A modified linear analysis of a wave-energy conversion buoy

The analysis of a pneumatic-type wave-energy conversion buoy is developed assuming independence of the buoy heaving motion and the motion of the water column within the center pipe. Results of the analysis are then compared with experimental data in a study of the relative air velocity within the turbine passage. The results compare very well. The effect of the variation of the center pipe length is found to be significant for periods about the surge chamber resonance but is negligible in the neighborhood of the heaving resonance period. Further, the theory is applied to a prototype buoy study of the U.S. Coast Guard, and a dimensionless design curve is developed from the results of the prototype analysis.     

Farm size comparison with analytical model of linear generator wave energy converters

Ocean wave energy is an emerging kind of renewable energy, and several energy conversion methods are available today. One solution is to connect a buoy to a linear generator. Such units are quite small (10–100 kW), and farm solutions are suggested to increase power production. This paper shows the results from small farm simulations where the translator motion is varied for the generators in the farm.Simulations with five and 10 units show that power fluctuations decrease with an increasing number of generators.     

The experimental and theoretical evaluation of a twin-flap wave-energy absorbing device

A series of model experiments with a twin-flap wave-energy absorbing device is described, and the results compared with numerical predictions based on theoretical work reported by Srokosz and Evans (1979). Measurements were made of absorption efficiency, flap motion responses, and total flap forces (mooring forces), all with the supporting structure held fixed, with normal wave encounter. Both 2-D and finite-length flap experiments were conducted.Generally, fair agreement was obtained between theory and experiments with regard to efficiency vs wavenumber and applied damping coefficient was generally matched by apparent from these experiments. Maximum efficiencies approaching 100% (as predicted analytically) were confirmed by experiments. Further, the predicted behavior of curves of efficiency vs wave number and applied damping coefficient was generally matched by experimental results.Results for flap motion responses and forces showed good agreement with theory.Some basic conclusions are drawn with regard to practical design and economic considerations for a twin-flap power generating system.     

Wave energy transmission system concepts for linear generator arrays

Wave energy is a renewable source, which has so far not been exploited widely. Many of the various schemes in the past consist of large mechanical structures, often located near the sea surface. This article presents a range of systems with point absorbers on the surface and linear generators placed on the seabed, converting the wave motion into electrical power. Electrical power components are combined in different ways to obtain solutions suitable for various conditions. Different topologies for the electrical system transmitting power to the grid are discussed. Qualitative case studies are used to exemplify system options and connection schemes.     

On the tuning of a wave-energy driven oscillating-water-column seawater pump to polychromatic waves

Performance of wave-energy devices of the oscillating water column (OWC) type is greatly enhanced when a resonant condition with the forcing waves is maintained. The natural frequency of such systems can in general be tuned to resonate with a given wave forcing frequency. In this paper we address the tuning of an OWC sea-water pump to polychromatic waves. We report results of wave tank experiments, which were conducted with a scale model of the pump. Also, a numerical solution for the pump equations, which were proven in previous work to successfully describe its behavior when driven by monochromatic waves, is tested with various polychromatic wave spectra. Results of the numerical model forced by the wave trains measured in the wave tank experiments are used to develop a tuning criterion for the sea-water pump.     

八角形FPSO与穿梭油轮串靠外输中碰撞风险分析

针对300 m作业水深下的八角形FPSO,提出采用穿梭油轮串靠的外输作业方案,研究外输过程中穿梭油轮与FPSO之间由于过分纵荡运动而引起的碰撞风险发生概率。建立由八角形FPSO及其系泊系统、穿梭油轮、系泊大缆等组成的浮式多体系统分析模型,在外输海况条件下,得到穿梭油轮与FPSO间距的时历曲线,结合极值理论,对过分纵荡运动进行预报,进而对外输系统的碰撞风险进行分析;揭示海流的方向变化对于外输系统碰撞风险的影响规律。     

Large capacity multi-float configurations for the wave energy converter M4 using a time-domain linear diffraction model

