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Influence on Structural Loading of a Wave Energy Converter by Controlling Variable-Geometry Components and the Power Take-Off

Journal Article · · Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4062115· OSTI ID:1969254
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
  3. University of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Oceans are harsh environments and can impose significant loads on deployed structures. A wave energy converter (WEC) should be designed to maximize the energy absorbed while ensuring the operating wave condition does not exceed the failure limits of the device itself. Therefore, the loads endured by the support structure are a design constraint for the system. Furthermore, the WEC should be adaptable to different sea states. Herethis work uses a WEC-Sim model of a variable-geometry oscillating wave energy converter (VGOSWEC) mounted on a support structure simulated under different wave scenarios. A VGOSWEC resembles a paddle pitching about a fixed hinge perpendicular to the incoming wave fronts. The geometry of the VGOSWEC is varied by opening a series of controllable flaps on the pitching paddle when the structure experiences threshold loads. It is hypothesized that opening the flaps should result in load shedding at the base of the support structure by reducing the moments about the hinge axis. This work compares the hydrodynamic coefficients, natural periods, and response amplitude operators from completely closed to completely open configurations of the controllable flaps. This work shows that the completely open configuration can reduce the pitch and surge loads on the base of the support structure by as much as 80%. Increased loads at the structure’s natural period can be mitigated by an axial power take-off damping acting as an additional design parameter to control the loads at the WEC’s support structure.
Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1969254
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5700-83893; MainId:84666; UUID:9aeeafee-ccd0-4ef9-be78-9081366b654f; MainAdminID:68015
Journal Information:
Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 145; ISSN 0892-7219
Publisher:
ASMECopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Figures / Tables (17)

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