Research

37 pages, 10050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ocean Renewable Energy Potential, Technology, and Deployments: A Case Study of Brazil

by Milad Shadman, Corbiniano Silva, Daiane Faller, Zhijia Wu, Luiz Paulo de Freitas Assad, Luiz Landau, Carlos Levi and Segen F. Estefen

Energies 2019, 12(19), 3658; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12193658 - 25 Sep 2019

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 14440

Abstract

This study, firstly, provides an up-to-date global review of the potential, technologies, prototypes, installed capacities, and projects related to ocean renewable energy including wave, tidal, and thermal, and salinity gradient sources. Secondly, as a case study, we present a preliminary assessment of the [...] Read more.

This study, firstly, provides an up-to-date global review of the potential, technologies, prototypes, installed capacities, and projects related to ocean renewable energy including wave, tidal, and thermal, and salinity gradient sources. Secondly, as a case study, we present a preliminary assessment of the wave, ocean current, and thermal gradient sources along the Brazilian coastline. The global status of the technological maturity of the projects, their different stages of development, and the current global installed capacity for different sources indicate the most promising technologies considering the trend of global interest. In Brazil, despite the extensive coastline and the fact that almost 82% of the Brazilian electricity matrix is renewable, ocean renewable energy resources are still unexplored. The results, using oceanographic fields produced by numerical models, show the significant potential of ocean thermal and wave energy sources in the northern and southern regions of the Brazilian coast, which could contribute as complementary supply sources in the national electricity matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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21 pages, 8153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Electrical Topology, Capacity Factor and Line Length on Economic Performance of Offshore Wind Investments

by Sadik Kucuksari, Nuh Erdogan and Umit Cali

Energies 2019, 12(16), 3191; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12163191 - 20 Aug 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4314

Abstract

In this study, an economic performance assessment of offshore wind investments is investigated through electrical topology, capacity factor and line length. First, annual energy yield production and electrical system losses for AC and DC offshore wind configurations are estimated by using Weibull probability [...] Read more.

In this study, an economic performance assessment of offshore wind investments is investigated through electrical topology, capacity factor and line length. First, annual energy yield production and electrical system losses for AC and DC offshore wind configurations are estimated by using Weibull probability distributions of wind speed. A cost model for calculating core energy economic metrics for offshore wind environment is developed by using a discount cash flow analysis. A case study is then conducted for a projected offshore wind farm (OWF) rated 100 MW and 300 MW sizes situated in the Aegean sea. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed for AC and DC OWFs with three different capacity factors (e.g., 45%, 55% and 60%) and various transmission line lengths ranging from 20 km to 120 km. The OWF is found to be economically viable for both AC and DC configurations with the estimated levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) ranging from 88.34 $/MWh to 113.76 $/MWh and from 97.61 $/MWh to 126.60 $/MWh, respectively. LCOEs for both options slightly change even though the wind farm size was increased three-fold. The sensitivity analysis reveals that, for further offshore locations with higher capacity factors, the superiority of AC configuration over the DC option in terms of LCOE reduces while the advantage of DC configuration over the AC option in terms of electrical losses is significant. Losses in the AC and DC configurations range from 3.75% to 5.86% and 3.75% to 5.34%, respectively, while LCOEs vary between 59.90 $/MWh and 113.76 $/MWh for the AC configuration and 66.21 $/MWh and 124.15 $/MWh for the DC configuration. Capacity factor was found to be more sensitive in LCOE estimation compared to transmission line length while line length is more sensitive in losses estimation compared to capacity factor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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25 pages, 19580 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Volume-Based Assessment of Erosion Patterns around a Hydrodynamic Transparent Offshore Structure

by Mario Welzel, Alexander Schendel, Torsten Schlurmann and Arndt Hildebrandt

Energies 2019, 12(16), 3089; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12163089 - 10 Aug 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3161

Abstract

The present article presents results of a laboratory study on the assessment of erosion patterns around a hydrodynamic transparent offshore foundation exposed to combined waves and currents. The model tests were conducted under irregular, long-crested waves in a scale of 1:30 in a [...] Read more.

