An octo-generator for energy harvesting based on the piezoelectric effect

A renewable energy harvester using the piezoelectric effect is developed for the ocean tidal and wind flow. The harvester is made of connected driving blades to an octo-generator, which has a rotator with n blades and a stator attached by eight mass-spring-piston-cylinder-piezoelectricity devices. The resonance and force magnification are utilized to increase the power output of the harvester. A corresponding mathematical model is developed to calculate the root mean square of the generated electric power. The simulation results indicate that the generated power is largely enhanced when the near-resonant condition is established. The power increases with increases in the magnetic flux density, the large-to-small diameter ratio of the cylinder, the size of magnetic bar face, and decreases in the gap between two magnetic faces and the size of the piezoelectric bar face. A generated power of 5 kW is realized by the harvester working under an ocean tidal speed, V = 1.75 m/s, and its geometric and material properties of driving length L = 7.5 m, spring constant k_v = 65000 N/m, gap between the two magnets s = 0.0015 m, large to small diameter ratio of the cylinder z = 6, and magnetic flux density Br = 1.45 T.     

A painting type of flexible piezoelectric device for ocean energy harvesting

Energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials can be realised by periodic external force. Piezoelectric material directly converts strain energy into electric power to capture a wasted ambient kinetic energy. This recovered energy can be used for operating wireless sensors, such as those found in environmental monitoring, mechanical sensing and structural diagnostic. In our previous work, a flexible piezoelectric device, FPED, was proposed and developed as an energy harvester for generating electric power from flow-induced vibration in ocean and wind environments. In this study a FPED with a painted piezoelectric layer, highly durable in order to withstand extreme bending and weathering caused by waves and currents, is proposed and developed by spray coating for use as an ocean energy harvester. A numerical method is developed to predict electro-fluid–structure interactions and to evaluate electrical performance and mechanical behaviours of the painted FPED. Additionally, validation of the numerical model is provided through several experimental tests. This study also investigates the relationship between the stiffness of the painted FPED and the vibrated frequency, as well as determining their influence on the electrical performance. Finally, the outcomes from a field test, conducted in real ocean space, is presented to provide information on electrical performance, mechanical behaviours and durability of painted FPEDs. The paper shows that a painted FPED is a useful and robust energy harvester for generating electric power from harsh environments.     

Investigation on the energy absorption performance of a fixed-bottom pressure-differential wave energy converter

In this article, we investigate the energy absorption performance of a fixed-bottom pressure-differential wave energy converter. Two versions of the technology are considered: one has the moving surfaces on the bottom of the air chambers whereas the other has the moving surfaces on the top. We developed numerical models in the frequency domain, thereby enabling the power absorption of the two versions of the device to be assessed. It is observed that the moving surfaces on the top allow for easier tuning of the natural period of the system. Taking into account stroke limitations, the design is optimized. Results indicate that the pressure-differential wave energy converter is a highly efficient technology both with respect to energy absorption and selected economic performance indicators.     

Harvesting flow-induced vibration using a highly flexible piezoelectric energy device

Energy harvesting is a topic of global interest in both academic research and practical application across many fields. The main concept in energy harvesting is to convert wasted ambient energy into useful electrical energy. In particular, piezoelectric materials can be used to convert strain energy into electric power directly, and piezoelectric materials can be used to harvest external vibration forces.This paper proposes and develops a highly flexible piezoelectric energy device (FPED) to harvest flow-induced vibration by converting ambient kinetic energy such as ocean, current and wind energy into electric power. The energy harvesting device uses piezoelectric layers (e.g. PVDF) and elastomer materials (e.g. rubber or silicone) to achieve high electric performance and efficiency. The design of the FPED was optimized by considering the aspect ratio, support system, initial tension and incorporates a bluff body to generate turbulence. A theoretical model based on the transfer matrix method was used with the initial tension force and natural frequency of the harvester. The model demonstrated the maximum electric performance and optimized the structural layers and size under the parameter studies. Numerical and experimental results proved the potential of the highly flexible piezoelectric energy device to convert ambient kinetic energy from flow-induced vibration into useful electrical energy.     

