FEATURE SPONSOR PARTNERSHIP
J.J. Campbell and Associates Civil and Structural Engineers are working in partnership with Wave Energy Ireland (WEI) to develop clean, renewable and sustainable technologies to convert the abundant wind and wave energy resource available off the west coast of Ireland and elsewhere, to usable electrical power
To this aim, J.J. Campbell and Associates has engaged in the process of the design and testing of a large, multiuse, floating platform to be located offshore at water depths of over 100m. Locating such technologies offshore reduces the visual impact, noise pollution and flicker issues commonly associated with land based wind turbines.
FOCUS ON IRELAND
WAVE POWER MISSION
Limerick Wave’s mission is to turn the mechanical power of the waves (tides) into electrical power for general consumption
Limerick Wave Ltd has developed an innovative Power Take Off (PTO) technology. The use of the PTO technology in this area is novel in that its rotation is uni- directional despite the bi-directional natural oscillation of the flotation device. •Patent Application No. 10723800.8 •Patent Grant No. 2425123.
TECHNOLOGY
STRUCTURAL DESIGN CHALLENGES However, the harsh marine environment presents unique structural design challenges to ensure the survivability of any structure located at sea. By leveraging the expertise of experienced structural and civil engineers and hydrodynamicists, J.J. Campbell and Associates believe these challenges can be overcome.
The platform would incorporate one or more offshore wind turbines and a number of wave energy converting devices based on the oscillating water column. At a typical location, a single platform will produce approximately 77GWhr of electricity per annum, equivalent to the electrical consumption of 21,000 homes. This is achieved through the combination of 8MW installed wind and 16MW installed wave capacity, although there is potential to increase the installed capacity of wind in line with technology improvements in this sector.
PLANNED PROGRESS The technology is currently at TRL4 and aims to progress to TRL5 by 2019. Proof of concept has been demonstrated at 1:50 scale through four phases of public/private funding to J.J. Campbell and Associates and WEI, which have been supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. This funding has led to three rounds of tank testing, the results from which have been independently validated and support current name plate estimates for the wave energy component of the platform.
RECENT PROJECT The company were also heavily involved in the recent, EU- funded, Maribe project, which explored opportunities for companies that co-locate different economic activities in the marine environment. The commercial development plan for the technology includes completion of 1:10 scale tank testing and then the design and build of a 1:4 scale prototype for sea trials.
J.J. Campbell and Associates
WEBSITE
The PTO technology can be used with any Wave Energy Converter (WEC) technology that has relative motion, that is, two-way motion. That means the Limerick Wave PTO technology is applicable to practically all WEC technologies being developed. Limerick Wave can turn the low velocity and very high torque of the sea wave into mechanical low velocity and very high torque to turn a low rpm generator to generate electricity.
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS The Limerick Wave PTO technology has three unique characteristics that sets it apart from its competition in meeting the challenges posed by the sea…
» It has no ‘End Stop’; the End Stop is the biggest challenge other PTO technologies must overcome. The novel design means it does not have an End Stop
» It is not rigidly fixed to the WEC. This means that if the WEC is compromised in certain sea states, the PTO is not
» It rectifies the two-way motion of the waves into one-way motion to turn a generator to produce electricity, that is, a mechanical rectifier. So, the PTO produces electricity as the sea waves move up and down.
TWO EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS… 1. Limerick Wave Ltd have a ¼ scale PTO being fitted to a ¼ scale Sea Power WEC and it will be on the Atlantic Ocean before year end; and
2. The company is in Phase 2 of Wave Energy Scotland (WES) PTO call.
The technology has advanced with the support of SEAI, who have grant aided two technology developments of the PTO technology and SEAI are funding the ¼ scale PTO being fitted to a ¼ scale Sea Power WEC.
Limerick Wave Ltd WEBSITE
www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk 31
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