The present article presents results of a laboratory study on the assessment of erosion patterns around a hydrodynamic transparent offshore foundation exposed to combined waves and currents. The model tests were conducted under irregular, long-crested waves in a scale of 1:30 in a wave-current basin. A terrestrial 3D laser scanner was used to acquire data of the sediment surface around the foundation structure. Tests have been conducted systematically varying from wave- to current-dominated conditions. Different volume analyzing methods are introduced, which can be related for any offshore or coastal structure to disclose physical processes in complex erosion patterns. Empirical formulations are proposed for the quantification of spatially eroded sediment volumes and scour depths in the near-field and vicinity of the structure. Findings from the present study agree well with in-situ data stemming from the field. Contrasting spatial erosion development between experimental and in-situ data determines a stable maximum of erosion intensity at a distance of 1.25 A, 1.25 times the structure’s footprint A, as well as a global scour extent of 2.1–2.7 A within the present study and about 2.7–2.8 A from the field. By this means, a structure-induced environmental footprint as a measure for erosion of sediment affecting marine habitat is quantified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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18 pages, 7102 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

An Assessment of Wind Energy Potential in the Caspian Sea

by Florin Onea and Eugen Rusu

Energies 2019, 12(13), 2525; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12132525 - 01 Jul 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3538

Abstract

At this time, there are plans to develop offshore wind projects in the Caspian Sea. The aim of the present work was to estimate the possible benefits coming from such a project. As a first step, the wind profile of this region was [...] Read more.

At this time, there are plans to develop offshore wind projects in the Caspian Sea. The aim of the present work was to estimate the possible benefits coming from such a project. As a first step, the wind profile of this region was established by considering reanalysis data coming from the ERA-Interim project, the time interval covered being between January 1999 and December 2018. According to these results, significant resources have been noticed in the northern part where the wind speed frequently reached 8 m/s, being identified also as a hot-spot south of Olya site. In the second part, the performances of some offshore wind turbines were established. These were defined by rated capacities ranging from 3 MW to 8.8 MW. The downtime period of some generators can reach 90% in the central and southern sectors, while for the capacity factor, the authors expected a maximum of 33.07% for a turbine rated at 4.2 MW. From a financial point of view, the values of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) indicated that the sites from the north and central parts of the Caspian Sea have been defined by an average LCOE of 0.25 USD/kWh. Thus, they can represent viable locations for wind farm projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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14 pages, 4963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sealing Performance Analysis of an End Fitting for Marine Unbonded Flexible Pipes Based on Hydraulic-Thermal Finite Element Modeling

by Liping Tang, Wei He, Xiaohua Zhu and Yunlai Zhou

Energies 2019, 12(11), 2198; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12112198 - 10 Jun 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5473

Abstract

End fittings are essential components in marine flexible pipe systems, performing the two main functions of connecting and sealing. To investigate the sealing principle and the influence of the temperature on the sealing performance, a hydraulic-thermal finite element (FE) model for the end [...] Read more.

End fittings are essential components in marine flexible pipe systems, performing the two main functions of connecting and sealing. To investigate the sealing principle and the influence of the temperature on the sealing performance, a hydraulic-thermal finite element (FE) model for the end fitting sealing structure was developed. The sealing mechanism of the end fitting was revealed by simulating the sealing behavior under the pressure penetration criteria. To investigate the effect of temperature, the sealing behavior of the sealing ring under different temperature fields was analyzed and discussed. The results showed that the contact pressure of path 1 (i.e., metal-to-polymer seal) was 31.7 MPa, which was much lower than that of path 2 (metal-to-metal seal) at 195.6 MPa. It was indicated that the sealing capacities were different for the two leak paths, and that the sealing performance of the metal-to-polymer interface had more complicated characteristics. Results also showed that the finite element analysis can be used in conjunction with pressure penetration criteria to evaluate the sealing capacity. According to the model, when the fluid pressures are 20 and 30 MPa, no leakage occurs in the sealing structure, while the sealing structure fails at the fluid pressure of 40 MPa. In addition, it was shown that temperature plays a significant role in the thermal deformation of a sealing structure under a temperature field and that an appropriately high temperature can increase the sealing capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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18 pages, 7312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-DOF WEC Performance in Variable Bathymetry Regions Using a Hybrid 3D BEM and Optimization

by Markos Bonovas, Kostas Belibassakis and Eugen Rusu

Energies 2019, 12(11), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12112108 - 01 Jun 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2563

Abstract

In the present work a hybrid boundary element method is used, in conjunction with a coupled mode model and perfectly matched layer model, for obtaining the solution of the propagation/diffraction/radiation problems of floating bodies in variable bathymetry regions. The implemented methodology is free [...] Read more.

