Parametric study of the dynamic motions and mechanical characteristics of power cables for wave energy converters
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2018

A case study of a point-absorber wave energy converter (WEC) system is presented. The WEC system forms an array, with several WECs located around a central hub to which they are each connected by a short, free-hanging power cable. The objective of the study is to analyse the dynamic characteristics and estimate the fatigue life of the power cable which is not yet in use or available on the commercial market. Hence, a novel approach is adopted in the study considering that the power cable’s length is restricted by several factors (e.g., the clearances between the service vessel and seabed and the cable), and the cable is subject to motion and loading from the WEC and to environmental loads from waves and currents (i.e., dynamic cable). The power cable’s characteristics are assessed using a numerical model subjected to a parametric analysis, in which the environmental parameters and the cable’s design parameters are varied. The results of the numerical simulations are compared and discussed regarding the responses of the power cables, including dynamic motion, curvature, cross-sectional forces, and accumulated fatigue damage. The effects of environmental conditions on the long-term mechanical life spans of the power cables are also investigated. Important cable design parameters that result in a long power cable (fatigue) service life are identified, and the cable service life is predicted. This study contributes a methodology for the first-principle design of WEC cables that enables the prediction of cable fatigue life by considering environmental conditions and variations in cable design parameters.

Fatigue

Power cable

Wave energy converter

Cable dynamics

Författare

Shun-Han Yang

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Marin teknik

Jonas Ringsberg

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Marin teknik

Erland Johnson

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Marin teknik

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

0948-4280 (ISSN) 1437-8213 (eISSN)

Vol. 23 1 10-29

Simuleringsmodell för drift- och underhållsstrategi av flytande vågkraftverk – analys av utmattning, nötning, och inverkan av biofouling för effektiv och lönsam energiutvinning

Energimyndigheten (P36357-2), 2016-06-01 -- 2018-05-31.

Ämneskategorier

Maskinteknik

Materialteknik

Energiteknik

Tillförlitlighets- och kvalitetsteknik

Farkostteknik

Marin teknik

Drivkrafter

Hållbar utveckling

Innovation och entreprenörskap

Styrkeområden

Transport

Energi

Materialvetenskap

Fundament

Grundläggande vetenskaper

DOI

10.1007/s00773-017-0451-0

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2018-10-08