Flexible Responsive Systems in Wave Energy: FlexWave

波浪能转换器（WEC）为利基（为水产养殖和海上电站供电）和电网规模应用提供了机会。然而，颠覆性创新对于释放波浪能的潜力，实现能源成本的逐步降低，并证明与其他可再生能源选择的竞争力至关重要。在这里，我们调查的机会，改变WEC系统的发展，利用智能设计概念，利用新的使用可变形材料。与钢或混凝土替代物相比，基于可变形材料的WEC可以提供改进的性能、生存性、可靠性和降低的成本，原因如下：1.为了实现给定的谐振频率，柔性织物装置可以更小且更轻。 2.这种装置的流体动力学特性可以通过控制其内部流体压力来修改，使其能够被调谐以适应入射波条件。这些调整可以通过机载智能响应系统进行。 3.几何形状的受控非线性变化将使可变形织物结构能够适应或摆脱高负载而不达到临界应力集中，从而提高生存能力并降低安装和寿命成本。 4.灵活性为使用一系列PTO提供了可能性，例如利用分布式波纹管作用的新型分布式嵌入式能量转换器（DEEC）、电活性聚合物、双电层电容器或微型液压位移机。5.具有很大弹性的聚合物构造的轻质柔性结构不太可能造成碰撞损坏，因此对于利基应用（例如与海上风力装置共置）来说是低风险的选择。 灵活的响应系统的性能在波浪能，其优化的操作条件，以及它们的生存能力风暴波，将通过一个程序的波盆实验和不同的灵活WEC概念的数值模拟进行评估。生存能力是所有WEC概念的关键障碍，因为它们的性质需要在充满活力的海况下做出反应，同时避免极端海况下的临界应力。对于柔性响应结构，这意味着避免应力集中（通过塌陷/折叠自然避免）或应变集中（通过在操作条件期间使用分布式PTO避免）。 数值模型将开发，占波的作用，变形膜结构和内部流体之间的复杂的相互作用。将使用材料测试和基本水弹性实验的结果对模型进行通知、校准和验证。橡胶基、聚氨酯和其他增强聚合物材料的优缺点将在制造成本、连接、粘合和海洋环境中的疲劳性能方面进行评估。这项研究将利用折纸理论和可展开结构技术，以避免出现褶皱、折叠或动脉瘤形成的问题，通过这种创新方法可能会出现一种全新的设计。我们的目标是展示一种降低柔性织物WEC成本的途径，优化性能，结构设计和制造，用于实用规模和利基应用。

Wave energy convertors (WECs) offer opportunities for niche (powering aquaculture and offshore stations) and grid-scale applications. However, disruptive innovation is essential to unlock the potential of wave energy, achieve step change reduction in cost of energy, and prove competitiveness against other renewable energy options. Here we investigate the opportunity to transform the development of WEC systems by utilising intelligent design concepts that exploit novel use of deformable materials. WECs based on deformable materials may offer improved performance, survivability, reliability, and reduced cost compared with steel or concrete alternatives for the following reasons: 1. To achieve a given resonant frequency, a flexible fabric device can be smaller and lighter. 2. Hydrodynamic characteristics of such a device can be modified by controlling its internal fluid pressure, enabling it to be tuned to suit incident wave conditions. These adjustments can be made by an on-board intelligent responsive system. 3. Controlled non-linear changes of geometry would enable a deformable fabric structure to accommodate or shed high loads without reaching critical stress concentrations, improving survivability and reducing installation and lifetime costs. 4. Flexibility opens up the possibility to use a range of PTOs, such as novel distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) utilising distributed bellows action, electro active polymers, electric double layer capacitors or micro-hydraulic displacement machines.5. A lightweight flexible structure with largely elastic polymer construction is unlikely to cause collision damage, and so is therefore a low risk option for niche applications, such as co-location with offshore wind devices. The performance of flexible responsive systems in wave energy, their optimisation in operating conditions, and their ability to survive storm waves, will be assessed through a programme of wave basin experiments and numerical modelling of different flexible WEC concepts. Survivability is a critical hurdle for all WEC concepts as by their nature they need to respond in energetic sea states while avoiding critical stresses in extreme seas. For a flexible responsive structure, this means avoiding concentration of stress (naturally avoided by collapse/folding) or of strain (avoided by use of a distributed PTO during operational conditions). Numerical models will be developed that account for complex interactions between wave action, deforming membrane structure, and internal fluid. The models will be informed, calibrated, and validated using results from materials testing and fundamental hydro-elastic experiments. Advantages and disadvantages of rubber-based, polyurethane and other reinforced polymer materials will be assessed in terms of manufacturing cost, join, bonding, and fatigue performance in the marine environment. The research will draw on origami theory and the technology of deployable structures to avoid problems with wrinkling, folding, or aneurysm formation, and an entirely new design may emerge through this innovative approach. We aim to demonstrate a pathway to cost reduction for flexible fabric WECs optimising for performance, structural design and manufacture for both utility scale and niche applications.