O objetivo desse trabalho é a construção de um sistema de geração de energia elétrica, para uso em locais remotos, tendo como fonte primária a energia proveniente de ondas marinhas. Numa primeira etapa foram realizados estudos e análises dos principais parâmetros significativos para a geração da energia elétrica e os dados de consumo de eletroeletrônicos. Este sistema serviu para coletar e armazenar dados que orientam o desenvolvimento de bombas e turbinas para a geração de energia elétrica. Foram também usados para avaliar o seu rendimento em diversas aplicações que necessitavam de energia elétrica. O uso da energia elétrica gerada também foi estudado para melhorar o seu rendimento diante dos vários equipamentos que foram utilizados desde notebooks até geladeiras convencionais. Foram empregados um microcontrolador, da família \"arduino\", vários sensores colocados em pontos estratégicos no local e os dados armazenados em memória durante o período do desenvolvimento. Sensores de pressão, vazão, amplitude das ondas, sentido do vento, temperatura e vários medidores (de tensão e corrente em AC e DC) foram usados para obter valores numéricos para análises de rendimentos de conversão em energia elétrica, vazão e outros parâmetros importantes para uma posterior melhoria no projeto inicial. Os dados foram armazenados em memórias do tipo cartão SD de 16 G bytes. Foi confeccionada uma bomba de água movida pelas ondas marinhas. Sua implantação ocorreu na Ilha do Arvoredo, em Guarujá, SP, onde a energia elétrica era gerada através do uso de motores a diesel. A água é bombeada a uma altura de 30 metros e armazenada em um tanque com capacidade de 20.000 litros. A água armazenada vai diretamente para uma turbina geradora de eletricidade por um sistema controlador de pressão e, pode gerar uma potência elétrica de até 200 W. O excedente de água poderá ser também usado para os viveiros de animais marinhos. A maior parte dos materiais que foram utilizados na fabricação dos equipamentos foi de materiais recicláveis reduzindo o custo do projeto. Esse projeto estará disponível para comunidades carentes que necessitam de energia elétrica em locais remotos, normalmente ilhas, mas podem ser adaptadas em terra desde que possuam quedas de água. O projeto de geração de energia usando ondas marinhas é inovador e com fins sociais para pessoas de baixa renda como os pescadores. Normalmente o pescado conseguido nas proximidades de ilhas isoladas são salgados para serem conservados devido à falta de refrigeração. / The aim of this work is the constructions of an electrical power generation system for use in remote locations, having primary source of energy from sea waves. At a first step were carried out studies and analyzes of the main important parameters for the generation of electricity and electronics power consumption data. This system was used to collect and store data that guide the development of pumps and turbines for generating electricity. Various electronics applications were also used to evaluate the total electricity was required and were studied to improve their performance like notebooks or conventional refrigerators. A microcontroller was employed and several sensors placed at strategic points in the power generation energy system and the data stored in the memory card during the development period. Pressure sensors, flow, amplitude of waves, wind direction, temperature and various electrical sensors (voltage and current in AC and DC) that were used to obtain numerical values for analysis of conversion into electrical energy, water flow and other important parameters for further improvement the initial project. The data were stored on SD memory card of 16 G bytes. A water pump driven by ocean sea waves was made. This work has taken place in Ilha do Arvoredo, in Guarujá, SP, where the electricity was generated using diesel engines. The water is pumped until 30 meters high and stored in a tank with 20.000 liters. This stored water goes directly to the turbine by a pressure system control and generate an electrical power output up to 200 W. When not require, the exceeding water can also be used for marine animals nurseries. Most materials that were used in manufacturing of the equipment is recyclable materials reducing the cost of the project. The final project will be available to poor communities that need electricity in remote locations. Usually the fish achieved near isolated islands are salted to be maintained for lack of refrigeration.

