Efficient, low maintenance tidal energy turbines
Blue Tidal Energy is a tidal stream turbine developer for generators to extract energy from the sea
Barry Bristow
Managing Director
RAE Bedford – Student Engineer to the low speed 13ft by 9ft wind tunnel. Work included a full calibration and several testing programmes.
RAE Farnborough – Student Engineer in the Materials Laboratory, helping and observing methods of measuring creep in non ferrous metals. Work was undertaken to examine materials used in the production of Concorde.
RAE Dunsfold - Observation and test result calculations on the anti skid brakes for the KESTREL P1127. This
aircraft was later developed as the Harrier jump jet.
RAE Boscombe Down - The work of this establishment involved testing all aircraft procured for for the RAF and Royal Navy. The work involved analysis of roll rate deterioration when missiles were off loaded during flight.
The F4 Phantom was flown around the flight envelope with extensive monitoring equipment on board.
After graduating with an Honours Degree in Aeronautical Engineering Barry left the Ministry of Defence in 1972
to pursue a career in commercial aircraft production at British Aerospace Hatfield. His role at Hatfield was in
the structural design office working on the HS146 four engine passenger aircraft. The position was to produce
the schematic drawings of the ribs of the leading edge outboard of the outer engine with the associated de-icing ducting.
In 1973 Barry changed direction, by accepting a course at Oxford to be trained as an Airline Pilot for British Airways.
In 1981 Airtrack Services Ltd was set up to provide travel services for both business clients and the public to motor racing events around the world. The company was started with no capital and at its peak produced £4.5M turnover, with a 20% gross profit with 12 staff.
The company was sold to Thomas Cook in 2008.
Dr Brian Kirke
Chief Designer
Brian has been working with Blue Tidal Energy for nearly 2 years and provides the technical and design input to the company. Brian has a long list of achievements in both wind and tidal turbine engineering. He is a leading exponent of renewable energy in both Australia, Canada, UK and around the world.
Recent relevant refereed journal articles:
1. Lazauskas, L and Kirke, B.K. Modeling passive variable pitch cross flow hydrokinetic turbines to maximize performance and smooth operation. Renewable Energy, Vol 45, Sept 2012, 41-50.
2. Anyi, M. and Kirke, B.K. Hydrokinetic turbine blades: Design and local construction techniques for remote communities. Energy for Sustainable Development 15, Issue 3, Sept 2011, 223-230.
3. Kirke B.K, Tests on ducted and bare helical and straight blade Darrieus hydrokinetic turbines, Re-newable Energy 36 (2011) 3013-3022
4. Kirke, B.K. and Lazauskas, L. Limitations of fixed pitch Darrieus hydrokinetic turbines and the challenge of variable pitch. Renewable Energy 36 (2011) 893-897.
5. Anyi, M., and Kirke, B.K. Evaluation of small axial flow hydrokinetic turbines for remote communi-ties. Energy for Sustainable Development 14, 2010, 110-116.
6. Anyi, M., Kirke, B.K. and Ali, S. (2010). "Remote Community Electrification in Sarawak, Malaysia." Renewable Energy, Volume 35, Issue 7, July 2010, Pages 1609-161.
7. Kirke, B.K. and Lazauskas, L. (2008), “Variable Pitch Darrieus Water Turbines.” JSME J. Fluid Sc & Tech. V.3, No.3, 430-438.
Other publications relevant to VATT design:
Kirke, B.K. (1998). Evaluation of self-starting vertical axis wind turbines for stand-alone applications. PhD Thesis, Griffith University.
Kirke, B.K. (2005). Developments in ducted current turbines. www.cyberiad.net. Since putting these on Leo's website (cyberiad.net) I've been getting quite a few enquiries and compliments.
Brian is often asked to review grant applications and articles submitted for publication in several reputable journals, as set out below:
Reviewer for German-Israeli Water Technology Cooperation Program grant applications, July 2010, Jan 2013.
Assessor, Qld Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Fund, wave energy grant application, 2008.
Reviewer for 4 journals:
Renewable Energy, Energy for Sustainable Development, Wind Engineering and Energies.
