Thesis (MScEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has a signi cant potential resource for electrical power generation
in the Agulhas Current on the southeast coast. The Ocean Current
Energy Convertor studied in this project was designed to generate power from
this current. The feasibility of this device was investigated by analysing the
dynamic stability and controllability of the convertor, when acted upon by
hydrodynamic forces while harvesting energy from the current. A simulation
model was developed to predict the dynamic behaviour using the Simulink
software suite. A scale model of the prototype was built and tested in the
Towing Tank at Stellenbosch University, and the experimental results were
compared against the simulation results. A control algorithm was designed,
using the mathematical model, to control the roll angle and deployment depth.
The control algorithm was tested in simulation.
The results indicated that the simulation model accurately predicted the
behaviour of the prototype in testing, and results showed that the device
is both stable and controllable. It was concluded that this OCEC design
concept warrants further investigation. The recommendations are that the
experimental model be improved to ensure reliable experimental results, that
further complexity be added to the simulation model, and that the control
algorithm be tested on the improved prototype in the towing tank. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Agulhas-seestroom aan die suidooskus van Suid-Afrika bied 'n aansienlike
potensiële hulpbron vir elektriese kragopwekking. Die seestroomenergieomsetter
(SEO) wat in hierdie projek bestudeer is was ontwikkel om krag uit
hierdie seestroom te genereer. Die doenlikheid van hierdie toestel is ondersoek
deur die dinamiese stabiliteit en beheerbaarheid van die omsetter onder die invloed
van hidrodinamiese kragte te analiseer terwyl dit energie van die stroom
inwin. 'n Simulasiemodel is met behulp van Simulink-sagteware ontwikkel om
die dinamiese gedrag te voorspel. 'n Skaalmodel van die prototipe was gebou
en in die sleeptenk by Universiteit Stellenbosch getoets en die eksperimentele
resultate met die simulasie se resultate vergelyk. 'n Beheer-algoritme is
daarna ontwerp, deur middel van die wiskundige model, om die rolhoek en
diepte van ontplooiing te beheer.Hierdie algoritme is tydens simulasie getoets.
Die resultate het aangedui dat die simulasiemodel akkuraat die gedrag van
die prototipe tydens toetse voorspel het, en die resultate het gewys dat die
toestel beide stabiel en beheerbaar is. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die
SEO se ontwerpkonsep verdere studie regverdig. Die aanbevelings is dat die
eksperimentele model verbeter word om betroubare eksperimentele resultate
te verseker, dat verdere kompleksiteit by die simulasiemodel gevoeg word,
en dat die beheer-algoritme op die verbeterde model in die sleeptenk getoets
word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/95945 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Graaff, Simon |
| Contributors | Van Niekerk, J. L., Von Backstrom, J. W., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xv, 110 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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