Submersible Turbine Design Could Seek the Best Ocean Currents

May-30-13 Triton Submarines, the makers of small submersibles, are putting their technology to work by developing a turbine able to steer itself to take advantage of the best ocean currents for generating power.

According to Patrick Lahey, president of Triton Submarines, the 65-foot diameter generator would float between 100 and 200 feet below the water’s surface. The cylinder shape of the device is meant to speed up the water flow, which would spin the turbine’s blades to turn the rotor and generate electricity. Made partially of syntactic foam, the device would be buoyant and easily shaped while remaining strong enough to withstand high pressures, and would be tethered to the ocean floor with adjustable straps that would allow it to raise or lower itself to the area with the greatest current.

The developers believe a five-million dollar device could pay for itself within five to ten years, and hope to have a working model within a year.

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[POPSCI.COM]
[TRITON SUBS]

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