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PRIMRE/Databases/Projects Database/Devices/Elemental Energy Technology Limited SeaUrchin
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Elemental Energy Technology Limited SeaUrchin
The SeaUrchin™ is a revolutionary technology designed to economically capture the vast kinetic energy of the world’s ocean streams, tidal currents and river flows. It operates in an extremely wide range of flow rates, making it deployable in a wide range of ocean and river locations around the world. With only one moving part the technology is designed to harness up to four times more power and is up to 70% more efficient than conventional “propeller” driven, marine generators commonly used today. The SeaUrchin™ can be mass produced from proven, inexpensive materials and components used for boat building. Starting “from the whiteboard” the engineering team designed and built a unique Permanent Magnet Axial Flux generator that was integrated into the composite construction of the SeaUrchin™ turbine. No “off-the-shelf” generators were available there was little public information that could be used as an example for the design. The generator was successfully constructed and then tested in a series of tests conducted at Newcastle, on the Georges River south of Sydney, and long-term installation at the Eraring Power Station at Lake Macquarie. A highly effective engineering development team designed the SeaUrchin™ generator, developed the prototype and completed proof-of-concept and performance trials. Overall Project Management was provided by BlueZone (then ATSA) using skills and capabilities developed as an SME working on provision of support for strategic capabilities to the Royal Australian Navy.
Device Status
Is the device actively being developed or is available for purchase (active)? Or has development or support ended (inactive)?
Inactive
Technology Type
Power Take-Off
Mechanism that converts the motion of the prime mover into a useful form of energy such as electricity, learn more
Direct Drive Generator
Surface ExpressionFalse
Estimated TRL
Estimated Technology Readiness Level scale from 1 to 9 with 9 being the most mature technology
TRL Last updated: 28 June 2022
7
Energy Resource
- Tidal
Water Column Position
Surface
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Submerged - Mid
Entire Water Column
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Submerged - Bottom
Last Modified
14 March 2023
Citation Formats
“Elemental Energy Technology Limited SeaUrchin.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Devices, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Devices/Elemental_Energy_Technology_Limited_SeaUrchin. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.
Marine Energy Projects Database: Devices. <year>. "Elemental Energy Technology Limited SeaUrchin." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Devices/Elemental_Energy_Technology_Limited_SeaUrchin.
