scholarly journals Experimental Study of a Hybrid Wave Energy Converter Integrated in a Harbor Breakwater

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Rosa-Santos ◽  
Francisco Taveira-Pinto ◽  
Daniel Clemente ◽  
Tomás Cabral ◽  
Felipe Fiorentin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Ocean Waves ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Hybrid Wave ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
The North ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mound Structure

Sea ports are infrastructures with substantial energy demands and often responsible for air pollution and other environmental problems, which may be minimized by using renewable energy, namely electricity harvested from ocean waves. In this regard, a wide variety of concepts to harvest wave energy are available and some shoreline technologies are already in an advanced development phase. The SE@PORTS project aims to assess the suitability and viability of existing wave energy conversion technologies to be integrated in harbor breakwaters, in order to take advantage of their high exposure to ocean waves. This paper describes the experimental study carried out to assess the performance of a hybrid wave energy converter (WEC) integrated in the rubble-mound structure that was proposed for the extension of the North breakwater of the Port of Leixões, Portugal. The hybrid concept combines the overtopping and the oscillating water column principles and was tested on a geometric scale of 1/50. This paper is focused on the assessment of the effects of the hybrid WEC integration on the case-study breakwater, both in terms of its stability and functionality. The 2D physical model included the reproduction of the seabed bathymetry in front of the breakwater and the generation of a wide range of irregular sea states, including extreme wave conditions. The experimental results shown that the integration of the hybrid WEC in the breakwater does not worsens the stability of its toe berm blocks and reduces the magnitude of the overtopping events. The conclusions obtained are therefore favorable to the integration of this type of devices on harbor breakwaters.

scholarly journals Hydraulic and Structural Assessment of a Rubble-Mound Breakwater with a Hybrid Wave Energy Converter

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 922
Author(s):  
Daniel Clemente ◽  
Tomás Calheiros-Cabral ◽  
Paulo Rosa-Santos ◽  
Francisco Taveira-Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Ocean Waves ◽  
Wave Climate ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Hybrid Wave ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
The North ◽  
Rubble Mound

Seaports’ breakwaters serve as important infrastructures capable of sheltering ships, facilities, and harbour personnel from severe wave climate. Given their exposure to ocean waves and port authorities’ increasing awareness towards sustainability, it is important to develop and assess wave energy conversion technologies suitable of being integrated into seaport breakwaters. To fulfil this goal whilst ensuring adequate sheltering conditions, this paper describes the performance and stability analysis of the armour layer and toe berm of a 1/50 geometric scale model of the north breakwater extension project, intended for the Port of Leixões, with an integrated hybrid wave energy converter. This novel hybrid concept combines an oscillating water column and an overtopping device. The breakwater was also studied without the hybrid wave energy device as to enable a thorough comparison between both solutions regarding structural stability, safety, and overtopping performance. The results point towards a considerable reduction in the overtopping volumes through the integration of the hybrid technology by an average value of 50%, while the stability analysis suggests that the toe berm of the breakwater is not significantly affected by the hybrid device, leading to acceptable safety levels. Even so, some block displacements were observed, and the attained stability numbers were slightly above the recommended thresholds from the literature. It is also shown that traditional damage assessment parameters should be applied with care when non-conventional structures are analysed, such as rubble-mound breakwaters with integrated wave energy converters.

Experimental Study of the WEPTOS Wave Energy Converter

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Pecher ◽  
Jens Peter Kofoed ◽  
Tommy Larsen ◽  
Tanguy Marchalot
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Incoming Wave ◽  
Novel Device ◽  
The North ◽  
Energy Absorbing

This paper presents the power performance results of the experimental study of the WEPTOS wave energy converter (WEC). This novel device combines an established and efficient wave energy absorbing mechanism with an adjustable structure that can regulate the amount of incoming wave energy and reduce loads in extreme wave conditions. This A-shaped floating structure absorbs the energy in the waves through a multitude of rotors, the shape of which is based on the renowned Salter’s Duck. These rotors pivot around a common axle, one for each leg of the structure, to which the rotors transfer the absorbed wave energy and which is connected to a common power take off system (one for each leg). The study investigates the performance of the device in a large range of wave states and estimates the performance in terms of mechanical power available to the power take off system of the WEPTOS WEC for two locations of interest. These are a generic offshore location in the Danish part of the North Sea (Point 3) and the location of the Danish wave energy centre (DanWEC) in front of Hanstholm harbour.

scholarly journals A broadbanded pressure differential wave energy converter based on dielectric elastomer generators

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Righi ◽  
Giacomo Moretti ◽  
David Forehand ◽  
Lorenzo Agostini ◽  
Rocco Vertechy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Large Deformations ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Pressure Differential ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Waves

AbstractDielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) are a promising option for the implementation of affordable and reliable sea wave energy converters (WECs), as they show considerable promise in replacing expensive and inefficient power take-off systems with cheap direct-drive generators. This paper introduces a concept of a pressure differential wave energy converter, equipped with a DEG power take-off operating in direct contact with sea water. The device consists of a closed submerged air chamber, with a fluid-directing duct and a deformable DEG power take-off mounted on its top surface. The DEG is cyclically deformed by wave-induced pressure, thus acting both as the power take-off and as a deformable interface with the waves. This layout allows the partial balancing of the stiffness due to the DEG’s elasticity with the negative hydrostatic stiffness contribution associated with the displacement of the water column on top of the DEG. This feature makes it possible to design devices in which the DEG exhibits large deformations over a wide range of excitation frequencies, potentially achieving large power capture in a wide range of sea states. We propose a modelling approach for the system that relies on potential-flow theory and electroelasticity theory. This model makes it possible to predict the system dynamic response in different operational conditions and it is computationally efficient to perform iterative and repeated simulations, which are required at the design stage of a new WEC. We performed tests on a small-scale prototype in a wave tank with the aim of investigating the fluid–structure interaction between the DEG membrane and the waves in dynamical conditions and validating the numerical model. The experimental results proved that the device exhibits large deformations of the DEG power take-off over a broad range of monochromatic and panchromatic sea states. The proposed model demonstrates good agreement with the experimental data, hence proving its suitability and effectiveness as a design and prediction tool.

Research on the hydraulic power take-off unit of a hybrid wave energy converter

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Sun ◽  
Wenke Ge ◽  
Liang Luo ◽  
Hui Liang ◽  
Chicheng Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Hybrid Wave ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Hydraulic Power

Experimental study on overtopping performance of a circular ramp wave energy converter

2017 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 163-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Liu ◽  
Hongda Shi ◽  
Ying Cui ◽  
Kilwon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Energy Converter

scholarly journals Multi-Mode Wave Energy Converter Design Optimisation Using an Improved Moth Flame Optimisation Algorithm

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3737
Author(s):  
Mehdi Neshat ◽  
Nataliia Sergiienko ◽  
Seyedali Mirjalili ◽  
Meysam Majidi Nezhad ◽  
Giuseppe Piras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Wave Regime ◽  
Optimisation Algorithm ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Evolutionary Optimisation ◽  
Optimisation Methods ◽  
Optimisation Algorithms

Ocean renewable wave power is one of the more encouraging inexhaustible energy sources, with the potential to be exploited for nearly 337 GW worldwide. However, compared with other sources of renewables, wave energy technologies have not been fully developed, and the produced energy price is not as competitive as that of wind or solar renewable technologies. In order to commercialise ocean wave technologies, a wide range of optimisation methodologies have been proposed in the last decade. However, evaluations and comparisons of the performance of state-of-the-art bio-inspired optimisation algorithms have not been contemplated for wave energy converters’ optimisation. In this work, we conduct a comprehensive investigation, evaluation and comparison of the optimisation of the geometry, tether angles and power take-off (PTO) settings of a wave energy converter (WEC) using bio-inspired swarm-evolutionary optimisation algorithms based on a sample wave regime at a site in the Mediterranean Sea, in the west of Sicily, Italy. An improved version of a recent optimisation algorithm, called the Moth–Flame Optimiser (MFO), is also proposed for this application area. The results demonstrated that the proposed MFO can outperform other optimisation methods in maximising the total power harnessed from a WEC.

scholarly journals Deep Learning for Wave Energy Converter Modeling Using Long Short Term Memory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Milad Mousavi ◽  
Majid Ghasemi ◽  
Mahsa Dehghan Manshadi ◽  
Amir Mosavi
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Ocean Waves ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Long Short Term Memory

Accurate forecasts of ocean waves energy can not only reduce costs for investment but it is also essential for management and operation of electrical power. This paper presents an innovative approach based on the Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) to predict the power generation of an economical wave energy converter named “Searaser”. The data for analyzing is provided by collecting the experimental data from another study and the exerted data from numerical simulation of searaser. The simulation is done with Flow-3D software which has high capability in analyzing the fluid solid interactions. The lack of relation between wind speed and output power in previous studies needs to be investigated in this field. Therefore, in this study the wind speed and output power are related with a LSTM method. Moreover, it can be inferred that the LSTM Network is able to predict power in terms of height more accurately and faster than the numerical solution in a field of predicting. The network output figures show a great agreement and the root mean square is 0.49 in the mean value related to the accuracy of LSTM method. Furthermore, the mathematical relation between the generated power and wave height was introduced by curve fitting of the power function to the result of LSTM method.

scholarly journals Experimental Analysis of a Novel Adaptively Counter-Rotating Wave Energy Converter for Powering Drifters

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoheng Wu ◽  
Zhongyue Lu ◽  
Zirong Luo ◽  
Jianzhong Shang ◽  
Chongfei Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Power Constraint ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Wave Tank ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rotating Wave

Nowadays, drifters are used for a wide range of applications for researching and exploring the sea. However, the power constraint makes it difficult for their sampling intervals to be smaller, meaning that drifters cannot transmit more accurate measurement data to satellites. Furthermore, due to the power constraint, a modern Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifter lives an average of 400 days before ceasing transmission. To overcome the power constraint of SVP drifters, this article proposes an adaptively counter-rotating wave energy converter (ACWEC) to supply power for drifters. The ACWEC has the advantages of convenient modular integration, simple conversion process, and minimal affection by the crucial sea environment. This article details the design concept and working principle, and the interaction between the wave energy converter (WEC) and wave is presented based on plane wave theory. To verify the feasibility of the WEC, the research team carried out a series of experiments in a wave tank with regular and irregular waves. Through experiments, it was found that the power and efficiency of the ACWEC are greatly influenced by parameters such as wave height and wave frequency. The maximum output power of the small scale WEC in a wave tank is 6.36 W, which allows drifters to detect ocean data more frequently and continuously.

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