Renewable energies are believed to play the key role in assuring a future of sustainable energy supply and low carbon emissions. Particularly, this thesis focus on wave energy, which is created by extracting the power stored in the waves of the oceans. In order for wave energy to become a commercialized form of energy, modular deployment of many wave energy converters (WECs) together will be required in the upcoming future. This design will thus allow to benefit, among others, from the modular construction, the shared electrical cables connections and moorings, the reduction in the power fluctuations and reduction of deployment and maintenance costs. When it comes to arrays, the complexity of the design process increase enormously compared with the single WEC, given the mutual influence of most of the design parameters (i.e. hydrodynamic and electrical interactions, dimensions, geometrical layout, wave climate etc.). Uppsala University has developed and tested WECs since 2001, with the first offshore deployment held in 2006. The device is classified as a point absorber and consists in a linear electric generator located on the seabed, driven in the vertical direction by the motion of a floating buoy at the surface. Nowadays, one of the difficulties of the sector is that the cost of electricity is still too high and not competitive, due to high capital and operational costs and low survivability. Therefore, one step to try to reduce these costs is the development of reliable and fast optimization tools for parks of many units. In this thesis, a first attempt of systematic optimization for arrays of the Uppsala University WEC has been proposed. A genetic algorithm (GA) has been used to optimize the geometry of the floater and the damping coefficient of the generator of a single device. Afterwards, the optimal layout of parks up to 14 devices has been studied using two different codes, a continuous and a discrete variables real coded GA. Moreover, the method has been extended to study arrays with devices of different dimensions. A deterministic evaluation of small array layouts in real wave climate has also been carried out. Finally, a physical scale test has been initiated which will allow the validation of the results. A multi--parameter optimization of wave power arrays of the Uppsala University WEC has been shown to be possible and represents a tool that could help to reduce the total cost of electricity, enhance the performance of wave power plants and improve the reliability.

Cette thèse se focalise sur un système récupérateur de l’énergie des vagues qui est constitué d’un flotteur contenant des cuves partiellement remplis d’eau. Lorsque les vagues mettent en mouvement le flotteur, un tourbillon de type vidange apparaît dans une des cuve. Pour extraire l’énergie, une turbine, reliée à une génératrice, est plongée dans ce tourbillon. Tout d’abord, le tourbillon de vidange est étudié expérimentalement dans un contenant fixe. Les hauteurs d’eau et les vitesses du liquide sont mesurées. Ces vitesses sont estimées par vélocimétrie laser (LaserDoppler Velocimetry, LDV). Cet écoulement est modélisé numériquement en résolvant les équations de Navier-Stokes dans les deux phases (eau et air) par la méthode des volumes finis (avec le logiciel OpenFOAM). L’interface entre les deux phases est déterminée par la méthode des Volume of Fluid (VoF). Des comparaisons entre les résultats de ces deux approches sont menées. Ensuite, l’écoulement à l’intérieur du système houlomoteur est étudié en plaçant une maquette du dispositif sur un Hexapode (machine capable d’imposer des mouvements à la maquette à la manière d’un flotteur en mer). Les hauteurs d’eau et les efforts hydrodynamiques sur la maquette et, le cas échéant, la puissance électrique produite sont mesurés. Ces données sont comparées aux résultats d’un modèle numérique similaire à celui utilisé pour la première campagne expérimentale mais appliqué à ce dispositif. Enfin, l’influence de la turbine sur le reste du système est étudiée et son comportement en puissance est évalué pour différents mouvements imposés. Un premier modèle numérique de cette turbine est comparé aux données expérimentales. / This thesis focuses on the physical and numerical model of a wave energy converter (WEC). This device is made up of a buoy with compartments aboard partially filled with water. When the waves move the buoy, a bathtub vortex appears in one of these compartments. The energy is harvested with a turbine placed at the vortex’s center. First, the bathtub vortex is studied numerically and experimentally in a fixed compartment. Water levels are measured using acoustics sensors and water velocities are measured by Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). This flow is modeled solving the Navier-Stokes equations in the two phases (air and water) with a finite volume method (with the software OpenFOAM). The interface is determined using the volume of fluid (VoF) method. Comparisons between experimental data and numerical data are presented. Afterwards, a second experimental campaign is conducted to study the complete flow inside the WEC. Therefore a model of the inside part of the WEC is fixed at the top of a Hexapod. This device can translate and rotate the model in the same way the waves would move a buoy. Water levels and hydrodynamic forces on the model are measured. When the turbine is there, the tension delivered by its generator is measured. This experimental device is modeled numerically. This model is closed to the first one. The results are compared with experimental data. Finally, a preliminary study of the turbine shows its influence on the general flow in the WEC and the evolution of the turbine power with the imposed motion. A first model of the turbine in a fixed compartment is presented and compared with experimental data.

