Hydrokinetic Turbine Testing, Evaluation, and Optimization
Alden uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and its large physical test facilities to study biological, hydraulic, and engineering details of ocean energy and hydroelectric systems. Various-sized flumes and tanks allow physical evaluation of large equipment in static or flowing water.
The recent excitement about ocean renewable energy has led to a spike in venture capital funding. There are many small companies developing hydrokinetic technologies, but as with wind power, only a few are likely to remain in the market after the initial development phase. How will you make sure your technology withstands the test of time?
Alden is using its unique facilities to help developers test and improve their equipment. Performance, as well as mooring or mounting techniques, can be evaluated for hydrokinetic systems on full-scale prototypes or pilot-scale models. Together with highly-trained staff and state-of-the art analysis capabilities, such testing is aiding developers to enhance and refine their designs. Assistance from Alden ranges from providing testing support to being responsible for an entire development and testing program. Our staff has decades of experience in fluid flow and machinery operation.
Laboratory Fish Testing
Detailed monitoring of fish mortality and behavior in the field is not only expensive, but fraught with technical difficulties. Laboratory testing prior to field installation can put fish protection field monitoring in the proper context and facilitate resource agency approval.
Alden is the premier source for laboratory testing of fish response and mortality for a wide range of industrial equipment, from cooling water intakes to turbines. Our flumes are used regularly for fish testing and contain the necessary infrastructure for upstream injection and downstream collection of fish. In addition, we have extensive experience in underwater photography and videography to document fish behavior with various devices. The staff includes world renowned fisheries biologists well respected by industry and regulatory agencies alike.
World Class Test Facilities and CFD Analysis
Alden’s numerous test flumes, tanks, and support facilities are available to assist in developing and optimizing the performance of your equipment. Our primary test flume is 80 ft. long X 20 ft. wide X 10 ft. deep, large enough to test most turbines at full-scale. An additional flume measures 56 ft. long X 6 ft. wide X 6 ft. deep.
Project Field Services
Field measurement is critical to feasibility determination, environmental assessment, anchoring, and system performance optimization. Alden provides experienced field oceanographic and riverine services, including bathymetry, wave height and direction measurements, current velocity measurements, water and tide level data acquisition, sediment-water interface monitoring, and biological surveys.
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