scholarly journals Geometry Optimization of Heaving Axisymmetric Point Absorbers under Parametrical Constraints in Irregular Waves

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1136
Author(s):  
Jinming Wu
Keyword(s):  
Geometry Optimization ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Small Radius ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Point Absorber ◽  
Nested Loops ◽  
Absorbed Power ◽  
Point Absorbers ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Motion Constraint

The objective of this work is to identify the maximum absorbed power and optimal buoy geometry of a heaving axisymmetric point absorber for a given cost in different sea states. The cost of the wave energy converter is estimated as proportional to the displaced volume of the buoy, and the buoy geometry is described by the radius-to-draft ratio. A conservative wave-height-dependent motion constraint is introduced to prevent the buoy from jumping out of the free surface of waves. The constrained optimization problem is solved by a two-nested-loops method, within which a core fundamental optimization process employs the MATLAB function fmincon. Results show that the pretension of the mooring system should be as low as possible. Except for very small energy periods, the stiffness of both the power take-off and mooring system should also be as low as possible. A buoy with a small radius-to-draft ratio can absorb more power, but at the price of working in more energetic seas and oscillating at larger amplitudes. In addition, the method to choose the optimal buoy geometry at different sea states is provided.

Experimental Investigation on a Point Absorber Moored by Taut Mooring System and Mooring Fatigue Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Xu ◽  
C. Guedes Soares
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Spectral Methods ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Wire Ropes ◽  
Irregular Wave ◽  
Point Absorber ◽  
Motion Responses ◽  
Linear Spring ◽  
Rainflow Counting

Abstract In this paper, a taut wire mooring system has been designed consisting of three wire ropes symmetrically arranged. The power take-off system is modelled by a linear spring and a heave plate to simulate the linear damping of the power take-off. A series of regular wave tests in head seas are performed to study the dynamics of the system. Irregular wave tests were then conducted to simulate the system performance in the operational sea states, where the irregular waves are modelled by the Jonswap spectrum. The WEC motion responses and mooring tensions are studied. The short term mooring fatigue damage estimated by different spectral methods are compared to the rainflow counting method. The spectral method for estimating fatigue damage include the Dirlik formula, Jiao-Moan method and Tovo-Benasciutti approach. The accuracy of spectral methods for predicting mooring fatigue damage are discussed.

scholarly journals Heaving buoys, point absorbers and arrays

2012 ◽  
Vol 370 (1959) ◽  
pp. 246-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Falnes ◽  
Jørgen Hals
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wave Climate ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Object A ◽  
Point Absorber ◽  
Physical Volume ◽  
Absorbed Power ◽  
Point Absorbers ◽  
Swept Volume ◽  
Offshore Wave

Absorption of wave energy may be considered as a phenomenon of interference between incident and radiated waves generated by an oscillating object; a wave-energy converter (WEC) that displaces water. If a WEC is very small in comparison with one wavelength, it is classified as a point absorber (PA); otherwise, as a ‘quasi-point absorber’. The latter may be a dipole-mode radiator, for instance an immersed body oscillating in the surge mode or pitch mode, while a PA is so small that it should preferably be a source-mode radiator, for instance a heaving semi-submerged buoy. The power take-off capacity, the WEC's maximum swept volume and preferably also its full physical volume should be reasonably matched to the wave climate. To discuss this matter, two different upper bounds for absorbed power are applied in a ‘Budal diagram’. It appears that, for a single WEC unit, a power capacity of only about 0.3 MW matches well to a typical offshore wave climate, and the full physical volume has, unfortunately, to be significantly larger than the swept volume, unless phase control is used. An example of a phase-controlled PA is presented. For a sizeable wave-power plant, an array consisting of hundreds, or even thousands, of mass-produced WEC units is required.