The moored three-float line absorber WEC M4 has been developed to optimise power capture through experiments and linear diffraction modelling. With the progression down wave from small to medium to large floats, the device heads naturally into the wave direction. The bow and mid floats are rigidly connected by a beam and a beam from the stern float is connected to the hinge point above the mid float for power take off (PTO). Increasing the bow to mid float spacing to be more than 50% greater than the mid to stern float spacing has been found to improve power capture. To increase power capture further and potentially reduce electricity generation cost the number of mid floats and stern floats is increased while maintaining a single bow float for mooring connection. The bow and mid floats still form a rigid body while the stern floats may respond independently. A time domain linear diffraction model based on Cummins method has been applied to configurations of 121, 123, 132, 133, and 134 floats where the numbers indicate the number of floats: bow, mid, stern. This shows how power capture is increased while response remains similar. We only consider uni-directional (long-crested) waves with narrow band width typical of swell. By considering scatter diagrams for various offshore sites capacities may range from 3.7 MW to 17.3 MW for the eight float system with a capacity factor of 1/3 while the cost of electricity assuming capital cost to be a fixed multiple of steel cost is reduced from that for the three-float system.     

八角形FPSO串靠外输系统耦合动力响应分析

针对100 m作业水深的八角形FPSO,提出采用穿梭油轮串靠的外输方案,研究串靠外输在南海的适用性。建立由八角形FPSO及其系泊系统、穿梭油轮及FPSO与穿梭油轮之间的系泊大缆等组成的浮式多体动力学模型,根据多浮体动力学理论进行耦合时域模拟。在外输海况条件下,分析了串靠连接的环境适应性及研究大缆载荷的响应特性,对连接大缆的长度、刚度等关键参数进行了敏感性分析。研究表明,串靠外输的形式对于八角FPSO具有足够的安全性和可靠性,系泊大缆受到明显的冲击张力,张力的幅值受大缆的长度和刚度影响较大。     

The Isaacs wave-energy pump: Field tests off the coast of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii: November 1976 – March 1977

Field tests conducted on a wave-power pump showed that this simple design conceived by Professor John D. Isaacs is suitable for wave-energy extraction around the Hawaiian Islands. In the small model tested, over 200 W of mechanical power were produced. Larger models could extract several orders of magnitude more power. Further research needs to be done with prototype models. The transmission of the power to the shore still needs to be examined.A by-product of the operation of the pump is nutrient rich water pumped from the bottom of the pipe. In our test, the water was pumped from 300 ft. It is feasible with a similar design that the water can be pumped from 1000 ft where the water is richer in nutrients. This water could then be used to stimulate the growth of marine plants.     

Performance investigation of a two-raft-type wave energy converter with hydraulic power take-off unit

Raft-type wave energy converter (WEC) is a multi-mode wave energy conversion device, using the relative pitch motion to drive its hydraulic power take-off (PTO) units for capturing energy from the ocean waves. The hydraulic PTO unit as its energy conversion module plays a significant role in storing large qualities of energy and making the output power smooth. However, most of the previous investigations on the raft-type WECs treat the hydraulic PTO unit as a linear PTO unit and do not consider the dynamics of the hydraulic circuit and components in their investigations. This paper is related to a two-raft-type WEC consisting of two hinged rafts and a hydraulic PTO unit. The aim of this paper is to make an understanding of the dynamics of the hydraulic PTO unit and how these affect the performance of the two-raft-type WEC. Therefore, a combined hydrodynamic and hydraulic PTO unit model is proposed to investigate and optimize the performance of the two-raft-type WEC; and based on the simulation of the combined model, the relationships between the optimal power capture ability, the optimal magnitude of the hydraulic PTO force and the wave states are numerically revealed. Results show that an approximately square wave type hydraulic PTO force is produced by the hydraulic PTO unit, which causes the performance of the two-raft-type WEC not to be sinusoidal and the energy capturing manner different from that of the device using a linear PTO unit; moreover, there is an optimal magnitude of the hydraulic PTO force for obtaining an optimal power capture ability, which can be achieved by adjusting the parameters of the hydraulic PTO unit; in regular waves, the optimal power capture ability as well as the optimal magnitude of the hydraulic PTO force normalized by the wave height presents little relationship with the wave height, mainly depends on the wave period; in irregular waves, the trends of the optimal power capture ability and the normalized optimal magnitude of the hydraulic PTO force against the peak wave periods at different significant wave heights are generally identical and show a good correlation. All means that the hydraulic PTO unit of the two-raft-type WEC can be tuned to the wave states, and these would provide a valuable guidance for the optimal design of its hydraulic PTO unit.     