In the present work a hybrid boundary element method is used, in conjunction with a coupled mode model and perfectly matched layer model, for obtaining the solution of the propagation/diffraction/radiation problems of floating bodies in variable bathymetry regions. The implemented methodology is free of mild-slope assumptions and restrictions. The present work extends previous results concerning heaving floaters over a region of general bottom topography in the case of generally shaped wave energy converters (WECs) operating in multiple degrees of freedom. Numerical results concerning the details of the wave field and the power output are presented, and the effects of WEC shape on the optimization of power extraction are discussed. It is demonstrated that consideration of heave in combination with pitch oscillation modes leads to a possible increase of the WEC performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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20 pages, 2586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study of a Moored Floating Oscillating Water Column Wave-Energy Converter and of a Moored Cubic Box

by Minghao Wu, Vasiliki Stratigaki, Peter Troch, Corrado Altomare, Tim Verbrugghe, Alejandro Crespo, Lorenzo Cappietti, Matthew Hall and Moncho Gómez-Gesteira

Energies 2019, 12(10), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12101834 - 15 May 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3962

Abstract

This paper describes experimental research on a floating moored Oscillating Water Column (OWC)-type Wave-Energy Converter (WEC) carried out in the wave flume of the Coastal Engineering Research Group of Ghent University. This research has been introduced to cover the existing data scarcity and [...] Read more.

This paper describes experimental research on a floating moored Oscillating Water Column (OWC)-type Wave-Energy Converter (WEC) carried out in the wave flume of the Coastal Engineering Research Group of Ghent University. This research has been introduced to cover the existing data scarcity and knowledge gaps regarding response of moored floating OWC WECs. The obtained data will be available in the future for the validation of nonlinear numerical models. The experiment focuses on the assessment of the nonlinear motion and mooring-line response of a 1:25 floating moored OWC WEC model to regular waves. The OWC WEC model motion has 6 degrees of freedom and is limited by a symmetrical 4-point mooring system. The model is composed of a chamber with an orifice on top of it to simulate the power-take-off (PTO) system and the associated damping of the motion of the OWC WEC model. In the first place, the motion response in waves of the moored floating OWC WEC model is investigated and the water surface elevation in the OWC WEC chamber is measured. Secondly, two different mooring-line materials (iron chains and nylon ropes) are tested and the corresponding OWC WEC model motions and mooring-line tensions are measured. The performance of these two materials is similar in small-amplitude waves but different in large wave-amplitude conditions. Thirdly, the influence of different PTO conditions is investigated by varying the diameter of the top orifice of the OWC WEC model. The results show that the PTO damping does not affect the OWC WEC motion but has an impact on the water surface elevation inside the OWC chamber. In addition, an unbalanced mooring configuration is discussed. Finally, the obtained data for a moored cubic model in waves are presented, which is a benchmarking case for future validation purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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25 pages, 10867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large-Scale Experiments to Improve Monopile Scour Protection Design Adapted to Climate Change—The PROTEUS Project

by Carlos Emilio Arboleda Chavez, Vasiliki Stratigaki, Minghao Wu, Peter Troch, Alexander Schendel, Mario Welzel, Raúl Villanueva, Torsten Schlurmann, Leen De Vos, Dogan Kisacik, Francisco Taveira Pinto, Tiago Fazeres-Ferradosa, Paulo Rosa Santos, Leen Baelus, Viktoria Szengel, Annelies Bolle, Richard Whitehouse and David Todd

Energies 2019, 12(9), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12091709 - 06 May 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4730

Abstract

This study aims to improve the design of scour protection around offshore wind turbine monopiles, as well as future-proofing them against the impacts of climate change. A series of large-scale experiments have been performed in the context of the European HYDRALAB-PLUS PROTEUS (Protection [...] Read more.

