Tuna Shaped Turbines by Nova Energy Offer Better Efficiency

Kiyomi Suzuki, President of Nova Energy Company located in Hyogo Prefecture, has announced the setting up of a tidal power project near Seto Inland Sea. The project intended to produce power from water current energy will install tuna fish shape type of streamlined turbines.

The project though conceived by Suzuki will continue to use the tidal turbines but will offer solutions for some of the inherent problems currently faced by the tidal power generating countries such as South Korea and UK. The tidal power generation in these countries is continuously plagued by problems such as blocking or breaking of turbine propellers due to obstructions by floating wood or fishing nets. Suzuki, found that the fixed position of the turbines was the main reason for the frequent breakages. The new tuna design turbines to be used in the project will remain unfixed and flexible to allow free movement for the turbine to enable drift wood and fishing nets to move past the turbine. The turbines will be linked to the power generators by an arrangement of rotating axle joints to enable free vertical and horizontal movement of the turbines. The company is looking forward to commence the building of a propeller turbine that measures 14 meters at the end of the year and will build a power station in mid sea to house the turbine.

Suzuki said that only a correct turbine design can overcome the problem of dealing with obstructions faced during power production in the sea. He added that the new design will not adversely affect the marine eco system.