波浪作用下基于不同负载的一种Savonius型水轮机捕能性能研究

通过水轮机捕能是当前常用的海洋能利用方式之一。桨叶作为水轮机关键部件,其性能一直是研究的重点。针对目前波浪条件下带负载运转的Savonius型水轮机相关捕能性能研究较少的情况,采用数值仿真方法,结合对应工况条件的物理试验,研究了一种Savonius型水轮机在不同波浪环境下带负载运转的捕能性能。采用Star CCM+仿真软件,建立数值波浪水池,设置环境参数,划分网格调整变量进行水轮机运转的水动力模型数值研究。在造波试验水池中利用推板改变波浪周期与波高,进行水轮机运转的物理试验。采集在不同负载下水轮机桨叶的转速和扭矩数据,计算并分析功率等参数,总结变化趋势,评价捕能效果。研究发现水轮机在1.6 s的波浪周期条件下,桨叶承受1.5 N·m负载时达到最佳捕能效果,其功率为23 W。为实际海域中水轮机桨叶的结构设计研究和相关工程应用提供参考。     

基于漂流浮标的南大洋卫星高度计有效波高研究

随着技术的进步和数据处理方法的完善,经过修正的卫星高度计数据已获得普遍认可.但在南大洋缺少波浪现场数据,卫星高度计在极端恶劣气候条件下获得数据的准确度仍受到一定程度的质疑.中国于2020年第36次南极考察中,在南大洋布放了一套感应耦合漂流浮标,可提供可靠的南大洋现场波浪数据.本文利用该漂流浮标2020年1月27日至9月...     

Kinetic Energy Variability in the North Indian Ocean Using a Numerical Model

The North Indian Ocean exhibits profound impact of variation in lower tropospheric winds. In the present study climatological monthly winds are used to force a nonlinear reduced gravity model of the North Indian Ocean to simulate climatological surface circulation and sea level anomaly for all 12 months of the year. The sea level anomalies agree reasonably well with satellite altimeter derived sea level anomalies. The model successfully simulates the varying eddy structure and current pattern of the North Indian Ocean. Finally, the kinetic energy variation in the North Indian Ocean with special reference to equatorial region and the boundaries is analyzed in detail.     

Kinetic Energy Variability in the North Indian Ocean Using a Numerical Model

The North Indian Ocean exhibits profound impact of variation in lower tropospheric winds. In the present study climatological monthly winds are used to force a nonlinear reduced gravity model of the North Indian Ocean to simulate climatological surface circulation and sea level anomaly for all 12 months of the year. The sea level anomalies agree reasonably well with satellite altimeter derived sea level anomalies. The model successfully simulates the varying eddy structure and current pattern of the North Indian Ocean. Finally, the kinetic energy variation in the North Indian Ocean with special reference to equatorial region and the boundaries is analyzed in detail.     

Experimental investigation on a cabin-suspended catamaran in terms of motion reduction and wave energy harvesting by means of a semi-active motion control system

A novel concept catamaran equipped with a suspended cabin, named Wave Harmonizer Type 4 (WHzer-4), is proposed and evaluated. The mass-spring-mass system is constructed by mounting four sets of suspensions in-between the cabin and the twin-hull. Two sets of dual motor/generators (M/Gs) are attached on the center beam of the cabin's deck fore and aft. Each shaft-end of the dual M/Gs is connected to the twin-hull through a rack-pinion gear unit. In this way the vertical relative motion between the cabin and the twin-hull can be transferred into the rotational motion of the M/Gs, and vice versa. A semi-active motion control system, which contains a proportional-integral (PI) controller, is designed and applied to each of the dual M/Gs for the aim of absorbing wave energy under the condition of suppressing the local vertical velocity of the cabin as much as possible. A 1/5 scale model ship with a length of 1.6 m is built, and a forced-oscillation bench test is implemented to validate the performance of the control system. Then, a series of towing tank tests is carried out in regular head waves. The heave and pitch responses of the cabin, those of the twin-hull and the corresponding wave energy capture width ratio (CWR) at five control scenarios and two reference scenarios are investigated. Discussion on the results of the tank test shows that the motion reduction of the cabin and the wave energy harvesting can be achieved simultaneously at a few wave conditions. However, at other conditions, although noticeable amount of wave energy is harvested, motion reduction of the heave and pitch of the cabin could not be obtained at the same time. It is suggested that varying the gain settings of the PI controllers according to the location of the controllers may improve the effectiveness of the proposed control system.     

