Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

This study uses a genetic algorithm(GA) to investigate the practicality of optimizing the geometry and dimensions of a floating platform, which houses pitching wave energy converters (WEC). Using frequency- domain analysis, sensitivity tests for the search start point, choice of optimized variable, number of iterations, simulation time, and contents of the search space are made. Results show that the required number of iterations to convergence increases with an increased number of optimized variables. Furthermore, for the studied platform geometry, no single global optimum exists. Instead, various combinations of characteristic features can lead to comparable performances of the integrated wave absorber. Finally, it is observed that when the solution space is controlled and made to contain a subset of potential solutions known to improve the system performance, computation time, absorption efficiency and range are observed to improve. Additionally, the GA optimum tends towards platform geometries for which the wave absorber's resonance response corresponds to the dominating wave climate frequencies. A key contribution of this study is the controlled manipulation of the solution space to contain a subset of potential solutions that enhance system performance. This controlled approach leads to improvements in computation time, absorption efficiency, and range of the system.

The low-RPM Torque Converter (LRTC) is a rotating generator concept for use on the seabed with the driving force from sea waves motion on the sea surface. This concept is built up of two identical generators connected opposite each other via a spring drum with a built-in ball bearing clutch. The drum is connected to a buoy on the sea surface via a wire, the wire is rolled around the spring drum. With sea waves, the buoy moves either upwards or downwards and pulls the wire upwards or downwards. This movement causes the generators to spin.

This article presents an upgrade of the LRTC generator concept and upgraded measurement system, both hardware and software.

A flywheel system of the thin-disc type has been designed for direct connection to the generator's rotor shaft and an electronic measuring system has also been developed for more accurate measurements and minor disturbances.

More detailed tests have been performed both for the purpose of comparing the systems and to explore the performance of the generator concept in more detail.

Three different experiments have been done in this article. The first two experiments were performed to investigate the performance of the flywheel and to see the performance of the LRTC system with and without flywheel.

The third experiment investigated the optimization of the flywheel mass by increasing the mass of the flywheel with the addition of more thin discs.

All movements are simulated with a six-joint industrial robot. Several sinusoidal types of wave motions have been simulated with different time periods and also several real wave climate motions (data taken from fields) have been simulated with the robot. The experiments show that the addition of the flywheel in the LRTC system provides advantages in increasing both peak power, average output power and also softens the output power oscillation.

The concept concerned in this paper is based on energy conversion of the ocean waves via rotational generators. The objective of this research is to develop a new type of slow-motion converter. The LRTC device consists of a drum that is connected via wire to a floating buoy. The drum is connected to rotary generators. The generators are heavily braked when the direction of movement changes (up/down); this is because the generators have been charged the maximum load in order to obtain maximum output power. For upcoming improvement, the generators should have some power storage as flywheel. In the future experiments, the torque converter can even be tuned to rotate in resonance with the incoming waves, strongly increasing power absorption. Constant force springs are applied for this purpose. The focus of this project is, therefore, a new generation of wave power device for utility-scale energy conversion offering a cost of energy that can compete with established energy resources.

The present paper considers pitching wave energy converters (WECs) integrated in a floating platform, e.g., floating foundation for a wind turbine. Each WEC consists of a partially submerged wave absorber that rotates about the hinge located above the still water level under the influence of waves. Each wave absorber contains separated ballast tanks that are used to ensure the desired initial tilting angle of the absorber with respect to the floating foundation (called the rest angle). The same rest angle can be achieved by filling different ballast compartments that impacts the inertia moment about the hinge, response amplitude operator (RAO), resonance frequency of the absorber, and the power absorption performance. The exhaustive search for a suitable ballast configuration can quickly become a computationally expensive task depending on the number of ballast tanks. In this paper, the ballast optimization algorithm based on an analytical model is developed. The algorithm is applied to investigate the impact of the ballasts on the rest angle, RAO and resonance frequency of the wave absorber. It provides a base for ballast design and location for improved power absorption performance. The proposed algorithm can be adapted to the ballast optimization of other pitching WECs.