The mooring of vessels and other floating bodies at sea, such as offshore platforms has necessitated the development of specialised moorings technology. The marine renewable energy (MRE) sector is now at a stage in its development whereby floating devices are adding new challenges to the moorings industries. Floating MRE devices are smaller than, for instance offshore platforms, and are usually targeted for deployment in highly energetic environments. The extreme conditions and the highly dynamic response of an MRE device present challenges in terms of peak loading within the mooring system itself and load transfer to the floating body. Compliant mooring systems provide advantages by reducing the peak loads and fibre ropes are an important asset in achieving such compliance. However, the extent to which existing fibre ropes can safely extend axially to provide compliance is insufficient and is strongly associated to the minimum breaking load (MBL) of the rope. A novel fibre rope mooring tether is presented here that provides advantages over existing ropes. The tether employs a hollow fibre rope containing an elastomeric core, this mechanism de-coupling the extension properties from the strength of the line. The load path is carried through the polyester rope which is terminated conventionally by eye splices, thus minimising any new risks to reliability. Very low axial stiffness is achieved and is shown to be selectable within limits. For comparison, the prototype tether’s MBL of 222 kN is assigned to polyester and Nylon reference ropes. The axial stiifness of these ropes are 590 kN and 463 kN respectively when measured by a secant between the origin and 30% MBL; the novel tether displays an axial stiffness of 72 kN by the same method. This enables the novel tether to achieve more than two and a half times the extension of a comparable Nylon rope in its working range. Numerical modelling of a moored installation demonstrates a threefold reduction in peak load magnitude compared to the existing Nylon rope solution. The tether exhibits two distinct stages of extension, the first having very low axial stiffness. It is demonstrated that the extent of this soft phase can be selected by design and that this might add another useful element of control to moorings design work.

This thesis investigates wave loading on bodies in the free surface using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). This includes wave loading on fixed bodies, waves generated by heaving bodies in still water and the heave response of a body in waves, representing a wave energy device. SPH is a flexible Lagrangian technique for CFD simulations, which in principle applies to steep and breaking waves without special treatment allowing us to simulate highly nonlinear and potentially violent flows encountered in a real sea. However few detailed tests have been undertaken even with small amplitude waves.This research uses the open-source SPH code SPHysics. First two forms of SPH formulation, standard SPH with artificial viscosity and SPH-Arbitrary Lagrange Euler (ALE) with a Riemann solver, are used to simulate progressive waves in a 2-D tank. The SPH-ALE formulation with a symplectic time integration scheme and cubic spline kernel is found to model progressive waves with negligible dissipation whereas with the standard SPH formulation waves decay markedly along the tank. We then consider two well-defined test cases in two dimensions: progressive waves interacting with a fixed cylinder and waves generated by a heaving semi-immersed cylinder. To reduce computer time in a simple manner a variable particle mass distribution is tested with fine resolution near the body and coarse resolution further away, while maintaining a uniform kernel size. A mass ratio of 1:4 proved effective but increasing to 1:16 caused particle clumping and instability. For wave loading on a half-submerged cylinder the agreement with the experimental data of Dixon et al. (1979) for the root mean square force is within 2%. For more submerged cases, the results show some discrepancy, but this was also found with other modelling approaches. For the heaving cylinder, SPH results for the far field wave amplitude and vertical force on the cylinder show good agreement with the data of Yu and Ursell (1961). The variable mass distribution leads to a computer run time speedup of nearly 200% in these cases on a single CPU. The results of the vertical force and wave amplitude are shown to be quite sensitive to the value of the slope limiter in the Riemann solver for the 2-D heaving cylinder problem. A heaving 2-D wedge or 3-D cone whose oscillatory vertical motion is prescribed as the elevation of a focused wave group is a precise test case for numerical free-surface schemes. We consider two forms of repulsive boundary condition (Monaghan & Kos, 1999, and Rogers et al., 2008) and particle boundary force (Kajtar and Monaghan, 2009) for the 2-D wedge case, comparing the result with the experimental data of Drake et al. (2009). The repulsive boundary condition was more effective than the particle boundary force method. Variable particle mass with different kernel sizes was then tested for 2-D problems for mass ratios of 1:4, 1:16 and 1:4:16 with satisfactory results without particle clumping and instability. For the 3-D cone case, SPH reproduces the experimental results very closely for the lower frequency tested where there is no separation from the bottom surface of the body but for the higher frequencies the magnitudes of force minima were underestimated. The mass ratios of 1:8 and 1:8:27 in two and three nested regions are tested for the 3-D cone problem where a computer run time speedup of nearly 500% is achieved on 16 processors for the mass ratio of 1:8.Finally, the floating body of a heaving wave energy device known as the Manchester Bobber is modelled in extreme waves without power take-off. The results for a single float are in approximate agreement with the experiment.

