SBIR-STTR Award

Dynovas Adaptive Expeditionary Micro-hydro Power System (AEMPS) is a ruggedized and man-portable surface-piercing (partially submerged) vertical turbine system designed for expeditionary power generation applications based on four key capabilities: Enable expeditionary power generation capabilities and deployment via 2-man portable transport volume and weight package Enable intervention-free operation with minimal/no performance degradation due to debris presence Provide maximum power generation across the specified Marine Corps. Systems Commands (MCSC) flow speed and depth ranges Enable serviceability and in-field manufacturability of critical path components via design for Expeditionary Advanced Manufacturing (EAM) methods The vertical turbine architecture is designed to adjust the relative insertion depth of the hydrokinetic turbine foils (or blades) and adapt to present conditions of water depth and flow speed as well as remove itself completely in the presence of debris to provide both power generation and survivability across varying deployment scenarios. Dynovas novel micro-hydro generator technology will provide scalable technology platform that is aimed to provide 500W 24VDC continuous power generation across hydro environments of variable depths greater than 0.5m (min. depth) and variable flow velocities above 0.5m/s (up to 3.5m/s). The teams innovative approach will enable expeditionary and remote deployable power generation capabilities utilizing 1-2 personnel to assemble, launch, and retrieve the modular system, which will fit within a packing volume less than 1m3 with an overall weight below 88lbs for a 2-AEMPS unit containing deployment package. AEMPS consists of a light-weighted and ruggedized composite structure erected from an array of nestable composite struts, joints, structural cables, tool-less fastening mechanisms, and supporting electronic components. AEMPS leverages sonar debris detection/avoidance protocols, tension sensing, along with power output vs. current speed vs. capture area monitoring potential debris impact and fouling from objects up to 30m upstream. Continuous operation does not require a shroud, net, or deflector to mitigate risk of reduced performance or damage due to flowing debris in the environment. Instead, AEMPS open architecture simply can move out of the collision path and subsequently continue operation when determined safe via novel vertical actuation mechanism. This array of structural components, mechanisms, and electronic components are both selected and/or designed with the intent of optimizing in-field reparability and manufacturability via EAM methods to address the needs of the warfighter, humanitarian efforts, and provide a disruptive approach to renewable and remote hydrokinetic power generation.

Benefit:
AEMPS has been designed according to mathematical models and simulations that represent the initial step to achieving the following

Benefits:
Enabling technology for expeditionary power generation capabilities and deployment via 2-man portable transport volume and weight package Enabling technology for intervention-free operation with minimal/no performance degradation due to debris presence Provide maximum power generation across the specified Marine Corps. Systems Commands (MCSC) flow speed and depth ranges Enable serviceability and in-field manufacturability of critical path components via design for Expeditionary Advanced Manufacturing (EAM) methods With regard to the commercialization, the AEMPS technology has far reaching relevancy across warfighter, humanitarian, and renewable energy generation initiatives in pursuit by the DOE, DOD, NREL, and civilian population. The technology roadmap is aligned with advancement of key areas under the SBIR funding through Phase II and accelerated growth with the successful prototype demonstration to occur at the culmination of Phase II with the AEMPS technology at TRL6/MRL6. Furthermore, the key innovations developed under this program possess the capability to integrate across externally developed technologies i.e. adapt AEMPS structural/actuator design to alternative turbine architectures, or scale partially submerged vertical turbines to augment current hydro-power generation platforms for example. Additionally the respective innovations may be leveraged in tidal energy power generation applications in addition to littoral zones, effectively unlocking the largest source of potential hydro-power in the United States in Alaska. The broad scope of shear adaptability and survivability the AEMPS technology will be disruptive to the current status quo for hydrokinetic power generation applications.

Keywords:
Intervention-Free Operation, Intervention-Free Operation, Modular, Depth-Adjusting, Portable, Adaptable, Debris-Avoiding, Surface-Piercing Vertical-Axis, expeditionary

In Phase I, Dynovas physically demonstrated an Adaptive Expeditionary Micro-hydro Power System (AEMPS) capable of producing 500W – 1500 W power across environments possessing a baseline 1 m/s water velocity at 0.8m depth, and the intervention free adaptability to produce optimized continuous power output over a range of water velocities from 0.5 – 2.5 m/s with minimum depths of > 0.35m. AEMPS provides a method for energy harvesting from any direction with limited to no intervention operation across brackish, fresh, and salt water environments and enables in field repairability and expeditionary manufacturability through novel design of critical path components and use of line replaceable parts/units. The hydrokinetic system adapts to various water velocities, water depths, and debris risks to provide continuous operation and mitigates performance degradation or catastrophic failure risks (unsafe or excessive water velocities, debris fouling, object contact at depth etc.) through adjusting the hydrokinetic turbine’s level of insertion in conjunction with novel turbine architectures to enable intervention free debris shedding capabilities. AEMPS effectively provides a modular and scalable self-sustaining power generation platform to produce 24VDC output (MIL-STD-1275D) across interconnectable units to produce power in excess of 500–1500W. The expeditionary hydrokinetic power generation system developed is capable of transport, deployment, and retrieval by 1 or 2 persons in under 30 minutes across the array of deployment environments (rocky shores, sand, dense vegetation-lined shores, ledges, etc.). AEMPS packages a 534W+ continuous power generation system within a 1m3 system transport volume that is under 86lbs to enable transportability across lightweight and ultra-lightweight vehicles in four (4) quick deployable units. The units utilize a ruggedized pop-up framework structure and inflatable pontoon design to meet operation requirements across all Marine Corps operating environments (ref. MIL-STD-810). The structural platform houses a vertically translating and locking hydrokinetic turbine and closed-loop sensor array to avoid debris hazards and provide intervention free operation using a surface-piercing vertical crossflow turbine architecture to extract power from various littoral zones (river, stream, tidal). Units can be deployed in single format or multi-unit across an array of shoreline and littoral region bathymetries, and be transported via existing expeditionary vehicles including Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTVs), and Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle (ULTVs).