Ocean current power generation at low flow velocity for oceanographic instruments
QI Chang pu1, LIN Yong gang2, ZHAO Jian xin1
(1.Shanghai Marine Electronic Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai 201108, China；
2.State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power Transmission and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China)

Abstract: Aiming at the problems that oceanographic instruments are usually far from the coastline and the power grid，traditional mode of power supply from power grid system is difficult and expensive to implement. In order to satisfy the special application requirement of oceanographic instruments power supply, two key technologies of low flow rate power generation and energy management in ocean current power generation technology were studied, the problem of starting at low flow rate and energy management were discussed. Based on the theoretical analysis, a three blades, horizontal axis, direct drive marine current turbine with a rated power of 500W was designed and manufactured, furthermore, the matching energy management system and PC monitoring interface were designed. The experimental results show that the generation unit can start normally at low flow velocity and full power generation at rated flow velocity. The electrical parameters of the power generation system are monitored by the energy management system in real time, and the control function is responsive. The whole system is stable and reliable in continuous operation.

Key words: oceanographic instruments; energy of ocean current; low flow velocity; energy management