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Orbital Marine Power O2

Kinetic Architecture Project

The Challenge

The O2 is Orbital Marine Power’s third-generation floating tidal turbine. A striking new addition to its design is the retractable legs that lower the 20-metre turbine blades below the surface of the water. The O2 can provide up to 2MW of clean sustainable energy – and is capable of meeting the annual electricity demand of up to 2,000 homes.

At 72 metres long and weighing 680 tonnes, O2 sits in the Orkney tidal currents – perfect for generating power, but also a real test of the system’s robust engineering. Orbital Marine Power approached DHX to design a bespoke, on-board hydraulic system with two objectives: to tension the O2’s seabed anchors, and to deploy and retract the turbine support legs.

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The Solution

The Orbital O2 is the most powerful floating tidal turbine in the world, leading the charge for tidal power that will help the UK reach ‘net zero’ by 2050. Befitting such cutting-edge technology, DHX’s hydraulic solution complements the O2’s innovative design.

DHX’s engineers combined the simplicity of hydraulic flow division with the flexibility of a variable speed drive. A sprinkle of insightful problem-solving was also added to eliminate the need for external hydraulic hoses, improving reliability and simplifying maintenance.

Technical Details

INNOVATIVE HYDRAULIC DESIGN
  • DHX proposed a new design for the turbine leg hinges, eliminating the need for external hydraulic hoses and the potential for damage from tidal debris
  • The oil for the leg cylinders passes through the trunnion pin, on which is mounted a rotary union. A slip-ring within the union carries the control signal for accurate leg positioning
  • The cylinder load-control valves were also able to be safely relocated inside the hull, rather than externally mounted
POWER AND CONTROL
  • The high-pressure hydraulic system operates through a 75kW variable speed drive (VSD), driving a variable displacement pump
  • The system powers both the retractable leg cylinders and the two dual-speed winches that anchor O2 to the seabed
  • This arrangement provides flexibility and simplicity of speed control for both hydraulically powered systems, giving smooth and controlled acceleration and deceleration
PRECISE TURBINE POSITIONING
  • The leg cylinders are synchronised via a rotary flow divider, offering high accuracy and high efficiency with minimal energy loss
  • In maintenance mode, the support legs lift the turbines to the surface of the water, making the O2 easier to tow, and reducing the cost and complexity of maintenance and repairs
  • Individual leg positions can be fine-tuned to optimise power generation and simplify in-situ servicing

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