Marine Energy Research Australia (MERA) has embarked on a comprehensive study focused on wave energy hydrodynamics, in an effort to drive performance improvements, cost reduction, and expedite the commercialization of wave energy technology.
The University of Western Australia's research center has teamed up with Swedish wave energy technology developer, CorPower Ocean, and industry partner, Australia Ocean Energy Group (AOEG), to undertake this ambitious endeavor. Funding for the project has been secured through the Australian Research Council's Linkage Project scheme, which recently allocated over AUS$40 million to 81 collaborative research projects aimed at transforming various industries and bolstering the Australian economy.
Bringing together leading expertise from industry and academia, the project aims to leverage a unique blend of numerical analysis, laboratory experiments, and field data. The initiative will draw upon operational data from CorPower Ocean's inaugural full-scale wave energy deployment in northern Portugal, conducted through the HiWave-5 Project.
Hugh Wolgamot, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia (UWA), emphasized the significance of this intensive research effort in addressing a fundamental challenge in wave energy: understanding the interaction between high-performance Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and the ocean.
Wolgamot stated, “Scientifically, the fundamental principles of wave energy have been known for some time, with resonance between waves and WEC motion enabling optimal power absorption. In this project, we are collaborating with CorPower Ocean, a leading WEC developer, whose innovative negative spring mechanism represents a pure manifestation of these principles.”
He further added, “Our ultimate goal is to maximize the amount of energy harnessed and converted by these WECs from the ocean environment. To achieve this, we will combine world-class hydrodynamics expertise with detailed insights from full-scale operations, in order to develop novel numerical models that accurately depict wave forces acting upon the WECs. By focusing on enhancing performance in moderate seas, which are most commonly encountered, we aim to identify methods to bolster hydrodynamic efficiency, increase overall effectiveness, and drive down costs – a crucial factor for facilitating large-scale utilization.”
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The project's initial phase involves conducting laboratory experiments utilizing a high-precision model-scale wave flume. These experiments are designed to isolate nonlinear dynamic characteristics through meticulous post-processing and data analysis.
Subsequently, the second phase will concentrate on the development of numerical models, drawing insights from the laboratory measurements obtained during the initial phase.
In the third and final phase, the newly developed hydrodynamic models will be meticulously validated against full-scale field measurements, comparing WEC simulations with CorPower Ocean's fully instrumented ocean deployment.
Jørgen Hals Todalshaug, Lead Scientist at CorPower Ocean, emphasized the crucial role of numerical modeling in advancing wave energy engineering and reducing technology costs.
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Todalshaug explained, “This project will deliver new numerical models specifically addressing critical nonlinearities resulting from large amplitude WEC motions. While some progress has been made in this area, the various nonlinear effects and their treatments have not been systematically investigated and fully validated. Given the absence of a standardized method for accurately accounting for these force components, the outcomes of this Linkage Project will be of immense interest to our industry.”
He further highlighted, “The majority of progress in numerical modeling is typically driven by academia. However, the collaborative nature of this research project, which actively involves industry stakeholders and enables testing alongside a full-scale WEC deployment, empowers us to push the boundaries of innovation.”