Placing wave energy devices within close proximity to each other can be beneficial as the costs of deployment, maintenance and infrastructure are reduced significantly compared to if the devices are deployed in isolation. A mathematical model is presented in this thesis which combines linear wave theory with a series of linear driven harmonic oscillators to model an array (group) of floating wave energy devices which move predominantly in heave (vertically) in a train of incident regular waves. Whilst similar mathematical models have been used previously to investigate interactions between fluids and groups of structures, much of the published work does not address array configurations or device constraints that are relevant to designers of structure-supported array devices. The suitability of linear theory for application to closely spaced arrays is assessed in this thesis through comparison to small-scale experimental data and by evaluation of the magnitude of second-order hydrodynamic forces. Values of mechanical damping and mass are determined for each element of an array in order to achieve the maximum power from an array of floats without requiring the knowledge of the motion of every float within the array in order to apply the forces to any one float. Further to this, the analysis of floats of varying geometry is performed in order to assess the possibility of array optimisation through the variation of float geometries within a closely spaced array.It is shown in this thesis that linear theory provides a reasonable prediction of the response of floats that are sufficiently close together to interact for most wave frequencies to which the arrays are likely to be subjected. Under the assumption of easily implementable mechanical damping, it is determined that the power output from an array of floats of equal geometry can be increased by specifying different magnitudes of mechanical damping on each float independently of the radiation damping. Variations in submerged float geometries for the purpose of manipulating array characteristics according to the incident wave frequency are best applied through the variation in draft of a single geometry. Variations in submerged float geometry which occur close to the free surface are found to be of the greatest significance. Where the float is uniform in cross-section, the most appropriate method to select float drafts within an array is found to be based on the evaluation of the total damping on each float.

Wavelike spiral asymmetries are an intriguing aspect of Tropical Cyclone dynamics. Previous work hypothesized that some of them are Vortex Rossby Waves propagating on the radial gradient of mean–flow relative vorticity. In the Intermittently Forced Vortex Rossby Wave theory, intermittent convection near the eyewall wind maximum excites them so that they propagate wave energy outward and converge angular momentum inward. The waves’ energy is absorbed as the perturbation vorticity becomes filamented near the outer critical radii where their Doppler–shifted frequencies and radial group velocities approaches zero. This process may initiate outer wind maxima by weakening the mean–flow just inward from the critical radius. The waves are confined to a relatively narrow annular waveguide because of their slow tangential phase velocity and the narrow interval between the Rossby wave cut–off frequency, where the radial wavenumber is locally zero, and the zero frequency, where it is locally infinite.

Wave Energy Converters (WEC) are used to transform energy stored in ocean waves into electrical energy. One type of WECs consists of buoyant bodies. To extract energy from their motion, hydraulic cylinders can be used to generate hydraulic power. For conversion into electric power various systems have been analysed in literature. However, the focus was put on efficiency and rigorous analyses of the system behaviour are still missing. In this paper an exemplary system consisting of two hydraulic cylinders, switchable check valves, accumulators and three motor-generator sets is analysed with help of simulation and measurement. This exemplary system is called WavePOD and was installed at the Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS) of RWTH Aachen University together with Aquamarine Power and Bosch Rexroth for testing. In this paper the data collected during various test phases is used for system analysis and for validating the simulation. The simulation model is presented. The system’s response to various switching operations is investigated. Comparing the simulation with measurements validates the system`s dynamic model.

Obtaining the perfect renewable energy source is one of the most important questions of our lifetime. One renewable energy source that could be of interest in this question because of the characteristics of the power that could be extracted from it is wave energy. There has however not been enough research done to reach a technology viable enough for large scale adoption. This study was made to investigate how to formulate the optimum design guidelines and criteria for a chain and shackle in the connection line between buoy and wave energy converter (WEC). Firstly, by conducting a literature study the material and design of the system was chosen. A main goal of the report was to make it have value in the industry, because of this the choice of design and material was based on industry standards. The material choice became the austenitic stainless steel with the grade R4, and the design of choice became the stud less chain link and the forelock shackle. A value of the expected force in the buoy WEC connection line (buoy line) was extracted from sixteen different data sets given from a wave tank test done in COAST Laboratory of Plymouth University, UK. These tests were done with two different buoys, one with a cylindrical shape and one with a torus shape. They were also done with and without dampening (the dampening was equal to 59 kN). Each of these four configurations had four different tests conducted on them resulting in a total of sixteen different data sets. The force value that occurs in the buoy line from the sixteen different wave tank tests was then scaled up and used in calculating the final diameter of the chain link. A safety factor of 1.35 was used to account for the statistical uncertainties in the characteristic properties of the specific part. These calculations were based on the fact that all chains have to be proof loaded at 70 % of their minimum theoretical breaking load and that a chain should at maximum undergo a force that is equal to 25 % of its minimum breaking load. Extra material was also added to accommodate for the corrosion that will occur in submerged environments. Finally, a finite element analysis was done on one of the chains links. The results showed that the biggest amount of von Mises stress and equivalent plastic strain occur in the inner corner of the chain link. All the contact area and the “crown” were however also shown to have plastically deformed. The plastic deformation in the contact area does not discredit the design because it is a local plasticity in a small region which leads to work hardening which in turn means that the new yield strength is higher at the deformed points, this in turn means that the wave climate will only elastically deform the system under its cyclic load and that the system will not plastically deform more than the results from the proof loading. This is very positive and will give the system a prolonged lifetime. However plastic deformation in the “crown” contributes to crack initiation which with time may lead to fatigue failure and should be considered in future studies.