Multi-vessel seakeeping computations with linear potential theory

The wave-induced motion of two vessels in close proximity is studied using traditional two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) boundary element methods. Added mass, damping, and the behavior of the free surface between the vessels are examined in some detail. As expected based on previous work, the response of the water between the vessels is found to have a profound effect on the hydrodynamic forces. At “critical frequencies” corresponding to standing waves between the hulls, the hydrodynamic forces undergo significant drastic changes. The 2D and 3D results are compared, and the effects of a skew angle between the vessels are examined. Some of the consequences of the behavior at the critical frequencies for simulations in the time domain are examined, the most significant of which is a very lightly damped impulse response.     

Declutching control of a wave energy converter

When hydraulic power take off (PTO) is used to convert the mechanical energy of a wave energy converter (WEC) into a more useful form of energy, the PTO force needs to be controlled. Continuous controlled variation of the PTO force can be approximated by a set of discrete values. This can be implemented using either variable displacement pumps or several hydraulic cylinders or several high pressure accumulators with different pressure levels. This pseudo-continuous control could lead to a complex PTO with a lot of components. A simpler way for controlling this hydraulic PTO is declutching control, which consists in switching on and off alternatively the wave energy converter's PTO. This can be achieved practically using a simple by-pass valve. In this paper, the control law of the valve is determined by using the optimal command theory. It is shown that, theoretically when considering a wave activated body type of WEC, declutching control can lead to energy absorption performance at least equivalent to that of pseudo-continuous control. The method is then applied to the case of the SEAREV wave energy converter, and it is shown than declutching control can even lead to a higher energy absorption, both in regular and irregular waves.     

Three-dimensional linear solution for wave propagation with slopingbottom

This paper presents a three-dimensional analytic linear wave solution for surface gravity wave propagation over a sloping bottom that is valid for small, but realistic, slopes. The sloping-bottom linear model is compared to published laboratory data and to predictions of two-dimensional, constant-bottom nonlinear theories. The model is shown to describe the measured wave-height growth in the wave transformation region up to a limiting local Ursell number U_r of 0.35-1.0, depending on the wave type, although, as a linear model, it does not predict the harmonics observed in that range. For U_r<0.35, the harmonics can generally be neglected and the sloping-bottom linear theory agrees closely with both the published wave-height data and third-order Stokes nonlinear theory. As a three-dimensional linear model, superposition can be invoked to synthesize and relate wave structure in the transformation region to complex incident ocean spectra with both wind wave and swell components that arrive with a range of incidence angles. As such, the sloping-bottom linear model presented here should be a convenient useful tool for ocean modeling through a significant portion of the wave transformation region     

垂荡式波浪能装置运动模型数值分析

垂荡式波浪能装置在海洋可再生能源开发中被广泛应用,通过浮子与摇杆在垂荡方向的相对运动吸收波浪能。在以往相关的运动预报数值分析中,通常基于微幅波假设,仅考虑浮子与摇杆在垂荡方向的运动,忽略摇杆其他自由度运动。建立并求解了垂荡式波浪能装置的非线性联合运动方程组,分析垂荡式波浪能装置的波浪载荷、浮子与平台连接处的受力情况。数值计算系统的运动响应,并将计算结果与已有的试验数据进行比较验证,结果表明数值模拟的垂荡式波能装置的运动响应与试验结果相符合。最后,应用本计算方法分析PTO(power take-off)参数对波能装置发电性能的影响。     

Numerical Simulation of Sloshing Using the MPS-FSI Method with Large Eddy Simulation

A numerical model has been developed to study sloshing of turbulent flow in a tank with elastic baffles. The Moving-Particle Semi-implicit method(MPS) is a kind of meshless Lagrangian calculation method. The large eddy simulation(LES) approach is employed to model the turbulence by using the Smagorinsky Sub-Particle Scale(SPS)closure model. This paper uses MPS-FSI method with LES to simulate the interaction between free surface flow and a thin elastic baffle in sloshing. Then, the numerical model is validated, and the numerical solution has good agreement with experimental data for sloshing in a tank with elastic baffles. Furthermore, under external excitations,the MPS is applied to viscous laminar flow and turbulent flow, with both the deformation of elastic baffles and the wave height of the free surface are compared with each other. Besides, the impact pressure with/without baffles and wave height of free surface are investigated and discussed in detail. Finally, preliminary simulations are carried out in the damage problem of elastic baffles, taking the advantage of the MPS-FSI method in computations of the fluid–structure interaction with large deformation.