Quote:
Originally Posted by LubeMaster77
Les,
Perfect! Did we meet on a plane a year or two ago? I remember talking to a guy from Canada that was into the design of tidal power plants. I swear that it s fantastic idea! I remember him telling me that his big nightmare is corrosion. Is it?
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Mike,
I don't design 'em, I spend all day talking about 'em.
Electrolysis is certainly a factor. The Annapolis unit uses 17-4-2 stainless alloy and is expected to have a life of 80 years. The blade to hub joins were not adequately radiused, so had to have increased radius curves machined in place to remove stress risers about 15 years in.
It's a neat peice of kit, but a "dead end" as far as the highly sedimented conditions in the Bay of Fundy are concerned.
Next generation are in-stream generators, which do not use dams. That is probably what your fellow traveller was into.
Best
Les