Focal Technologies Supplies Slip Ring for Tidal Turbine

Scotrenewables recently launched the 550-metric-ton, 2 MW SR2000, which underwent preliminary tow trials in Belfast Lough, Ireland, before being towed to Orkney, Scotland, to commence a grid connected test program. The SR2000 is reportedly the world’s largest energy generating tidal turbine and is scheduled to go live within the next three months once the turbine is connecting into the grid.

The SR2000 utilizes a mooring system that allows the tidal generator to weathervane about the mooring point to maintain a heading into the tidal stream to maximize power generation efficiency.

The Focal 6.6 kV slip ring transmits 2 MW of power and control signals across the turret mooring system to the export cable on the seabed and an integrated absolute rotary encoder facilitates disconnection/connection operations between the SR2000 and the mooring system.

Shawn Taylor, Sales and Business Development Manager for Moog Focal, said, “We are very pleased to be supporting Scotrenewables on their SR2000 platform with our marine rotary offerings. It is certainly exciting to be designing and delivering technologies which are helping companies like Scotrenewables make reliable tidal energy solutions a reality.”

Focal said its swivels can also be used in other renewable topside or subsea applications to transfer power, electrical signals, optical signals and fluid media across rotary interfaces.  Diagnostic systems can be integrated with the swivel to monitor many parameters including temperature, orientation, shock and vibration.