A new kind of wave power generator is being developed at KTH Royal Institute of Technology which potentially can reach an efficiency of 98 %. However, this generator’s small air gap sets strict requirements on the stiffness of the structure to withstand the large magnetic forces. The structure, therefore, need to be both stiff and non-magnetic. To tackle that problem austenitic stainless steel will be used. Then again, austenitic stainless steel tends to become slightly magnetic because of impurities and mechanical stress. The purpose of this report is to study the magnetic properties of the austenitic stainless steel and observe how mechanical stress can change their properties. Moreover, economic and environmental aspects considering the use and production of the steel are studied. Two experiments were applied to measure the magnetic properties, using an LCR-meter and an electrical circuit with a current amplifier. Both methods showed that mechanical stress will result in changing the magnetic property of austenitic stainless steel. Some steel types were less affected by the mechanical stress applied leading to the conclusion that they are more effective when placed near the generator’s air gap. Regarding sustainable development, it is uncertain to determine the impact the generator has on the environment, mainly because of the steel types manufacturing process is unknown. On the contrary, the maintenance costs of the generator are predicted to be low and if the prototype fulfills the efficiency expectations it will have a huge impact on the future of wave power technology. / En ny typ av vågkraftsgenerator utvecklas på KTH som potentiellt kan uppnå en verkningsgrad på 98%. Denna generators lilla luftgap ställer dock strikta krav på strukturens styvhet för att stå emot de stora magnetiska krafterna. Strukturen måste därför vara både styv och icke-magnetisk. För att ta itu med det problemet kommer austenitiskt rostfritt stål att användas. Sedan tenderar austenitiskt rostfritt stål att bli något magnetiskt på grund av föroreningar och mekanisk stress. Syftet med denna rapport är att studera austenitiskt rostfritt ståls magnetiska egenskaper och observera hur mekanisk stress kan förändra deras egenskaper. Dessutom studeras ekonomiska och miljömässiga aspekter som beaktar stålets användning och produktion. Två experiment utfördes för att mäta de magnetiska egenskaperna, med användning av en LCR-mätare och en elektrisk krets med en strömförstärkare. Båda metoderna visade att mekanisk stress kommer att leda till förändring av den magnetiska egenskapen hos austenitiskt rostfritt stål. Vissa ståltyper påverkades mindre av den mekaniska påfrestningen som ledde till slutsatsen att de är mer effektiva när de placeras nära generatorns luftgap. När det gäller hållbar utveckling är det osäkert att bestämma vilken påverkan generatorn har på miljön, främst på grund av att detrostfria stålets tillverkningsprocess är okänd. Tvärtom förmodas att underhållskostnaderna för generatorn komme vara låga och om prototypen uppfyller effektivitetsförväntningarna kommer det att ha en stor inverkan på framtiden för vågkrafttekniken.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The design, development and evaluation of a novel wave energy converter (WEC) device, called the ShoreSWEC, in a South African port development is presented. Based on the device requirements, site selection criteria were specified and applied to identify a suitable deployment location. A wave modeling procedure was developed to determine the operational wave conditions and available wave power resource at the selected location. The site was found to have a low mean annual average resource of approximately 2.3 kilowatt per meter wave crest (kW/m) due to its relatively sheltered location. The wave model was further used to determine design storm conditions and a structural stability analysis of the device was conducted. Experimental tests were performed to evaluate the hydrodynamic conversion efficiency of a single chamber of the device at its most conservative orientation, under a variety of wave energy conditions. The effect of a floor incline and an additional chamber on the performance of the system was investigated. The incline improved efficiency for low wave heights, making it ideal for the low wave power resource conditions of the site, whilst the multi-chamber system experienced increased performance at high wave periods. A comparison between the ShoreSWEC and a conventional oscillating water column (OWC) WEC showed that the OWC extracted 72% more energy, highlighting the sensitivity of performance on device orientation. A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model of the experimental setup was developed. The numerical model provided comparable water surface elevations inside the flume and chamber, yet predicted significantly higher internal chamber pressures and overall efficiency. The electricity generation potential of a 10 chamber ShoreSWEC at the specified location, approximated from the experimental results and 11 years of hindcast wave data, was found to be 6 kW on average for a 15 kW capacity system. Results of this study highlighted the need for greater understanding of the hydrodynamic characteristics of a full length device. Experimental tests in a 3D wave basin on a scaled full length ShoreSWEC model are therefore recommended. Once conducted, South Africa will be one step closer to the deployment of the full scale SWEC device. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwerp, ontwikkeling en evaluasie van ‘n unieke golfenergieomsetter (GEO), genaamd die ShoreSWEC, in ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse haweontwikkeling word aangebied. Terrein evaluasie kriteria, gebaseer op die omsettervereistes, is ontwikkel en toegepas om die mees belowende terrein te identifiseer. ‘n Golfmodeleringsprosedure is ontwikkel om die operasionele golfkondisies en beskikbare golfdrywinghulpbron te bepaal. Daar is gevind dat die terrein ‘n lae gemiddelde golfdrywing van bykans 2.3 kilowat per meter golfkruin het as gevolg van die beskutte ligging. Die golfmodel is verder gebruik om ontwerpstormkondisies te bepaal en ‘n stabiliteitsanalise was op die toestel struktuur uitgevoer. Eksperimentele toetse van verskeie golfenergie kondisies is gedoen om die hidrodinamiese omsettingseffektiwiteit van ‘n enkel kamer van die toestel te bepaal teen sy konserwatiefste orientasie. Die effek van ‘n vloerhelling en ‘n addisionele kamer op die uitsette van die sisteem is ondersoek. Die helling het effektiwiteit verbeter vir lae golfhoogtes wat dit ideaal maak vir die lae hulpbron by die terrein, terwyl die veelvoudige-kamer-sisteem beter gevaar het by hoë golfperiodes. ‘n Vergelyking tussen die ShoreSWEC en ‘n konvensionele ossilerende waterkolom (OWK) GEO het gewys dat die OWK 72% meer energie onttrek. Dit beklemtoon die sisteem se sensitiwiteit vir die inkomende golfrigting. ‘n Drie-dimensionele (3D) numeriese model van die eksperimentele opstelling is ontwikkel. Die numeriese model het aansienlik hoër drukke binne die kamer, en gevolglik algehele effektiwiteit, voorspel as die eksperimentele toetse. Die elektriese opwekkingskapasiteit van ‘n 10 kamer ShoreSWEC by die terrein, gebaseer op die eksperimentele resultate en 11 jaar se golfdata, is bereken as 6 kW gemiddeld vir ‘n 15 kW kapasiteit stelsel. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie het die behoefte aan ‘n beter begrip van die hidrodinamiese eienskappe van ‘n vollengte sisteem beklemtoon. Eksperimentele toetse in ‘n 3D golfbak op ‘n geskaleerde vollengte ShoreSWEC model word dus aanbeveel. Sodra dit voltooi is, sal Suid-Afrika een stap nader wees aan die ontplooiing van ‘n volskaalse SWEC toestel.

