Wavepod a transmission for wave energy converters – set-up and testing

Authors

  • Dominic Dießel Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS), RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 53, 52074 Aachen, Germany
  • Garth Bryans Aquamarine Power, Elder House, 24 Elder Street, Edinburgh EH1 3DX, UK
  • Louis Verdegem Bosch Rexroth, 15 Cromwell Rd., St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 2ES, UK
  • Hubertus Murrenhoff Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS), RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 53, 52074 Aachen, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/14399776.2015.1055990

Keywords:

WavePOD, wave energy, power take off (PTO), hydraulic transmission, test-rig, wave energy converter (WEC), concept study

Abstract

Marine wave energy is expected to play a significant role in future energy production. A range of converter types has been proposed, some of which have been tested, but none have achieved economic feasibility yet. Partly this is due to transmissions, which are too expensive, not reliable enough or too poor in terms of efficiency. A new system has been developed by a consortium consisting of Bosch Rexroth, Aquamarine Power and the Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS) of RWTH Aachen University. The consortium aims to solve these problems by developing an offthe- shelf standardised hydraulic transmission or power-take-off. It is called WavePOD. WavePOD provides improved flexibility for adjusting to different wave conditions without requiring customised components or fast control response times. An 8% scaled power test rig was built and commissioned for operation at IFAS in November 2014. In the first step multiple tests will be carried out to show proof of concept, efficiency and reliability until end of March 2015. In this paper basic criteria for the design of WavePOD will be explained, leading to an explanation of the system. The test rig will then be presented together with intended tests and first results.

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Author Biographies

Dominic Dießel, Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS), RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 53, 52074 Aachen, Germany

Dominic Dießel has studied Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. Since 2012 he is member of the scientific staff at the Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS) at RWTH Aachen University.

Garth Bryans, Aquamarine Power, Elder House, 24 Elder Street, Edinburgh EH1 3DX, UK

Garth Bryans has over 10 years experience in the marine renewables sector and has held a number of senior technical roles. He holds a PhD from Queen’s University, Belfast and University College Dublin. He also holds an MSc in Applied Physical Oceanography and a BSc in Marine Biology and Oceanography, both from the University of Wales.

Louis Verdegem, Bosch Rexroth, 15 Cromwell Rd., St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 2ES, UK

Louis Verdegem has over 36 years of Hydraulics Engineering experience. The last 10 years working to supply the Wave and Tidal industry in design and development of Power Take Off Systems globally. He has worked for the previous 16 years on Military Bridging Systems. He has a BSc.(hons) in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Southampton University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Hubertus Murrenhoff, Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls (IFAS), RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 53, 52074 Aachen, Germany

Hubertus Murrenhoff is director of the Institute for Fluid Power Drives & Controls (IFAS) at RWTH Aachen University. Main research interests cover hydraulics and pneumatics including components, systems, controls, simulation programs and the applications of fluid power in mobile and stationary equipment.

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Published

2018-12-28

How to Cite

Dießel, D., Bryans, G., Verdegem, L., & Murrenhoff, H. (2018). Wavepod a transmission for wave energy converters – set-up and testing. International Journal of Fluid Power, 16(2), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/14399776.2015.1055990

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Original Article