Wave Extraction and Attenuation Performance of An Edinburgh Duck Wave Energy Converter

China Ocean Engineering - Edinburgh Duck wave energy converter (ED WEC) has excellent energy extraction performance and shows a great potential to integrate with other marine structures. This paper...     

An Oscillating Wave Energy Converter with Nonlinear Snap-Through Power-Take-Off Systems in Regular Waves

Floating oscillating bodies constitute a large class of wave energy converters, especially for offshore deployment. Usually the Power-Take-Off (PTO) system is a directly linear electric generator or a hydraulic motor that drives an electric generator. The PTO system is simplified as a linear spring and a linear damper. However the conversion is less powerful with wave periods off resonance. Thus, a nonlinear snap-through mechanism with two symmetrically oblique springs and a linear damper is applied in the PTO system. The nonlinear snap-through mechanism is characteristics of negative stiffness and double-well potential. An important nonlinear parameter is defined as the ratio of half of the horizontal distance between the two springs to the original length of both springs. Time domain method is applied to the dynamics of wave energy converter in regular waves. And the state space model is used to replace the convolution terms in the time domain equation. The results show that the energy harvested by the nonlinear PTO system is larger than that by linear system for low frequency input. While the power captured by nonlinear converters is slightly smaller than that by linear converters for high frequency input. The wave amplitude, damping coefficient of PTO systems and the nonlinear parameter affect power capture performance of nonlinear converters. The oscillation of nonlinear wave energy converters may be local or periodically inter well for certain values of the incident wave frequency and the nonlinear parameter , which is different from linear converters characteristics of sinusoidal response in regular waves.     

An Experimental Study on A Trapezoidal Pendulum Wave Energy Converter in Regular Waves

Experimental studies were conducted on a trapezoidal pendulum wave energy converter in regular waves. To obtain the incident wave height, the analytical method (AM) was used to separate the incident and reflected waves propagating in a wave flume by analysing wave records measured at two locations. The response amplitude operator (RAO), primary conversion efficiency and the total conversion efficiency of the wave energy converter were studied; furthermore, the power take-off damping coefficients corresponding to the load resistances in the experiment were also obtained. The findings demonstrate that the natural period for a pendulum wave energy converter is relatively large. A lower load resistance gives rise to a larger damping coefficient. The model shows relatively higher wave energy conversion efficiency in the range of 1.0?1.2 s for the incident wave period. The maximum primary conversion efficiency achieved was 55.5%, and the maximum overall conversion efficiency was 39.4%.     

波浪能发电装置海上选址的分析研究

海上选址是波浪能发电装置进行现场试验以及电站投产建设的基础工作,是装置正常运行的先决条件。文章基于层次分析法原理,对波浪能发电装置海上选址的影响因素进行分析,将选址问题的定性分析转化为定量计算,通过计算找出最优的选址方案,为波浪能发电装置海上选址提供了科学的决策依据。     

碟形越浪式波能发电装置的系统研究

碟形越浪式波能发电装置是一种新型的波能发电装置,其利用蓄水池将不稳定的入射波能转换为稳定的淹没出流动能,势能转换为动能带动水轮机运转实现发电。该装置具有输出功率平稳、适应各种海况、可靠度好的的特点,对其进行深入研究,对于边远海域的岛屿经济开发、国防及海水淡化等具有十分重要的意义。     

基于AquaBuOY波能转换器的技术特性研究

文章描述了IPS浮标和瑞典软管泵技术结合的AquaBuOY点吸式波能转换器结构的设计理念和性能模拟,计算了用于准确地预报近海发电厂性能参数和经济学的AquaBuOY临界特性,并略述了马考湾(Makah Bay)近海示范发电厂的经验和数据结果.     

