Reference Model 1 Scaled Geometry (RM1: Tidal Current Turbine)

Contains the Reference Model 1 (RM1) scaled scale geometry files of the Tidal Current Turbine, developed by the Reference Model Project (RMP). These scaled geometry files are saved as SolidWorks assembly, IGS, and STEP files, and require a CAD program to view. The scaled RM1 device was tested at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) at the University of Minnesota flume, details of which are described in the included journal article. The scale of the geometries included in this submission are at a 1:40 scale compared to the full scale geometry. This data was generated upon completion of the project on September 30, 2014.

The Reference Model Project (RMP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), was a partnered effort to develop open-source MHK point designs as reference models (RMs) to benchmark MHK technology performance and costs, and an open-source methodology for design and analysis of MHK technologies, including models for estimating their capital costs, operational costs, and levelized costs of energy. The point designs also served as open-source test articles for university researchers and commercial technology developers. The RMP project team, led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), included a partnership between DOE, three national laboratories, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Applied Research Laboratory of Penn State University, and Re Vision Consulting.

Reference Model 1 (RM1) is a dual variable-speed variable-pitch (VSVP) axial-flow tidal turbine device, designed for the Tacoma Narrows tidal current energy resource site in Puget Sound, Washington. RM1 comprises a monopile foundation and a crossarm assembly to mount the two rotors. The cross-arm assembly is nearly neutrally buoyant so the attached rotors can be recovered and redeployed with a minimal amount of lifting crane capacity; therefore, the design minimizes the handling requirements during deployment and recovery, which reduces overall cost in all O&M activities including access to the power conversion chain (PCC).

Data and Resources

Field Value
DOI 10.15473/1818911
accessLevel public
bureauCode {019:20}
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dataQuality true
identifier https://data.openei.org/submissions/4481
issued 2014-09-30T06:00:00Z
landingPage https://mhkdr.openei.org/submissions/362
license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
modified 2021-09-16T16:48:50Z
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programCode {019:010,019:009}
projectLead Jeff Rieks
projectNumber FY13 AOP 1.2.5.1
projectTitle Reference Model Project
publisher Sandia National Laboratories
resource-type Dataset
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Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • National Provider
  • North America
Tags
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • axial-flow-turbine
  • cad
  • cfd
  • ckan
  • dual-rotor
  • energy
  • experiment
  • geo
  • geoss
  • hydrokinetic
  • marine
  • mhk
  • national
  • north-america
  • ocean-currents
  • power
  • reference-model
  • reference-model-1
  • reference-model-project
  • rm1
  • scaled-geometry
  • scaled-test
  • solidworks
  • technology
  • test
  • tidal-current
  • tidal-energy-converter
  • tidal-streams
  • tidal-turbine
  • turbine
  • united-states
isopen True
license_id cc-by
license_title Creative Commons Attribution
license_url http://www.opendefinition.org/licenses/cc-by
maintainer Vince Neary
maintainer_email Vince.Neary@sandia.gov
metadata_created 2025-11-20T10:16:19.086462
metadata_modified 2025-11-20T10:16:19.086466
notes Contains the Reference Model 1 (RM1) scaled scale geometry files of the Tidal Current Turbine, developed by the Reference Model Project (RMP). These scaled geometry files are saved as SolidWorks assembly, IGS, and STEP files, and require a CAD program to view. The scaled RM1 device was tested at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) at the University of Minnesota flume, details of which are described in the included journal article. The scale of the geometries included in this submission are at a 1:40 scale compared to the full scale geometry. This data was generated upon completion of the project on September 30, 2014. The Reference Model Project (RMP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), was a partnered effort to develop open-source MHK point designs as reference models (RMs) to benchmark MHK technology performance and costs, and an open-source methodology for design and analysis of MHK technologies, including models for estimating their capital costs, operational costs, and levelized costs of energy. The point designs also served as open-source test articles for university researchers and commercial technology developers. The RMP project team, led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), included a partnership between DOE, three national laboratories, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Applied Research Laboratory of Penn State University, and Re Vision Consulting. Reference Model 1 (RM1) is a dual variable-speed variable-pitch (VSVP) axial-flow tidal turbine device, designed for the Tacoma Narrows tidal current energy resource site in Puget Sound, Washington. RM1 comprises a monopile foundation and a crossarm assembly to mount the two rotors. The cross-arm assembly is nearly neutrally buoyant so the attached rotors can be recovered and redeployed with a minimal amount of lifting crane capacity; therefore, the design minimizes the handling requirements during deployment and recovery, which reduces overall cost in all O&M activities including access to the power conversion chain (PCC).
num_resources 8
num_tags 33
title Reference Model 1 Scaled Geometry (RM1: Tidal Current Turbine)