Ocean Current Energy Harvesting System for Arctic Monitoring

• Main Author: Zhang, Jiajun
• Other Authors: Mechanical Engineering, Zuo, Lei, Yang, Yaling, Sandu, Corina, Tafti, Danesh K.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Virginia Tech 2024
• Subjects: Current Energy harvesting; Nozzle diffuser duct; Low speed turbine; Transverse flux generator; Optimization; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Nozzle
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10919/117284

Arctic Ocean monitoring with near-real-time data transfer is urgently needed. The harsh and remote conditions constraining year-round observation sites present significant logistical challenges and energy needs for sustained Arctic observations. The Arctic project group is attempting to design a mechanical structure to harvest energy from low-speed current in the Arctic Ocean. An Arctic energy harvesting system that consists of a transverse flux generator, boosted by a nozzle-diffuser-duct, and an American multiblade turbine that drives the generator, are designed in this study. The transverse flux generator is then optimized based on its design parameters and the optimization successfully improves the torque performance of the generator while maintaining the largest power output. The American turbine fits the extreme low-speed current condition (<0.2m/s) well and could support the rotation of the generator. Finally, the article compares the energy harvesting system is compared with the existing ones in the market and demonstrates its superior performance. Master of Science Arctic area has great potential and it is beneficial to monitor and do research in the Arctic area. The continuous energy could be a problem. The challenging and isolated conditions that limit the establishment of year-round observation stations pose significant logistical hurdles and energy requirements for continuous Arctic data collection. To address this, the Arctic project team is endeavoring to create a mechanical structure capable of harnessing energy from low-speed currents in the Arctic Ocean.