This master thesis is done within the Energy Systems Engineering program at Uppsala University and performed for CorPower Ocean. Wave energy converters (WECs) are devices that utilize ocean waves for generation of electricity. The WEC developed by CorPower Ocean is small and intended to be deployed in an array. Placed in an array the different WECs will interact hydrodynamically and the combined power output is altered. The aim of this thesis is to model and investigate how the array configuration affects the electric power output. The goal is to target an optimal array layout for CorPower Ocean WECs, considering both average power and power smoothness in the optimization.   In this thesis multiple buoys have been implemented in the time-domain model at CorPower Ocean. The hydrodynamic interactions are computed using an analytical interactions theory together with a recently developed calibration method able of handling WEC bodies of complicated shapes. The array behavior in regular waves is analyzed and it is identified how the beneficial separation distances vary with wave length. It is observed that the best separation distances for high average power does not exactly correspond to the best for minimizing the peak-to-average power. Simulation results show that it is possible to obtain both high average array power as well as increased power smoothening in a regular wave. A genetic algorithm for optimizing the array configuration is designed and tested for two different array patterns. Initial simulations are conducted in realistic multi-directional irregular waves. The power smoothening capacity of the array remains even in these conditions but the exact extent of it is still uncertain.   This thesis delivers a WEC array simulation model as well as an initial view on the array characteristics of the phase controlled CorPower Ocean WEC. Additionally, it demonstrates an optimization algorithm taking both average power and power smoothness into account.