Experimental Assessment of the Performance of CECO Wave Energy Converter in Irregular Waves

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio A. Rodríguez ◽  
Paulo Rosa-Santos ◽  
Francisco Taveira-Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Point Absorber ◽  
Model Scale ◽  
Absorbed Power ◽  
Incident Waves

The performance assessment of a wave energy converter (WEC) is a key task. Depending on the layout of the WEC system and type of power take-off (PTO) mechanism, the determination of the absorbed power at model scale involves several challenges, particularly when the measurement of PTO forces is not available. In irregular waves, the task is even more difficult due to the random character of forces and motions. Recent studies carried out with kinetic energy harvesters (KEH) have proposed expressions for the estimation of the power based only on the measured motions. Assuming that the WEC behaves as a KEH at model scale, the expressions for power estimation of KEHs have been heuristically adapted to WECs. CECO, a floating-point absorber, has been used as case study. Experimental data from model tests in irregular waves are presented and analyzed. Spectral analyses have been applied to investigate the WEC responses in the frequency domain and to derive expressions to estimate the absorbed power in irregular waves. The experimental transfer functions of the WEC motions demonstrated that the PTO damping is significantly affected by the incident waves. Based on KEH approach's results, absorbed power and PTO damping coefficients have been estimated. A linear numerical potential model to compute transfer functions has been also implemented and calibrated based on the experimental results. The numerical results allowed the estimation of combined viscous and losses effects and showed that although the KEH approach underestimated the absorbed power, qualitatively reproduced the WEC performance in waves.

A Self-Reacting Point Absorber With a Novel Mechanical Motion Rectifier as Power Takeoff System

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changwei Liang ◽  
Junxiao Ai ◽  
Lei Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Domain Model ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Regular Waves ◽  
Mechanical Motion ◽  
Equivalent Damping ◽  
Point Absorber ◽  
Absorbed Power ◽  
Body Self ◽  
Engagement And Disengagement ◽  
Two Bodies

A two-body self-reacting point absorber is proposed in this paper. This two body system is designed as a floating buoy and a bottom sphere. The energy is harvested through the relative motion between these two bodies. A mechanical motion rectifier (MMR) is used as the power takeoff (PTO) system. The PTO system will experience engagement and disengagement under wave excitation. Due to this nonlinearity, a time domain model is developed. The influences of the PTO parameters such as the equivalent inertia mass and equivalent damping on the absorbed power are obtained in regular waves. The system parameters were chosen to maximize the absorbed power. The performance of this device in irregular waves was also investigated.

Numerical Study on Hydrodynamic Responses of a Two-Body System in Side-by-Side Operation

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaowu Ou ◽  
Shixiao Fu ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
Tao Peng ◽  
Xuefeng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
Hydrodynamic Interactions ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Body System ◽  
The Time Domain ◽  
Two Bodies

Typically, in some side-by-side offshore operations, the speed of vessels is very low or even 0 and the headings are manually maneuvered. In this paper, the hydrodynamic responses of a two-body system in such operations under irregular seas are investigated. The numerical model includes two identical PSVs (Platform Supply Vessel) as well as the fenders and connection lines between them. A horizontal mooring system constraining the low frequency motions is set on one of the ships to simulate maneuver system. Accounting for the hydrodynamic interactions between two bodies, 3D potential theory is applied for the analysis of their hydrodynamic coefficients. With wind and current effects included, these coefficients are further applied in the time domain simulations in irregular waves. The relevant coefficients are estimated by experiential formulas. Time-varying loads on fenders and connection lines are analyzed. Meanwhile, the relative motions as well as the effects of the hydrodynamic interactions between ships are further discussed, and finally an optimal operation scheme in which operation can be safely performed is summarized.