This study aims to improve the design of scour protection around offshore wind turbine monopiles, as well as future-proofing them against the impacts of climate change. A series of large-scale experiments have been performed in the context of the European HYDRALAB-PLUS PROTEUS (Protection of offshore wind turbine monopiles against scouring) project in the Fast Flow Facility in HR Wallingford. These experiments make use of state of the art optical and acoustic measurement techniques to assess the damage of scour protections under the combined action of waves and currents. These novel PROTEUS tests focus on the study of the grading of the scour protection material as a stabilizing parameter, which has never been done under the combined action of waves and currents at a large scale. Scale effects are reduced and, thus, design risks are minimized. Moreover, the generated data will support the development of future scour protection designs and the validation of numerical models used by researchers worldwide. The testing program objectives are: (i) to compare the performance of single-layer wide-graded material used against scouring with current design practices; (ii) to verify the stability of the scour protection designs under extreme flow conditions; (iii) to provide a benchmark dataset for scour protection stability at large scale; and (iv) to investigate the scale effects on scour protection stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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21 pages, 5589 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Accurate and Fast Generation of Irregular Short Crested Waves by Using Periodic Boundaries in a Mild-Slope Wave Model

by Panagiotis Vasarmidis, Vasiliki Stratigaki and Peter Troch

Energies 2019, 12(5), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12050785 - 26 Feb 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3047

Abstract

In this work, periodic lateral boundaries are developed in a time dependent mild-slope equation model, MILDwave, for the accurate generation of regular waves and irregular long and short crested waves in any direction. A single wave generation line inside the computational domain is [...] Read more.

In this work, periodic lateral boundaries are developed in a time dependent mild-slope equation model, MILDwave, for the accurate generation of regular waves and irregular long and short crested waves in any direction. A single wave generation line inside the computational domain is combined with periodic lateral boundaries. This generation layout yields a homogeneous and thus accurate wave field in the whole domain in contrast to an L-shaped and an arc-shaped wave generation layout where wave diffraction patterns appear inside the computational domain as a result of the intersection of the two wave generation lines and the interaction with the lateral sponge layers. In addition, the performance of the periodic boundaries was evaluated for two different wave synthesis methods for short crested waves generation, a method proposed by Miles and a method proposed by Sand and Mynett. The results show that the MILDwave model with the addition of periodic boundaries and the Sand and Mynett method is capable of reproducing a homogeneous wave field as well as the target frequency spectrum and the target directional spectrum with a low computational cost. The overall performance of the developed model is validated with experimental results for the case of wave transformation over an elliptic shoal (Vincent and Briggs shoal experiment). The numerical results show very good agreement with the experimental data. The proposed generation layout using periodic lateral boundaries makes the mild-slope wave model, MILDwave, an essential tool to study coastal areas and wave energy converter (WEC) farms under realistic 3D wave conditions, due to its significantly small computational cost and its high numerical stability and robustness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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23 pages, 21496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of Open Boundaries within a Two-Way Coupled SPH Model to Simulate Nonlinear Wave–Structure Interactions

by Tim Verbrugghe, Vasiliki Stratigaki, Corrado Altomare, J. M. Domínguez, Peter Troch and Andreas Kortenhaus

Energies 2019, 12(4), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12040697 - 21 Feb 2019

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 6059

Abstract

A two-way coupling between the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) solver DualSPHysics and the Fully Nonlinear Potential Flow solver OceanWave3D is presented. At the coupling interfaces within the SPH numerical domain, an open boundary formulation is applied. An inlet and outlet zone are filled [...] Read more.

A two-way coupling between the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) solver DualSPHysics and the Fully Nonlinear Potential Flow solver OceanWave3D is presented. At the coupling interfaces within the SPH numerical domain, an open boundary formulation is applied. An inlet and outlet zone are filled with buffer particles. At the inlet, horizontal orbital velocities and surface elevations calculated using OceanWave3D are imposed on the buffer particles. At the outlet, horizontal orbital velocities are imposed, but the surface elevation is extrapolated from the fluid domain. Velocity corrections are applied to avoid unwanted reflections in the SPH fluid domain. The SPH surface elevation is coupled back to OceanWave3D, where the originally calculated free surface is overwritten. The coupling methodology is validated using a 2D test case of a floating box. Additionally, a 3D proof of concept is shown where overtopping waves are acting on a heaving cylinder. The two-way coupled model (exchange of information in two directions between the coupled models) has proven to be capable of simulating wave propagation and wave–structure interaction problems with an acceptable accuracy with error values remaining below the smoothing length

h_{S P H}

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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21 pages, 6635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Variation of Turbulence in a High-Velocity Tidal Channel

by Charles Greenwood, Arne Vogler and Vengatesan Venugopal

Energies 2019, 12(4), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12040672 - 19 Feb 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3382

Abstract

This study presents the variation in turbulence parameters derived from site measurements at a tidal energy test site. Measurements were made towards the southern end of the European Marine Energy Centre’s tidal energy test site at the Fall of Warness (Orkney, Scotland). Four [...] Read more.