Numerical implementation and sensitivity analysis of a wave energy converter in a time-dependent mild-slope equation model

Several Wave Energy Converters (abbreviated as WECs) have intensively been studied and developed during the last decade and currently small farms of WECs are getting installed. WECs in a farm are partly absorbing, partly redistributing the incident wave power. Consequently, the power absorption of each individual WEC in a farm is affected by its neighbouring WECs. The knowledge of the wave climate around the WEC is needed to predict its performance in the farm. In this paper a technique is developed to implement a single and multiple WECs based on the overtopping principle in a time-dependent mild-slope equation model. So far, the mild-slope equations have been widely used to study wave transformations around coastal and offshore structures, such as breakwaters, piles of windmills and offshore platforms. First the limitations of the WEC implementation are discussed through a sensitivity analysis. Next the developed approach is applied to study the wave height reduction behind a single WEC and a farm. The wake behind an isolated WEC is investigated for uni- and multidirectional waves; it is observed that an increase of the directional spread leads to a faster wave redistribution behind the WEC. Further the wake in the lee of multiple WECs is calculated for two different farm lay-outs, i.e. an aligned grid and a staggered grid, by adapting the performance of each WEC to its incident wave power. The evolved technique is a fast tool to find the optimal lay-out of WECs in a farm and to study the possible influence on surrounding activities in the sea.     

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.     

Modelling of a wave energy converter array with a nonlinear power take-off system in the frequency domain

This paper presents a nonlinear frequency domain model and uses this to assess the performance of a wave energy converter (WEC) array with a nonlinear power take-off (PTO). In this model, the nonlinear PTO forces are approximated by a truncated Fourier series, while the dynamics of the WEC array are described by a set of linear motion equations in the frequency domain, and the hydrodynamic coefficients are obtained with the boundary element method. A single heave absorber is firstly investigated to establish the accuracy of the new model in capturing the nonlinear behaviour of the pumping system. Subsequently, simulations of a 2D array with 18 WECs and a pillar in the centre (representing the tower of a wind turbine) are carried out to understand wave interference effects. Several optimisation strategies are proposed to improve the overall performance of the WEC array. These results demonstrate a computationally effective method for accounting for nonlinear effects in large WEC arrays. The proposed approach may potentially be applied for developing control algorithms for the adaptability of a 2D array to incoming wave excitation.     

Wells turbine with end plates for wave energy conversion

In order to improve the performance of the Wells turbine for wave energy conversion, the effect of end plate on the turbine characteristics has been investigated experimentally by model testing. As a result, it is found that the characteristics of the Wells turbine with end plates are superior to those of the original Wells turbine, i.e., the turbine without end plate and the characteristics are dependent on the size and position of end plate. Furthermore, by using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD), reason of the performance improvement of the turbine has been clarified and the effectiveness of the end plate has been demonstrated.     

Stochastic control of wave energy converters with constrained displacements for optimal power absorption

An semi-analytical solution is derived for the optimal control of the power take-off of a single-degree of freedom heave point absorber with constraints on the displacement. At first the control force is derived during states, where the displacement constraint is active. This results in an open-loop control law dependent on the external wave load on the absorber. Next, the analytical solution for the optimal control in the unconstrained state is indicated, which turns out to be of the closed loop type with feedback from the present displacement and acceleration and from future velocities. The derived control law contains an undetermined constant, which is calibrated at the interface to the previous constrained state. The approach requires the estimation of the wave load during the constrained states, and the prediction of the future velocity response during unconstrained states. An algorithm has been devised in the paper for handling these problems. The theory has been validated against numerical solutions obtained by nonlinear programming.     

Stochastic control of wave energy converters for optimal power absorption with constrained control force

This paper presents an analytical solution derived for optimal control of the power take-off of a single-degree of freedom heave point absorber with constraints on the control force. The optimal control law turns out to be noncausal with a functional dependence on future velocities. To handle this problem, an algorithm for predicting future velocities is derived. Based on the solution the mean (time-averaged) absorbed power in a given sea-state is calculated. The performance of the indicated controller in terms of the mean absorbed power is close to the optimal value obtained by nonlinear programming and better than a controller with feedback from the present displacement, velocity and acceleration, and with optimized gain factors.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of non-predictive phase-control strategies for a point-absorbing wave energy converter

