Novel High Performance Wave Energy Converters with advanced control, reliability and survivability systems through machine-learning forecasting

NHP-WEC项目旨在推进与WEC阵列的设备技术和海况预测相关的数据驱动的监测和控制。所提出的研究同时是通用的，同时也显着有助于开发现有的概念设备，已显示出潜力，即多轴TALOS已开发和坦克测试在兰开斯特大学（LU）。TALOS是一种新颖的多轴点扫描器风格，以1/100的比例表示，具有包含所有移动部件的坚固外部船体（如潜艇或PS Frog风格的WEC设备）。内部动力输出系统是由一个惯性质量与液压缸，重视它的船体。质量构成了装置的很大一部分，因此当船体被各种波浪运动推动时，质量四处移动。球的运动移动液压缸，使它们通过回路泵送液压流体。该液压流体的流动用于转动联接到发电机的液压马达以发电，即惯性质量PTO方法。主要优势包括：撞锤的布置允许质量球在多个方向上移动，从而允许从多个自由度捕获能量。液压油的流量将随着球的运动变化而变化，因此内部液压平滑回路用于调节输出。最新的设计已被证明是成功的波浪坦克测试和PTO系统产生一个平稳的输出响应时变输入波。还开发了一个分析模型，将来自船体模型和液压钻机的数据联合收割机结合起来，预测输出功率高达3.2千瓦。然而，TALOS还处于非常早期的发展阶段，需要进一步研究以提高其技术准备水平。TALOS等WEC的设计、开发、部署和操作及其潜在的商业用途需要全面了解海洋环境，包括在线监测，以加强控制和预测。必须确定单个设备和阵列的潜在WEC部署地点和能源。必须量化包括波浪特性在内的操作条件，以估计WEC上的动态负载，从而限制制造及其实时操作。在这种情况下，由UoH与ORE Catapult和Orsted开发的SmartWave是一种能够使用机器学习从卫星图像中获得高分辨率海况条件的工具。主要优势：SmartWave基于一种新颖的预测方法，能够解决海上风电场内的海况，用于行业O&M物流。它综合了全天候卫星监测的最新进展，以绘制和研究海面波特征的时空分布。然而，必须解决现有的限制，以提高WEC能力的TRL，从而充分利用这项新技术。例如，它已被开发用于表征显著波高，而进一步的研究是必要的，以提取其他海洋状态参数，包括波高，方向和频率。尽管如此，由于SmartWave能够远程覆盖全球，无需使用现场传感器，因此它在根据设备尺寸和规格确定适当部署地点的选择方面具有独特优势，以实现最佳电力生产。NHP-WEC项目将WEC技术的关键方面与SmartWave的全球部署潜力结合在一起，允许在优化，控制，状态监测和资源预测。这些进步将共同推动成本的明显降低，从而为开发商和投资者提供波浪能技术的好处的信心。

The NHP-WEC project aims to advance data-driven monitoring and control in connection to both device technology and sea state predictions for WEC arrays. The research proposed is simultaneously generic while also significantly contributing to the development of an existing concept device that has shown potential, namely the multi-axis TALOS that has been developed and tank tested at Lancaster University (LU). TALOS is a novel multi-axis point absorber-style built as a 1/100th scale representation, with a solid outer hull containing all the moving parts (like a submarine or a PS Frog style WEC device). The internal PTO system is made up of an inertial mass with hydraulic cylinders that attach it to the hull. The mass makes up a significant proportion of the device, hence it moves around as the hull is pushed by various wave motions. The motion of the ball moves hydraulic cylinders causing them to pump hydraulic fluid through a circuit. The flow of this hydraulic fluid is used to turn a hydraulic motor, which is coupled to an electrical generator, to generate electricity i.e. an inertial mass PTO approach. Key strengths include: The arrangement of the rams allows for the mass ball to move in multiple directions, allowing energy to be captured from multiple degrees of freedom. The flow of hydraulic fluid will change as the ball's motion changes, so an internal hydraulic smoothing circuit is utilised to regulate the output. The latest design has proven to be successful in wave tank testing and the PTO system yields a smooth output in response to time-varying inputs from waves. An analytical model has also been developed to combine data from the hull model and hydraulic rig, yielding a predicted power output of up to 3.2 kW. However, TALOS is at a very early stage of development and requires further research to advance its Technology Readiness Level (TRL). The design, development, deployment and operation of WECs, such as TALOS and their potential commercial use requires a holistic understanding of the marine environment, including on-line monitoring to enhance control combined with prediction. Potential WEC deployment sites and energy resource from single devices and arrays must be determined. Operational conditions, including wave characteristics must be quantified to estimate dynamic loads on WEC, constraining manufacturing and their real-time operation. In this context, SmartWave, developed by the UoH, with the ORE Catapult and Orsted, is a tool capable of deriving high resolution sea state conditions from satellite images using machine learning. Key strengths: SmartWave is based on a novel forecasting methodology, capable of resolving sea state within offshore windfarms for sector O&M logistics. It integrates recent advances in all-weather satellite monitoring to map and study the temporal and spatial distribution of sea surface wave characteristics. However, existing limitations must be addressed to advance the TRL of WEC capabilities and hence fully exploit this new technology. For example, it has been developed to characterize significant wave height, whilst further research is essential in order to extract other sea state parameters, including wave height, direction and frequency. Nonetheless, since it is capable of global reach remotely, without the use of in situ sensors, SmartWave is uniquely placed to identify the selection of appropriate deployment sites depending on the device size and specification, for optimal production of electricity.The NHP-WEC project brings together key aspects of WEC technology and the global deployment potential of SmartWave, allowing integration of novel methodologies across optimisation, control, condition monitoring and resource forecasting. These advances will together drive evidenced reductions in costs and hence provide confidence on the benefits of wave energy technology to developers and investors.