Seminar - Francois Flocard - An introduction to wave energy’

Wednesday 14 May 2008, 1.10 - 1.55 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 3

Abstract:

In these times of increased awareness of climate change and growing global energy demand, the necessity for renewable energy technologies development is imperative and ocean power conversion has an important role to play. The International Energy Agency has estimated that wave energy could provide 10% of the worlds electrical energy supply.

This talk will cover the historical evolution of ocean wave energy conversion, review the main technologies that are available today and present the research I have undertaken in this department.

The aim of my research is to study the power capture of a device composed of a hollow vertical cylinder moored to the ocean floor in a manner that allows controlled heaving and pitching. The simple geometry of the device has been chosen as a base model to investigate fundamental system operating parameters, with the view to applying the findings to more complex designs. The cylinder sways with the passing waves, continuously converting the wave energy through the use of a linear generator, with expected power output of around 100 kW.

The tests are carried in the 30m wave tank facility at the School of Civil Engineering, capable of producing complex irregular waves that simulate ocean wave conditions in order to develop a better understanding of behaviour near resonance, develop ways to maximise energy absorption under realistic wave conditions.