筏式波浪能发电装置浮体水动力相互作用与能量俘获研究

基于三维势流理论,建立筏式波浪发电装置多浮体水动力模型。利用AQWA水动力软件研究多浮体水动力相互作用对发电装置浮体单元水动力系数的影响;将能量转换系统等效成刚度-阻尼模型后,对其进行不规则波时域模拟,对比分析方向谱和频率谱波浪模型对波浪发电装置能量吸收的影响。结果表明:浮体之间的水动力相互作用对浮体单元纵荡方向上的附加质量与辐射阻尼系数有明显的影响,对垂荡和纵摇方向上的水动力系数影响较小;不同的波浪模型下,能量俘获功率有着较大的差别,特别是在迎浪状态下。     

相交圆柱摆式波能装置俘获效率数值分析

摆式波能装置具有结构简单和转化效率高等特点,本文应用AQWA 软件基于势流理论对相交圆柱摆式波能装置进行了数值模拟研究,分析了轴间距比、结构阻尼、净浮力比、水深、波浪特性及吃水深度等主要参数对相交圆柱摆式波能装置俘获效率的影响,并与直板摆式波能装置的俘获效率进行了对比。结果表明：同样条件下,相交圆柱摆式波能装置往往比直板摆式波能装置的俘获效率更高;在研究范围内,轴间距比越大俘获效率越高;潮汐导致的水深变化对底铰摆式波能装置的俘获效率具有明显的影响,在工程应用中应采取适当的措施进行处理。     

同轴双浮子波能装置水动力特性研究

本文对同轴双浮子波能发电装置进行了深入研究。采用Fortran语言对AQWA进行二次开发,并施以线性及非线性PTO反力,实现了装置的运动模拟,获得了双浮子装置的水动力特性及捕能情况。研究表明,波浪周期及内外浮子质量对装置获能影响显著,建议选用质量比为0.8的双浮子装置,并将其放置于周期与外浮子固有周期接近的海域中以实现最优捕能。     

Experimental Investigation on the Hydrodynamic Performance of A Wave Energy Converter

Wave energy is an important type of marine renewable energy. A wave energy converter (WEC) moored with two floating bodies was developed in the present study. To analyze the dynamic performance of the WEC, an experimental device was designed and tested in a tank. The experiment focused on the factors which impact the motion and energy conversion performance of the WEC. Dynamic performance was evaluated by the relative displacements and velocities of the oscillator and carrier which served as the floating bodies of WEC. Four factors were tested, i.e. wave height, wave period, power take-off (PTO) damping, and mass ratio (R_M) of the oscillator and carrier. Experimental results show that these factors greatly affect the energy conversion performance, especially when the wave period matches R_M and PTO damping. According to the results, we conclude that: (a) the maximization of the relative displacements and velocities leads to the maximization of the energy conversion efficiency; (b) the larger the wave height, the higher the energy conversion efficiency will be; (c) the relationships of energy conversion efficiency with wave period, PTO damping, and R_M are nonlinear, but the maximum efficiency is obtained when these three factors are optimally matched. Experimental results demonstrated that the energy conversion efficiency reached the peak at 28.62% when the wave height was 120 mm, wave period was 1.0 s, R_M was 0.21, and the PTO damping was corresponding to the resistance of 100 Ω.     

船载波浪发电设备设计及其性能研究

为解决小型无人船由于船体空间紧凑,携带燃料较少导致的续航力差、航程短等问题,本文以三体船为平台,将摆式波浪能发电技术与多体船相结合,提出了一种新型船载波浪发电设备设计方案。该发电设备可由主侧船体之间的波浪运动响应差异驱动,在海上航行时捕获波浪能并转化为电能,以此来补充船上能源。通过数值软件对三体船进行性能预报,结果表明,在四级海况下迎浪航行时,三体船平均波浪能捕获功率可达3.57 kW,波浪能一级转换效率为7.32%,能够有效的补充船上能源。同时,安装船载波浪发电设备具备减摇减荡的效果,提升了三体船的航行稳定性,进一步体现了该装置的可行性和实用性。     

