Mechanical reliability analysis of flexible power cables for marine energy
Journal article, 2022

Marine power cables connected to moving devices at sea may experience millions of load cycles per year, and thus they need to be flexible due to the movements of the cable and designed for mechanical loads. In this study, the focus is on the mechanical life of flexible low- and medium voltage power cables connecting devices to hubs. The reliability design method Variational Mode and Effect Analysis (VMEA) is applied, based on identifying and quantifying different types of uncertainty sources, including scatter, model and statistical uncertainties. It implements a load–strength approach that combines numerical simulations to assess the loads on the cable and experimental tests to assess the strength of the cable. The VMEA method is demonstrated for an evaluation of bending fatigue, and is found to be a useful tool to evaluate uncertainties in fatigue life for WEC (Wave Energy Converter) system cables during the design phase. The results give a firm foundation for the evaluation of safety against fatigue and are also helpful for identifying weak spots in the reliability assessment, thereby motivating actions in the improvement process. Uncertainties in terms of scatter, statistical uncertainty and model uncertainty are evaluated with respect to theWaveEL 3.0, a WEC designed by the companyWaves4Power, and deployed in Runde, Norway. A major contribution to the overall uncertainty is found to originate from the fatigue life model, both in terms of scatter and model uncertainty.

reliability

numerical simulation

experimental test

fatigue life

power cable

VMEA (Variation Mode and Effect Analysis)

wave energy

uncertainty

Author

Pär Johannesson

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Xiao Lang

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Erland Johnson

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Jonas Ringsberg

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

20771312 (eISSN)

Vol. 10 6 1- 716

Simulation model for operation and maintenance strategy of floating wave energy converters - analysis of fatigue, wear, and influence of biofouling for effective and profitable energy harvesting

Swedish Energy Agency (P36357-2), 2016-06-01 -- 2018-05-31.

R&D of dynamic low voltage cables between the buoy and floating hub in a marine energy system

Swedish Energy Agency (P41240-1), 2015-12-08 -- 2017-08-01.

Strategic research project on Chalmers on hydro- and aerodynamics

The Chalmers University Foundation, 2019-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Subject Categories

Applied Mechanics

Computational Mathematics

Probability Theory and Statistics

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

Areas of Advance

Energy

Materials Science

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.3390/jmse10060716

More information

Latest update

7/25/2022