Wave energy is an attractive source of renewable energy. In regions with a cold climate, for example, in the Baltic Sea, a good understanding of ice loads is vital for developing a reliable and cost-effective buoy for a wave energy converter (WEC). The first full-scale attempt was made to measure the vertical reaction force on a floating buoy connected to the WEC under the ice level interaction process. The force equation for a buoy connected to the WEC during the ice level interaction process is presented. It provides essential information on forces from the floating level of ice, which is very important for the design and construction of a buoy in regions with a cold climate.

Output power fluctuations from a wave energy converter (WEC) utilizing the principle of an oscillating body are unavoidable due to the reciprocating movement of the translator inside the generator. Moreover, the wave energy flux largely varies with time and propagates with the wave group velocity. Making use of the oscillating output power is a challenge for many wave energy conversion concepts. Therefore, estimation of the output power from a WEC solely by the mean power does not fully reflect the process of energy conversion, especially, by a direct drive linear generator. In the present paper, the output power from the WEC with a linear generator power take-off (PTO) is considered as a stochastic process, and the WEC performance is evaluated from the statistical point of view and related to the linear generator’s (LG) stroke length. Statistics as mean, standard deviation, relative standard deviation, maximum, and mode are found for different sea states. All statistics have shown an expected overall tendency with a rising significant wave height of incoming waves. As the significant wave height increases, statistics of the power output such as mean, standard deviation, maximum, and quantile are increasing, and the mode is decreasing beside the mode for the sea state C. It has been noted that for a significant wave height equal to the LG’s stroke length, the mode is greater than the same values for sea states of other significant wave heights. The results are based on a full-scale offshore experiment and may be used for the design of energy conversion systems based on a linear generator PTO.

Based on the Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, a three-dimensional (3-D) mathematical model for the hydrodynamics and structural dynamics of a floating point-absorbing wave energy converter (WEC) with a stroke control system in irregular and extreme waves is presented. The model is validated by a comparison of the numerical results with the wave tank experiment results of other researchers. The validated model is then utilized to examine the effect of wave height on structure displacements and connection rope tension. In the examined cases, the differences in WEC’s performance exhibited by an inviscid fluid and a viscous fluid can be neglected. Our results also reveal that the differences in behavior predicted by boundary element method (BEM) and the RANS-based method can be significant and vary considerably, depending on wave height.

This paper provides a summarized status update ofthe Lysekil wave power project. The Lysekil project is coordinatedby the Div. of Electricity, Uppsala University since 2002, with theobjective to develop full-scale wave power converters (WEC). Theconcept is based on a linear synchronous generator (anchored tothe seabed) driven by a heaving point absorber. This WEC has nogearbox or other mechanical or hydraulic conversion systems,resulting in a simpler and robust power plant. Since 2006, 12 suchWECs have been build and tested at the research site located atthe west coast of Sweden. The last update includes a new andextended project permit, deployment of a new marine substation,tests of several concepts of heaving buoys, grid connection,improved measuring station, improved modelling of wave powerfarms, implementation of remote operated vehicles forunderwater cable connection, and comprehensive environmentalmonitoring studies.

A wave energy converter (WEC) of point absorber type is tested at the west coast of Sweden. The buoy is a vertical cylinder. The linear generator on the seabed has limited stroke length. Large waves cause the generator to reach its maximum stroke length. As this happen, a spring in the generator is compressed, causing the buoy to instantly come to rest. During this process the force between the buoy and the generator is measured. Also the acceleration of the buoy is measured. This process and the extreme forces on the generator hull is described and the study shows that the magnitude of this force is greatly influenced by the added mass of the buoy and thus the buoy geometry. The ratio between the extreme forces on the hull and the forces during normal operation will affect the dimensioning and economy of the WEC. Force acting between generator and buoy were measured during various events as the WEC was operating. Heave added mass was derived from the measurements and found to be greater than the theoretical value.

The wave energy converter being developed at Uppsala University is of a point absorber type utilizing heaving motion of waves with a direct driven linear generator power take off. The point absorber, a buoy, is placed on the sea surface and is connected to the translator by a connection line. The connection line service life is of large importance for the lifetime of the entire device. Steel wire used as the connection line should be chosen to withstand loadings with different amplitude and frequency. In the present study, the risk of failure in the connection line is estimated.