一种越浪式波能发电装置越浪量和波压力的试验研究

越浪式发电装置具有结构稳定、可靠性高等优点。在前人的研究基础上,对越浪式波能发电装置的模型进行了优化设计,通过模型实验研究了该波能发电装置在不同波况、不同干舷高度下对波能的俘获能力以及结构的受力情况。对越浪量的试验结果进行了无量纲分析,分别得出了越浪式模型装置的越浪量关于干舷高度和波高的指数函数拟合曲线,总结了两者对越浪量影响的普遍规律。通过对规则波和不规则波波浪作用下装置受力结果的归纳总结,探讨了波能装置波压力和浮托力变化的一般规律。本研究可为越浪式波能发电装置的研究提供参考依据,为波浪能的利用提供一定的参考价值。     

Study on Performance of Savonius Rotor Type Wave Energy Converter Used in Conjunction with Floating Breakwater

In the present study, the performance characteristics of a Savonius rotor type wave energy converter used in conjunction with a conventional double-buoy floating breakwater is investigated using physical model studies. The Savonius rotor type converter is suspended under the double-buoy floating breakwater to achieve wave attenuation while generating electricity, thereby enhancing the overall wave-elimination effect of the combination. The Savonius rotor is tested with different water submergence depths, and a reasonable relative submergence depth is determined within the scope of the research parameters. The hydrodynamics and energy capture performance of the combined breakwater with four different sizes of Savonius rotor under different wave conditions are studied, and the transmission coefficient of the experimental device is analyzed. The results show that when the optimal relative submergence depth is 0.65 D, where D is the impeller diameter, there is a correspondence between the optimal performance of Savonius rotor with different rotor sizes and the wave period and wave height. The optimal energy capture efficiency of the wave energy converter reaches 17%-20.5%, and the transmission coefficient is reduced by35%-45% compared with the conventional double-buoy breakwater.     

Numerical Simulation of Wave Forces on Seabed Pipelines

A three-step finite element method(FEM)together with Large Eddy Simulation(LES)is ap-plied to incompressible turbulent flow around seabed pipelines at relatively high Reynolds numbers.Bothtwo-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulation is carried out to determine thethree-dimensional effect.The results of numerical simulation agree quite well with the wave forces actingon pipeline models measured in physical model test.     

Capture Performance of A Multi-Freedom Wave Energy Converter with Different Power Take-off Systems

Among the wave energy converters (WECs), oscillating buoy is a promising type for wave energy development in offshore area. Conventional single-freedom oscillating buoy WECs with linear power take-off (PTO) system are less efficient under off-resonance conditions and have a narrow power capture bandwidth. Thus, a multi-freedom WEC with a nonlinear PTO system is proposed. This study examines a multi-freedom WEC with 3 degrees of freedom: surge, heave and pitch. Three different PTO systems (velocity-square, snap through, and constant PTO systems) and a traditional linear PTO system are applied to the WEC. A time-domain model is established using linear potential theory and Cummins equation. The kinematic equation is numerically calculated with the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. The optimal average output power of the PTO systems in all degrees of freedom are obtained and compared. Other parameters of snap through PTO are also discussed in detail. Results show that according to the power capture performance, the order of the PTO systems from the best to worst is snap through PTO, constant PTO, linear PTO and velocity-square PTO. The resonant frequency of the WEC can be adjusted to the incident wave frequency by choosing specific parameters of the snap through PTO. Adding more DOFs can make the WEC get a better power performance in more wave frequencies. Both the above two methods can raise the WEC’s power capture performance significantly.     

Single Mode Simulation Calculation of Oscillating Buoy Wave Energy Converter with A Slider

This paper presents an oscillating slider wave energy device which is based on a seabed anchoring and uses eagle beak as the absorber. The self-compiled program uses the boundary element theory based on the simple Green's function to solve the wave forces and hydrodynamic parameters. And the equation of motion, the oscillation of the float and the capture width ratio are obtained by the modal method. The influences of the shape of the eagle beak, the angle of the slider and the wave heading on the capture ability of the device are investigated. According to the calculation results and the wave resources in the sea area, the optimal shape of the eagle beak and external damping can be selected to maximize the wave energy capture capability.     