This study presents the variation in turbulence parameters derived from site measurements at a tidal energy test site. Measurements were made towards the southern end of the European Marine Energy Centre’s tidal energy test site at the Fall of Warness (Orkney, Scotland). Four bottom mounted divergent-beam Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) were deployed at three locations over an area of 2 km by 1.4 km to assess the spatial and temporal variation in turbulence in the southern entrance to the channel. During the measurement campaign, average flood velocities of 2 ms⁻¹ were recorded with maximum flow speeds of 3 ms⁻¹ in the absence of significant wave activity. The velocity fluctuations and turbulence parameters show the presence of large turbulent structures at each location. The easternmost profiler located in the wake of a nearby headland during ebb tide, recorded flow shielding effects that reduced velocities to almost zero and produced large turbulence intensities. The depth-dependent analysis of turbulence parameters reveals large velocity variations with complex profiles that do not follow the standard smooth shear profile. Furthermore, turbulence parameters based on data collected from ADCPs deployed in a multi-carrier frame at the same location and time period, show significant differences. This shows a large sensitivity to the make and model of ADCPs with regards to turbulence. Turbulence integral length scales were calculated, and show eddies exceeding 30 m in size. Direct comparison of the length scales derived from the streamwise velocity component and along-beam velocities show very similar magnitudes and distributions with tidal phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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19 pages, 2923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Irregular Wave Validation of a Coupling Methodology for Numerical Modelling of Near and Far Field Effects of Wave Energy Converter Arrays

by Gael Verao Fernández, Vasiliki Stratigaki and Peter Troch

Energies 2019, 12(3), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030538 - 08 Feb 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3287

Abstract

Between the Wave Energy Converters (WECs) of a farm, hydrodynamic interactions occur and have an impact on the surrounding wave field, both close to the WECs (“near field” effects) and at large distances from their location (“far field” effects). To simulate this “far [...] Read more.

Between the Wave Energy Converters (WECs) of a farm, hydrodynamic interactions occur and have an impact on the surrounding wave field, both close to the WECs (“near field” effects) and at large distances from their location (“far field” effects). To simulate this “far field” impact in a fast and accurate way, a generic coupling methodology between hydrodynamic models has been developed by the Coastal Engineering Research Group of Ghent University in Belgium. This coupling methodology has been widely used for regular waves. However, it has not been developed yet for realistic irregular sea states. The objective of this paper is to present a validation of the novel coupling methodology for the test case of irregular waves, which is demonstrated here for coupling between the mild slope wave propagation model, MILDwave, and the ‘Boundary Element Method’-based wave–structure interaction solver, NEMOH. MILDwave is used to model WEC farm “far field” effects, while NEMOH is used to model “near field” effects. The results of the MILDwave-NEMOH coupled model are validated against numerical results from NEMOH, and against the WECwakes experimental data for a single WEC, and for WEC arrays of five and nine WECs. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between disturbance coefficient (Kd) values in the entire numerical domain (

R M S E_{K_{d}, D}

) are used for evaluating the performed validation. The

R M S E_{K_{d}, D}

between results from the MILDwave-NEMOH coupled model and NEMOH is lower than 2.0% for the performed test cases, and between the MILDwave-NEMOH coupled model and the WECwakes experimental data

R M S E_{K_{d}, D}

remains below 10%. Consequently, the efficiency is demonstrated of the coupling methodology validated here which is used to simulate WEC farm impact on the wave field under the action of irregular waves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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32 pages, 8236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing the Near-Field Effects and the Power Production of an Array of Heaving Cylindrical WECs and OSWECs Using a Coupled Hydrodynamic-PTO Model

by Philip Balitsky, Nicolas Quartier, Gael Verao Fernandez, Vasiliki Stratigaki and Peter Troch

Energies 2018, 11(12), 3489; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11123489 - 14 Dec 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2715

Abstract

The Power Take-Off (PTO) system is the key component of a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) that distinguishes it from a simple floating body because the uptake of the energy by the PTO system modifies the wave field surrounding the WEC. Consequently, the choice [...] Read more.