With an ongoing desire to improve product performance, in combination with the continuously growing complexity of engineering structures, there is a need for well-tested and reliable engineering tools that can aid the decision making and facilitate an efficient and effective product development. The technical assessment of the dynamic characteristics of mechanical systems often relies on linear analysis techniques which are well developed and generally accepted. However, sometimes the errors due to linearization are too large to be acceptable, making it necessary to take nonlinear effects into account. Many existing analysis techniques for nonlinear mechanical systems build on the assumption that the input excitation of the system is periodic and deterministic. This often results in highly inefficient analysis procedures when nonlinear mechanical systems are studied in a non-deterministic environment where the excitation of the system is stochastic. The aim of this thesis is to develop and validate new efficient analysis methods for the theoretical and experimental study of nonlinear mechanical systems under stochastic excitation, with emphasis on two specific problem areas; forced response simulation and system identification from measurement data. A fundamental concept in the presented methodology is to model the nonlinearities as external forces acting on an underlying linear system, and thereby making it possible to use much of the linear theories for simulation and identification. The developed simulation methods utilize a digital filter to achieve a stable and condensed representation of the linear subparts of the system which is then solved recursively at each time step together with the counteracting nonlinear forces. The result is computationally efficient simulation routines, which are particularly suitable for performance predictions when the input excitation consist of long segments of discrete data representing a realization of the stochastic excitation of the system. Similarly, the presented identification methods take advantage of linear Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output theories for random data by using the measured responses to create artificial inputs which can separate the linear system from the nonlinear parameters. The developed methods have been tested with extensive numerical simulations and with experimental test rigs with promising results. Furthermore, an industrial case study of a wave energy converter, with nonlinear characteristics, has been carried out and an analysis procedure capable of evaluating the performance of the system in non-deterministic ocean waves is presented.

The Division for Electricity of Uppsala University is developing a wave power concept. The energy of the ocean waves is harvested with wave energy converters, consisting of one buoy and one linear generator. The units are connected in a submerged substation. The mechanical design is kept as simple as possible to ensure reliability. The submerged substation includes power electronics and different types of electrical power components. Due to the high cost of maintenance operations at sea, the reliability of electrical systems for offshore renewable energy is a major issue in the pursuit of making the electricity production economically viable. Therefore, proper thermal management is essential to avoid the components being damaged by excessive temperature increases. The chosen cooling strategy is fully passive, and includes no fans. It has been applied in the second substation prototype with curved heatsinks mounted on the inner wall of the pressurized vessel. This strategy has been evaluated with a thermal model for the completed substation. First of all, 3D-CFD models were implemented for selected components of the electrical conversion system. The results from these submodels were used to build a lumped parameter model at the system level. The comprehensive thermal study of the substation indicates that the rated power in the present configuration is around 170 kW. The critical components were identified. The transformers and the inverters are the limiting components for high DC-voltage and low DC-voltage respectively. The DC-voltage—an important parameter in the control strategy for the WEC—was shown to have the most significant effect on the temperature limitation. As power diodes are the first step of conversion, they are subject to large power fluctuations. Therefore, we studied thermal cycling for these components. The results indicated that the junction undergoes repeated temperature cycles, where the amplitude increased with the square root of the absorbed power. Finally, an array of generic heat sources was optimized. We designed an experimental setup to investigate conjugate natural convection on a vertical plate with flush-mounted heat sources. The influence of the heaters distribution was evaluated for different dissipated powers. Measurements were used for validation of a CFD model. We proposed optimal distributions for up to 36 heat sources. The cooling capacity was maximized while the used area was minimized.

The research presented in this thesis utilizes Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory with a dynamic wake model to customize the OrcaFlex numeric simulation platform in order to allow modeling of moored Ocean Current Turbines (OCTs). This work merges the advanced cable modeling tools available within OrcaFlex with well documented BEM rotor modeling approach creating a combined tool that was not previously available for predicting the performance of moored ocean current turbines. This tool allows ocean current turbine developers to predict and optimize the performance of their devices and mooring systems before deploying these systems at sea. The BEM rotor model was written in C++ to create a back-end tool that is fed continuously updated data on the OCT’s orientation and velocities as the simulation is running. The custom designed code was written specifically so that it could operate within the OrcaFlex environment. An approach for numerically modeling the entire OCT system is presented, which accounts for the additional degree of freedom (rotor rotational velocity) that is not accounted for in the OrcaFlex equations of motion. The properties of the numerically modeled OCT were then set to match those of a previously numerically modeled Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC) OCT system and comparisons were made. Evaluated conditions include: uniform axial and off axis currents, as well as axial and off axis wave fields. For comparison purposes these conditions were applied to a geodetically fixed rotor, showing nearly identical results for the steady conditions but varied, in most cases still acceptable accuracy, for the wave environment. Finally, this entire moored OCT system was evaluated in a dynamic environment to help quantify the expected behavioral response of SNMREC’s turbine under uniform current. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