一种新型六自由度波浪能装置的水动力学分析

浮子的能量收集效率对于装置发电效率的提升具有重要作用。针对传统浮子式装置仅具有一个自由度的问题,提出了一种新型六自由度波浪能装置。基于线性波理论和MMG(Ship Manoeuvring Mathematical Model Group)方法,建立了新型装置的水动力学模型。分析了此装置的浮子在线性波浪作用下的位移和速度。结果表明:新型六自由度装置可以同时收集浮子六自由度方向的动能,具有较高的波浪能收集效率。另外,浮子在垂荡方向上的动能远大于横荡、纵荡方向上的动能。分析了波浪能收集效率随波浪遭遇角与弹簧系数之间的变化规律,文中工作为新型波浪能装置的优化设计提供了有益参考。     

Strength Analysis on Brace Structure for Semi-Submersible in Consideration of Wave Slamming

Slamming on bracings of column stabilized units shall be considered as a possible limiting criterion under transit condition based on the requirements in DNV-OS-C103. However, the wave slamming loads under survival condition were ignored for the strength analysis of the brace structures in many semi-submersible projects. In this paper, a method of strength analysis of brace structure is proposed based on the reconstruction and extrapolation of numerical model. The full-scale mooring system, the wind, wave and current loads can be considered simultaneously. Firstly, the model tests of the semi-submersible platform in wind tunnel and wave tanker have been carried out. Secondly, the numerical models of the platform are reconstructed and extrapolated based on the results of model tests. Then, a nonlinear numerical analysis has been conducted to study the wave slamming load on brace in semi-submersible platform through the reconstructed and extrapolated numerical model. For the randomness of wave load, ten subcases under each condition have been carried out. The value of the 90% Gumble distribution values of the ten subcases are used. Finally, the strength on brace structure has been analyzed considering the wave slamming. The wave slamming loads have been compared between the survival condition and transit condition with the method. The results indicate that wave slamming under survival condition is more critical than that under transit condition. Meanwhile, the wave slamming is significant to the structural strength of the brace. It should be overall considered in the strength analysis of the brace structure.     

浮筒式波浪能发电装置中轴流式水轮机能量特性研究

当今世界,全球资源严重匮乏,环境日益恶化,波浪能作为一种清洁、可再生海洋能源,有利于贯彻我国可持续发展战略。文中针对南海某海域,根据国家海洋局提供的波浪周期和波高数据,通过计算流体力学(CFD)数值模拟,研究不同时期波浪周期和波高的变化对轴流式水轮机效率的影响。计算结果表明,因波浪参数变化,浮筒式波浪能发电装置水头变化范围为11~17 m,优选设计水头为13 m。通过改变水轮机叶片安装角度,优化水轮机效率,并对水轮机转轮及出水流道流动特性进行研究。最终得出:在优选设计水头为13 m时,水轮机在叶片相对安放角为-4°,最高效率达85.67%,水轮机转轮及出水流道流态平直,水轮机工作性能稳定,满足浮筒式波能发电装置工作要求。文中研究工作,为优化浮筒式波能发电平台及提高平台投资回报率奠定理论基础。     

Dynamic Properties and Energy Conversion Efficiency of A Floating Multi-Body Wave Energy Converter

The present study proposed a floating multi-body wave energy converter composed of a floating central platform, multiple oscillating bodies and multiple actuating arms. The relative motions between the oscillating bodies and the floating central platform capture multi-point wave energy simultaneously. The converter was simplified as a forced vibration system with three degrees of freedom, namely two heave motions and one rotational motion. The expressions of the amplitude-frequency response and the wave energy capture width were deduced from the motion equations of the converter. Based on the built mathematical model, the effects of the PTO damping coefficient, the PTO elastic coefficient, the connection length between the oscillating body and central platform, and the total number of oscillating bodies on the performance of the wave energy converter were investigated. Numerical results indicate that the dynamical properties and the energy conversion efficiency are related not only to the incident wave circle frequency but also to the converter's physical parameters and interior PTO coefficients. By adjusting the connection length, higher wave energy absorption efficiencies can be obtained. More oscillating bodies installed result in more stable floating central platform and higher wave energy conversion efficiency.