U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
TEAMER: Biofouling Analysis for Wave Energy Piston Design - Load Cell Data
Abstract
Biofouling and corrosion are a major concern for all ocean-deployed components, especially when mechanical motion is involved. Triton has developed the concept of a biofouling mitigation seal as part of the piston sealing assembly for the Triton Wave Energy Converter (TSI-WEC). This mitigation seal has the purpose of preventing the formation of a biofilm on the inside of the piston cylinder. It is hypothesized that the prevention of a biofilm will reduce the amount of macro-biofouling that can occur in the piston assembly. The mitigation seal can also reduce the wear on the main dynamic seal, helping to maintain smooth operation and water-tightness. The cylinder is made from a thermoset composite epoxy, which is resistant to corrosion. However, no studies have researched the material's performance with biofouling. Triton placed two prototype Power Take-Off (PTO) assemblies in a PNNL biofouling tank, one with a biofouling mitigation seal and one without, allowing for an evaluation of seal effectiveness at the prevention of biofouling. In actual WEC operation, wave action would react against the piston, which would drive the linear actuator and electric generator, providing electrical power. In the test setup, this was reversed; a linear actuator was powered to drive the pistonmore »
- Authors:
-
- Triton Systems, Inc.
- Publication Date:
- Other Number(s):
- 534
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0008895
- Research Org.:
- Marine and Hydrokinetic Data Repository (MHKDR); Triton Systems, Inc.
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office (EE-4WP)
- Collaborations:
- Triton Systems, Inc.
- Subject:
- 16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER; Biofouling; Hydrokinetic; MATLAB; MHK; Marine; RFTS 3; WEC; code; energy; oscillating water column; power; processed data; raw data; technology; wave energy; wave energy converter
- OSTI Identifier:
- 2315037
- DOI:
- https://doi.org/10.15473/2315037
Citation Formats
Robertson, Tyler, Cavagnaro, Robertson, and Weicht, Linnea. TEAMER: Biofouling Analysis for Wave Energy Piston Design - Load Cell Data. United States: N. p., 2021.
Web. doi:10.15473/2315037.
Robertson, Tyler, Cavagnaro, Robertson, & Weicht, Linnea. TEAMER: Biofouling Analysis for Wave Energy Piston Design - Load Cell Data. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.15473/2315037
Robertson, Tyler, Cavagnaro, Robertson, and Weicht, Linnea. 2021.
"TEAMER: Biofouling Analysis for Wave Energy Piston Design - Load Cell Data". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.15473/2315037. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2315037. Pub date:Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2021
@article{osti_2315037,
title = {TEAMER: Biofouling Analysis for Wave Energy Piston Design - Load Cell Data},
author = {Robertson, Tyler and Cavagnaro, Robertson and Weicht, Linnea},
abstractNote = {Biofouling and corrosion are a major concern for all ocean-deployed components, especially when mechanical motion is involved. Triton has developed the concept of a biofouling mitigation seal as part of the piston sealing assembly for the Triton Wave Energy Converter (TSI-WEC). This mitigation seal has the purpose of preventing the formation of a biofilm on the inside of the piston cylinder. It is hypothesized that the prevention of a biofilm will reduce the amount of macro-biofouling that can occur in the piston assembly. The mitigation seal can also reduce the wear on the main dynamic seal, helping to maintain smooth operation and water-tightness. The cylinder is made from a thermoset composite epoxy, which is resistant to corrosion. However, no studies have researched the material's performance with biofouling. Triton placed two prototype Power Take-Off (PTO) assemblies in a PNNL biofouling tank, one with a biofouling mitigation seal and one without, allowing for an evaluation of seal effectiveness at the prevention of biofouling. In actual WEC operation, wave action would react against the piston, which would drive the linear actuator and electric generator, providing electrical power. In the test setup, this was reversed; a linear actuator was powered to drive the piston in a consistent motion within the cylinder. There are two assemblies: one has a biofouling mitigation seal, the other (control) does not. The following data encompasses a 4 month test period, with load cells being used to monitor piston friction force. Results from this testing will be used to improve seal design and material selection, mitigating risk of premature failure during open water testing and evaluation. This project is part of the TEAMER RFTS 3 (request for technical support) program.},
doi = {10.15473/2315037},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2021},
month = {Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2021}
}