Phase control may substantially increase the power absorption in point-absorber wave energy converters. This study deals with validation of dynamic models and latching control algorithms for an oscillating water column (OWC) inside a fixed vertical tube of small circular cross-section by small-scale testing. The paper describes experimental and numerical results for the system's dynamics, using simple and practical latching control techniques that do not require the prediction of waves or wave forces, and which will be relevant to any type of point-absorbing devices.In the experimental set-up, the upper end of the tube was equipped with an outlet duct and a shut-off valve, which could be controlled to give a latching of the inner free surface movement. The pressure drop through the open valve is used as a simplified measure of the energy extraction. The control was realized by using the real-time measurement signals for the inner and outer surface displacement.A mathematical model of the system was established and applied in numerical simulation. In the case the OWC's diameter is much smaller than the wavelength and the wave amplitude much smaller than the draft, the free surface movement inside the tube can be described as an oscillating weightless piston. For this hydrodynamic problem an analytical solution is known. In addition, the mathematical model includes the effects of viscous flow losses, the air compressibility inside the chamber and the pressure drop across the valve. Experimental results were used to calibrate some of the model parameters, and the total model was formulated as a coupled system of six non-linear, first-order differential equations. Time-domain integration was used to simulate the system in order to test the control strategies and compare with experimental results.     

Assessment of boundary-element method for modelling a free-floating sloped wave energy device. Part 1: Numerical modelling

The boundary-element method has been widely used as a design tool in the offshore and ship building industry for more than 30 years. Its application to wave energy conversion is, however, more recent. This paper deals with the numerical modelling of a free-floating sloped wave energy device. The power take-off mechanism of the device consists of an immersed tube with a piston sliding inside. The modelling is done using the boundary-element method package WAMIT. The model is first worked out for the case where the axis of the tube is vertical. It is then derived for the tube inclined and successfully verified against numerical benchmark data. A companion paper presents results of a detailed comparison with a physical model study.     

一种波浪能实验装置水动力学分析与优化设计

将造波水槽内二维浮体牵引弹簧回复液压缸的受力系统简化为弹簧—质量—阻尼器系统,建立数学模型,并根据牛顿第二定律得到运动方程式。采用基于简单格林函数的边界元方法对所研究浮体的水动力学系数和波浪力进行计算,对于施加给液压系统的不同外部阻尼值,由运动方程可得到相应的浮体垂荡运动位移。为求浮体对液压系统做功的最大值,在给定条件下着重对外部阻尼系数进行了优化。     

Delving into three-dimensional structure of the West Luzon Eddy in a regional ocean model

The three-dimensional structure and associated dynamics of the prominent cold (cyclonic) West Luzon Eddy (WLE) were investigated by a high-resolution regional ocean model. The WLE was horizontally and vertically heterogeneous, exhibiting asymmetric structures in the circulation, vorticity, vertical motion and energy distributions within the eddy. The asymmetry was mainly attributed to the existence of an eddy dipole formed by a coexisting warm (anti-cyclonic) eddy to the south of the WLE. Analysis of the momentum balance revealed that the coexistence of two eddies intensified barotropic pressure gradients in the southern WLE to locally enhance the eastward jet. The positive (negative) vorticity of the jet strengthened (weakened) the eddy in the southern sector (periphery), which, together with the formation of a subsurface density front, intensified (suppressed) the corresponding upward motion and cooling. The baroclinic pressure gradients opposed the dominant barotropic components and spun down the eddy at greater depths with stronger weakening in the southern sector near the front. Asymmetric energy distributions showed that larger mean kinetic energy (MKE) and eddy available potential energy (EAPE) were stored in the southern sector of the WLE. While the larger MKE was directly linked with the stronger barotropic currents, the larger EAPE in the southern WLE was formed by baroclinic energy conversions due to a strong density gradient at the front.     

Assessment of boundary-element method for modelling a free-floating sloped wave energy device. Part 2: Experimental validation

The boundary-element method has been widely used as a design tool in the offshore and ship building industry for more than 30 years. Its application to wave energy conversion is, however, more recent. This is the second of two papers on a comparison of numerical and physical modelling of a free-floating sloped wave energy converter. In the first paper the numerical modelling formulation for the power take-off mechanism was derived using the boundary-element method package WAMIT. It was verified against numerical benchmark data. In this paper, the outcome of the modelling of the whole device is compared with experimental measurements obtained from model testing in a wave tank. The agreement is generally good.