scholarly journals Proposal and Performance Study of a Novel Mooring System with Six Mooring Lines for Spar-Type Offshore Wind Turbines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 11665
Author(s):  
Shi Liu ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Yuangang Tu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Included Angle ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Spar-type floating offshore wind turbines commonly vibrate excessively when under the coupling impact of wind and wave. The wind turbine vibration can be controlled by developing its mooring system. Thus, this study proposes a novel mooring system for the spar-type floating offshore wind turbine. The proposed mooring system has six mooring lines, which are divided into three groups, with two mooring lines in the same group being connected to the same fairlead. Subsequently, the effects of the included angle between the two mooring lines on the mooring-system’s performance are investigated. Then, these six mooring lines are connected to six independent fairleads for comparison. FAST is utilized to calculate wind turbine dynamic response. Wind turbine surge, pitch, and yaw movements are presented and analyzed in time and frequency domains to quantitatively evaluate the performances of the proposed mooring systems. Compared with the mooring system with six fairleads, the mooring system with three fairleads performed better. When the included angle was 40°, surge, pitch, and yaw movement amplitudes of the wind turbine reduced by 39.51%, 6.8%, and 12.34%, respectively, when under regular waves; they reduced by 56.08%, 25.00%, and 47.5%, respectively, when under irregular waves. Thus, the mooring system with three fairleads and 40° included angle is recommended.

Near-Optimal Time-Domain Control of Small Buoys in Irregular Waves

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umesh A. Korde ◽  
R. Cengiz Ertekin
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Control ◽  
Impulse Response ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
The Body ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Impulse Response Functions ◽  
Control Force ◽  
Response Functions ◽  
Absorbed Power

Within the linear theory framework, smooth optimal control for maximum energy conversion in irregular waves requires independent synthesis of two non-causal impulse response functions operating on the body oscillations near the free surface, and one non-causal impulse response function relating the exciting force to the incident wave profile at the body. Full cancellation of reactive forces and matching of radiation damping thus requires knowledge or estimation of device velocity into the future. As suggested in the literature, the control force can be synthesized in long-crested waves by suitably combining the ‘full’ impulse response functions with wave surface elevation information at an appropriately determined distance up-wave of the device. This paper applies the near-optimal control approach investigated earlier by one of the authors (Korde, UA, Applied Ocean Research, to appear) to small floating cylindrical buoys. Absorbed power performance is compared with two other cases, (i) when single-frequency tuning is used based on non-real time adjustment of the reactive and resistive loads to maximize conversion at the spectral peak frequency, and (ii) when no control is applied with damping set to a constant value. Time domain absorbed power results are discussed.

Coupled Dynamic Analyses of Deep-Water Semi-Submersible With New Spread Mooring System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chandrasekaran ◽  
Arvind Kumar Jain ◽  
Syed Azeem Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Dynamic Positioning System ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
Ocean Environment ◽  
Offshore Oil

Abstract Offshore complaint structures dominate the deepwater oil exploration and production due to their adaptive geometric form and well-established construction practices. Semi-submersible is one of the widely preferred, floating production systems due to its form-dominant ability, better stability characteristics, and best constructional features. It is usually position-restrained using a dynamic-positioning system (active-restraining) or mooring system (passive-restraining); being less-sensitive to freak ocean environment is an added advantage. The Semi-submersible, chosen for the present study is based on a similar configuration of a 6th generation deep-water Hai Yang Shi You (HYSY) – 981 platforms, commissioned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in 2012. A sixteen-point, spread catenary-mooring without submerged buoy (case-1) in the form of chain-wire-chain type configuration is used for position-restraining. Response behavior of the semi-submersible with a conventional spread catenary-mooring system with a submerged buoy (case-2) is compared. API spectrum is used for computing wind loads, while the JONSWAP spectrum is used to represent irregular waves for various directions of wave heading. The effect of non-linearly varying current is considered up to 10% of water depth. Numerical analyses of the semi-submersible are carried out under 10-years, and 100-years return period events using Ansys Aqwa. Under wind, wave, and current loads, motion responses of the Semi-submersible at 1500 m and 2000 m water depths are investigated for both the cases in time-domain. Dynamic mooring tension variations arise from the environmental loads are further investigated for a fatigue failure using the S-N curve approach. It is found that the fatigue life of the mooring lines after the inclusion of the buoy is enhanced. It was also observed that, during failure of mooring lines there is an increase in tension of the mooring lines which are adjacent to the failed mooring lines and this is due to the transfer of mooring load and hence reducing their fatigue life.

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