures.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Narec also continues to develop a strong R&D track record, initiating and delivering a number of National and European collaborative marine energy research projects, such as, predictive maintenance condition monitoring systems, the design and development of smart cable technology to improve the real-time understanding and performance, as well as, a purpose built inter-array cable trencher designed specifically for the offshore renewables market.
commissioning with the Atlantis Resources Corporation AR1000 turbine, Siemens- owned Marine Current Turbines (MCT) is the second client to utilise the facility and is currently undertaking a six month testing programme on the first of their 1MW powertrain units developed for the SeaGen-S 2MW device. The first of these tidal stream turbines will be deployed for commercial operation by 2015 at the Skerries Tidal Stream Array off the north- west coast of Anglesey in North Wales.
KEY TESTS
One of the key tests which the facility is able to perform is accelerated lifetime testing, vital to understanding the performance of the device during its operational lifetime.
The rig will replicate the environmental forces and loads experienced on the turbine within a typical tidal stream such as those off the north-west coast of Wales.
CONFIDENCE AND REASSURANCE Testing and innovation development provides the industry with confidence and reassurance, Narec is key to ensuring project developments progress and continue as planned, helping to encourage further investment and the wider supply chain to make the transition into the marine renewables industry.
Narec
The drivetrain is also capable of testing individual components as well as the whole system and has attracted interest from bearing and gearbox manufacturers.
UKAS ACCREDITATION At present, subsea power cables and supporting infrastructure are major elements required for the development of the offshore industry, especially in the wave and tidal industry where they are exposed to harsh, dynamic environments. Improving their performance and reliability is, therefore, a key factor in helping to lower the cost of offshore renewable energy. Narec’s UKAS accredited electrical and materials laboratories have worked on a number of cabling projects, certifying new cables and subsea connector designs, developing power take-off systems for wave devices and carrying out failure analysis investigations. The lab also conducts type testing of medium-high voltage cables, cable joint integrity tests, salt corrosion analysis and materials and coatings selection.
www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk
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