Gregory Payne

Efficiency and Dynamic Performance of Digitally Displacement Hydraulic Transmission in Tidal Current Energy Converters

Abstract Tidal current turbines extract kinetic energy from tidal current in much the same way as wind turbines do with wind. Tidal current velocities are by nature slow and variable, whereas electricity generation typically requires fast and steady rotary motion. This article investigates the performance of a hydraulic transmission system based on Digital Displacement™ technology, which allows variable speed of the tidal current turbine rotor while maintaining constant generator shaft speed. The case study of a generic horizontal axis tidal turbine is considered. Control strategies based on rotor variable speed are derived to optimize yearly power generation and to cope with short-term variations in stream velocity.

On the concept of sloped motion for free-floating wave energy converters.

A free-floating wave energy converter (WEC) concept whose power take-off (PTO) system reacts against water inertia is investigated herein. The main focus is the impact of inclining the PTO direction on the system performance. The study is based on a numerical model whose formulation is first derived in detail. Hydrodynamics coefficients are obtained using the linear boundary element method package WAMIT. Verification of the model is provided prior to its use for a PTO parametric study and a multi-objective optimization based on a multi-linear regression method. It is found that inclining the direction of the PTO at around 50° to the vertical is highly beneficial for the WEC performance in that it provides a high capture width ratio over a broad region of the wave period range.

Impact of motion limits on sloped wave energy converter optimization

In a previous article [[1][1]] (subsequently referred to as the ‘original study’ and whose prior reading is recommended to make the most of what follows), the authors explored the concept of sloped power take-off (PTO) for a free-floating wave energy converter (WEC) using linear potential flow