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Real-time wave field mapping for the offshore renewable energy industry

Reference Number
EP/F062583/1
Title
Real-time wave field mapping for the offshore renewable energy industry
Status
Completed
Energy Categories
Renewable Energy Sources(Ocean Energy)
Research Types
Basic and strategic applied research
Science and Technology Fields
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation
Not Cross-cutting
Principal Investigator
Dr T Bruce
Energy Systems
University of Edinburgh
Award Type
Standard
Funding Source
EPSRC
Start Date
01 April 2008
End Date
30 September 2009
Duration
18 months
Total Grant Value
£237,809
Industrial Sectors
Energy
Region
Scotland
Programme
Energy -- Energy Research Capacity
Investigators
Principal Investigator
Dr T Bruce, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Other Investigator
Professor I Bryden, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Recognised Researcher
mr BG Sellar, University of Edinburgh
Industrial Collaborator
Project Contact, Queen's University Belfast
Project Contact, Anglia Ruskin University
Project Contact, Maritime Institute, Ireland
Project Contact, Wavebob Ltd, Ireland
Project Contact, University of the Highlands and Islands
Project Contact, Heriot-Watt University
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract
Knowledge of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the next and subsequent waves to act on marine energy converters is essential for optimal control and ultimately, survivability. Currently, it is possible neither to measure nor reliably infer these. The University of Edinburgh has deployed, for the first time, a flexible, optoelectronic senor ribbon (using ShapeTapeTM technology) in its wave flumes. Previous ShapeTape (tm) applications had been limited to human body shape measurement for athlete training and sports research. The University of Edinburgh research has shown the sensor to be capable of resolving, in the 2-d flume, wave elevation data, giving measurements of individual (and spectral) wave heights, periods, shapes and steepnesses with high correlation with the best available wet techniques.Ultimately, a lattice of these sensor ribbons could allow real-time surface mapping of the advancing waves in fully mixed seas and unlock new opportunities for anticipatory adaptive control of converter response. This is not a near-market technology. This proposal seeks to determine the feasibility of achieving these ultimate benefits via this technology. As such, it will extend the measuring equipment, techniques, data capture and processing to add the third dimension, and to the real sea setting. New signal capture and analysis techniques will be explored in the wave basin and open sea. Key challenges that lie ahead on a route to full scale deployment "in anger" will be identified, and whether these are tractable or "show-stoppers" be assessed
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Added to Database
19/02/08