Optimized Composite Prototype for Archimedes Turbine Manufacture Award Number: DE-EE0007427 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6 Water Power Technologies Office Date: 01/12/2016 Location(s): IN Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
January 12, 2016Optimized Composite Prototype for Archimedes Turbine Manufacture
Award Number: DE-EE0007427
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Water Power Technologies Office
Date: 01/12/2016
Location(s): WA
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to Percheron Power, LLC to transform the current Archimedes Hydrodynamic Screw (AHS) technology for rapid deployment in the U.S. by reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and overcoming the limitations of the present steel turbines.
Proposed activities would include the design, analyses, development, fabrication and laboratory testing of AHS turbines made of composite materials. Much of the equipment for the turbine test assembly would be procured from equipment suppliers, although the turbine blades themselves would be fabricated and assembled as part of this project. Development, fabrication, and component testing would be completed by Hertelendy Research Associates at their facility in West Richland, WA. Assembly and laboratory testing of the bench-scale assemblies would be completed by Mid Columbia Engineering at their facility in Richland, WA. The Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) would complete lab testing for the prototype turbines. Percheron Power, LLC would be collaborating with the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNNL) as part of the new DOE Voucher Program. PNNL's efforts on the composite AHS turbine would be focused on performance modeling through computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Analyses completed at their labs in Richland, WA. The proposed work is within and consistent with the normal uses of the existing facilities. No new permits, licenses, or authorizations are required. The water testing at the UWRL would involve temporarily diverting water through the facility. However, such water diversions are part of the mission, objectives and normal operations of the existing facility and fall within the existing water rights held by the UWRL.