Renewable energy sources are a hot topic, both when it comes to climate change and the constant increase in demand of electricity due to population growth and a more electrified society. One such energy source is wave energy - an energy source with great potential but still relatively new with the need for further development. Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) together with Ocean Harvesting Technologies (OHT) have made a collaboration to build a scaled Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) system of a power take-off (PTO) based on OHTs wave energy converter, InfinityWEC. The purpose is to teach the students at BTH about hydrodynamic and HIL simulations. A manual will also be written to help students perform the lab activities. A model of the HIL system will first be implemented in Matlab/Simulink, both with and without the WEC-Sim hydrodynamic simulation toolbox and simulations will be run to predict the system's behaviour. To parametrize the hydrodynamic model, the open-source Boundary Element Method (BEM) code, NEMOH, is used. The HIL system consists of electric motors, connected mechanically to each other with a coupling. One of the motors is the actuator, which applies torque to the second motor according to the simulated hydrodynamic loads on the buoy. The second motor on the other hand applies a torque according to the load connected to it or torque-controlled according to a selected control strategy. In this thesis two different types of loading is used: 1) resistive load without control of the generator drive, 2) resistive and capacitive load with reactive control of the generator drive. The load resistance can be changed within a limited range as well as the sea state. Data that can be collected are the position and angular velocity of the motors, the currents to and from the two motors and the voltage over the load capacitance. The project concluded that the compensation needed for the motors to get the true hydrodynamic force has little effect when using reactive control and that a protective capacitor is be needed between the actuator motor and the power supply to protect it from reverse current. Finally, this work demonstrated the effectiveness of HIL systems to execute simulations to test and validate PTO systems in wave energy converters. The advantages are that one can create representative wave loading without the presence of water and with ease test different sea states. / Förnybara energikällor är ett hett ämne, både när det gäller klimatförändringar och den ständiga ökningen av efterfrågan av el på grund av befolkningsökning och ett mer elektrifierat samhälle. En sådan energikälla är vågenergi - en energikälla med stor potential men fortfarande relativt ny med behov av vidareutveckling. Blekinge Tekniska Högskola (BTH) vill tillsammans med Ocean Harvesting Technologies (OHT) konstruera ett skalat Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) system av power take-off (PTO) baserat på OHT:s vågenergiomvandlare, InfinityWEC. Syftet är att lära eleverna på BTH om hydrodynamik och HIL-simuleringar. En manual kommer också att skrivas för att hjälpa eleverna att utföra labbaktiviteterna. En modell av HIL-systemet kommer först att konstrueras i Matlab/Simulink, både med och utan WEC-Sim hydrodynamisk simuleringsverktygslåda och simuleringar kommer att köras för att förutsäga systemens beteende. För att bestämma de nödvändiga parametrarna för hydrodynamiska modellen används Boundary Element Method koden NEMOH. HIL-systemet består av elmotorer, som är mekaniskt anslutna till varandra med en koppling. En av motorerna är ställdonet, som tillämpar vridmoment på den andra motorn enligt de simulerade hydrodynamiska belastningarna på bojen. Den andra motorn tillämpar ett vridmoment enligt belastningen som är kopplad till den eller är moment reglerad enligt en vald kontrollstrategi. I denna avhandling används två olika typ av belastning: 1) resistiv belastning utan kontroll av generatorndrivdonet, 2) resistiv och kapacitive belastning med reaktiv kontroll av generatorndrivdonet. Belastningsmotståndet kan ändras inom ett visst intervall och lika så havstillståndet. Data som kan samlas in är motorernas position och vinkelhastighet, strömmen till och från de två motorerna och spänningen över last kapasitatorn. I projektet drogs slutsatsen att den kompensation som behövs för motorerna för att få den riktiga hydrodynamiska kraften har liten påverkan reaktiv kontroll används och att det behövs en skyddande kondensator mellan ställdonsmotorn och strömförsörjningen för att skydda den mot bakström. Slutligen visade detta arbete hur effektiva HIL-system är för att utföra simuleringar för att testa och validera PTO-system i vågenergiomvandlare. Fördelarna är att man kan skapa representativ vågbelastning utan närvaro av vatten och med lätthet testa olika havstillstånd.