The Power Take-Off (PTO) system is the key component of a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) that distinguishes it from a simple floating body because the uptake of the energy by the PTO system modifies the wave field surrounding the WEC. Consequently, the choice of a proper PTO model of a WEC is a key factor in the accuracy of a numerical model that serves to validate the economic impact of a wave energy project. Simultaneously, the given numerical model needs to simulate many WEC units operating in close proximity in a WEC farm, as such conglomerations are seen by the wave energy industry as the path to economic viability. A balance must therefore be struck between an accurate PTO model and the numerical cost of running it for various WEC farm configurations to test the viability of any given WEC farm project. Because hydrodynamic interaction between the WECs in a farm modifies the incoming wave field, both the power output of a WEC farm and the surface elevations in the ‘near field’ area will be affected. For certain types of WECs, namely heaving cylindrical WECs, the PTO system strongly modifies the motion of the WECs. Consequently, the choice of a PTO system affects both the power production and the surface elevations in the ‘near field’ of a WEC farm. In this paper, we investigate the effect of a PTO system for a small wave farm that we term ‘WEC array’ of 5 WECs of two types: a heaving cylindrical WEC and an Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter (OSWEC). These WECs are positioned in a staggered array configuration designed to extract the maximum power from the incident waves. The PTO system is modelled in WEC-Sim, a purpose-built WEC dynamics simulator. The PTO system is coupled to the open-source wave structure interaction solver NEMOH to calculate the average wave field

η

in the ‘near-field’. Using a WEC-specific novel PTO system model, the effect of a hydraulic PTO system on the WEC array power production and the near-field is compared to that of a linear PTO system. Results are given for a series of regular wave conditions for a single WEC and subsequently extended to a 5-WEC array. We demonstrate the quantitative and qualitative differences in the power and the ‘near-field’ effects between a 5-heaving cylindrical WEC array and a 5-OSWEC array. Furthermore, we show that modeling a hydraulic PTO system as a linear PTO system in the case of a heaving cylindrical WEC leads to considerable inaccuracies in the calculation of average absorbed power, but not in the near-field surface elevations. Yet, in the case of an OSWEC, a hydraulic PTO system cannot be reduced to a linear PTO coefficient without introducing substantial inaccuracies into both the array power output and the near-field effects. We discuss the implications of our results compared to previous research on WEC arrays which used simplified linear coefficients as a proxy for PTO systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

19 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessReview

Control Strategies Applied to Wave Energy Converters: State of the Art

by Aleix Maria-Arenas, Aitor J. Garrido, Eugen Rusu and Izaskun Garrido

Energies 2019, 12(16), 3115; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12163115 - 14 Aug 2019

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 8066

Abstract

Wave energy’s path towards commercialization requires maximizing reliability, survivability, an improvement in energy harvested from the wave and efficiency of the wave to wire conversion. In this sense, control strategies directly impact the survivability and safe operation of the device, as well as [...] Read more.

Wave energy’s path towards commercialization requires maximizing reliability, survivability, an improvement in energy harvested from the wave and efficiency of the wave to wire conversion. In this sense, control strategies directly impact the survivability and safe operation of the device, as well as the ability to harness the energy from the wave. For example, tuning the device’s natural frequency to the incoming wave allows resonance mode operation and amplifies the velocity, which has a quadratic proportionality to the extracted energy. In this article, a review of the main control strategies applied in wave energy conversion is presented along their corresponding power take-off (PTO) systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

1 pages, 155 KiB

Open AccessAddendum

Addendum: Maria-Arenas, A. et al. Control Strategies Applied to Wave Energy Converters: State of the Art. Energies 2019, 12, 3115

by Aleix Maria-Arenas, Aitor J. Garrido, Eugen Rusu and Izaskun Garrido

Energies 2020, 13(7), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13071665 - 02 Apr 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1591

Abstract

The authors would like to add the following note to Figure 7 of their paper published in Energies [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy in Marine Environment)

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