INDUSTRY SHOWCASE


1MW AIR TURBINE PTO VALIDATION The first of its kind full scale


1MW air turbine power take- off system fully tested in a bi-directional wind tunnel


Wave energy developer Aquanet Power has successfully built a first of its kind unique full-scale wind tunnel test facility in Taoyuan, Taiwan. The test facility, equipped with simulation capabilities to simulate a variety of wave heights and wave periods has been built to fully test, validate and optimise the full scale 1MW rated capacity air turbine power take-off (PTO) system to work in any sea condition in the world.


The fully automated facility has been designed and built to replicate various sea characteristics for both regular and irregular wave conditions. It is currently being used to showcase the performance and capability of the proprietary air turbine, the full PTO and control system in a variety of sea conditions.


COST SAVINGS


The test and validation of its 1MW PTO system has helped the company to de- risk the system integration and control algorithm before it is deployed at sea. Significant cost savings are achieved by commissioning and fine tuning the PTO on land prior to its deployment at sea. The test facility is designed and equipped to demonstrate the PTO system’s capability to generate real time electricity.


In addition to full performance verification of Aquanet’s patented airWAVE turbine, this facility could also be used for validation of other third party PTO systems in the future.


To ensure the cost-effectiveness of the WEC system, a control strategy is carefully designed for the PTO system to respond to the irregularity of each incoming wave by adjusting the latching and the damping of the PTO system. With a simplified standardised design and highly efficient air turbine, the efficiency of the system is thereby increased and hence its cost-effectiveness. The system is now ready to be deployed not only with its dedicated Aquanet Oscillating Water Column but also with any other suitable OWC as a plug-and-play solution for any sea condition in the world.


REACTION TURBINE At the heart of the wave energy conversion technology of Aquanet is its bi-directional reaction turbine, airWAVE Turbine. Designed to start at pressures of 2KPa and rotate at up to 1200 RPM at high pressure. With variable pitch blades automatically responding to the volumetric airflow rate and pressure, the turbine converts the available pneumatic energy to mechanical energy at optimum efficiency for each wave cycle.


This flexibility affords its utilisation in a wide spectrum of applications in low and high energy sea conditions. Due to its versatility, it can also be used by


other wave energy converters using air turbine to enhance their current output. With minimum moving parts and the use of anti-corrosive material, the airWAVE Turbine is designed for long life. This smart design enables in situ repair and maintenance and hence lower through life costs.


STANDARDISED PTO SYSTEM The standardised PTO system is used for all product variants of the technology, for shallow water and deep water applications, with small adjustments to suit any given project location.


The fully tested PTO will soon be integrated with our shallow water wave energy converter product aquaWAVE, an internationally fully patented L shaped oscillating water column (OWC). This variant has a concrete structure and sits under its own weight on the ocean floor with no mooring or anchoring aid. Once deployed at sea, this will be the world’s first 1MW single unit wave energy converter.


ARRAY PROJECT


The company is also developing an array project of 3MW in Scotland. A standalone aquaWAVE, shallow water concrete structure wave energy converter of 1MW rated capacity, has an anticipated output of approximately 2.5GWh per annum in Scottish waters.


This project aims to demonstrate the technology’s attractive economics, compelling commercial potential and its reliability in a wide variety of sea conditions. The aquaWAVE device can also be used for coastal or harbour protection wall when configured next to each other.


Aquanet Power


Breakwater Wall Design


WEBSITE


PTO LAUNCH PRODUCTS www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk 3


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