This research focused on maximizing the power generated by an array of ocean current turbines. To achieve this objective, the produced shaft power of an ocean current turbine (OCT) has been quantified using CFD without adding a duct, as well as over a range of duct geometries. For an upstream duct, having a diameter 1.6 times the rotor diameter, the power increased by 8.35% for a duct that extends 1 diameter upstream. This research also focused on turbine array optimization, providing a mathematical basis for calculating the water velocity within an array of OCTs. After developing this wake model, it was validated using experimental data. As the downstream distance behind the turbine increases, the analytic results become closer to the experimental results, with a difference of 3% for TI = 3% and difference of 4% for TI = 15%, both at a downstream distance of 4 rotor diameters. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

<p>Electric energy conversion is an important issue in today's society as our daily lives largely depend on the supplies of energy. Two energy sources are studied for conversion in the present thesis, ocean waves and hydropower. The work focuses on the generator and the transmission of its output to the electric grid.</p><p>Different approaches have been used, over the years, to convert the energy in ocean waves, and the method presently used is based on a point absorber (buoy) directly coupled to a linear generator on the seabed. A varying alternating voltage is induced with such configuration, where both the amplitude and the frequency changes continuously. The target is to connect several units in a farm, and thereby decrease the fluctuations in power production. This is shown to be possible to accomplish with a rectifier connected to each generator. Transmission systems can be designed with converters and transformers to connect the farm to the electric grid onshore. Several aspects of the concept are considered as well as interconnection issues. Analytical calculations verified by finite element simulations and measured data are used to model the behaviour of a linear generator. A series expanded expression for the ideal no-load flux and EMF (electromotive force) is derived, which can be developed into an analytical transmission design tool.</p><p>Hydropower has been used for more than a century. Today many of the stations from the mid 1900's are up for refurbishment. Studies with finite element calculations show that a higher electric efficiency can be obtained with a high voltage cable wound generator.</p>

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) promise to be a viable alternative to current electrical generation methods. However, these WECs must become more efficient before wide-scale industrial use can become cost-effective. The efficiency of a WEC is primarily dependent upon its geometry and ballast configuration which are both difficult to evaluate, due to slow computation time and high computation cost of current models. In this thesis, we use evolutionary algorithms to optimize the ballast geometry of a wave energy generator using a two step process. First, we generate a function approximator (neural network) to predict wave energy converter power output with respect to key geometric design variables. This is a critical step as the computation time of using a full model (e.g., AQWA) to predict energy output prohibits the use of an evolutionary algorithm for design optimization. The function approximator reduced the computation time by over 99% while having an average error of only 3.5%. The evolutionary algorithm optimized the weight distribution of a WEC, resulting in an 84% improvement in power output over a ballast-free WEC. / Graduation date: 2012

The eventual deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) on a commercial scale will necessitate the grouping of devices into arrays or "wave farms," in order to minimize overhead costs of mooring, maintenance, installation, and electrical cabling for shoreward power delivery. Closely spaced WECs will interact hydrodynamically through diffracted and radiated waves. Recent research has focused on the WEC wave field and used its structures to design constructive WEC arrays as well as to describe the means of WEC energy absorption. In this study, the WEC wave field is investigated for a single WEC and a five WEC array with linear wave theory and experimental results. Both regular waves and spectral seas are considered. Computational results are produced with the linear boundary-element-method (BEM) hydrodynamic software WAMIT for a simple WEC geometry. Experimental data comes from WEC array tests that took place at Oregon State University over the winter of 2010-11 [1]. The experimental measurements help validate the computational modeling, and the computational models serve as an aid to interpreting the experimental data. Results reveal two universal WEC wave field features - partially standing waves and a wave shadow, both of which are the result of the coherent interaction of the planar incident wave with the circular generated wave, composed of the diffracted and radiated waves. The partial standing waves in the offshore are seen qualitatively in experimental data but could not be exactly reproduced computationally, because the computational model is only a simple representation of the physical model. In the lee of the WEC, the measured longshore structure of the wave shadow is in good agreement with theoretical expectations as well as computational results. It is believed that the agreement is because the formation of the wave shadow is dominated by energy extraction, which was approximately the same for both the computational and physical models. A study of the linear WEC wave field in regular waves and spectral seas reveals patterns such as the wave shadow that have also been found in experimental data. The positions and magnitudes of the offshore partially standing waves are very sensitive to wavelength, and WEC geometry, motions and location, and in spectral seas, they are smoothed when considering significant wave height. All of which suggest that it may be difficult to use them advantageously in the design of WEC arrays. The wave shadow is a dominant feature of the WEC wave field for both regular waves and spectral seas. It appears to be fairly generic and to be based on power absorption. In the design of WEC arrays, rather than attempting constructive interference by using standing wave crests, perhaps the best one can do is to avoid destructive interference of the wave shadow. / Graduation date: 2013