Flexible Responsive Systems in Wave Energy: FlexWave

波浪能转换器（WECs）为利基（为水产养殖和海上发电站供电）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，实现能源成本的阶段性降低，并证明与其他可再生能源选择的竞争力至关重要。在这里，我们研究了利用智能设计概念，利用可变形材料的新用途来改变WEC系统发展的机会。与钢或混凝土替代品相比，基于可变形材料的WECs可以提供更好的性能、生存能力、可靠性和更低的成本，原因如下：为了达到给定的谐振频率，柔性织物装置可以更小更轻。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，使其能够调整以适应入射波的条件。这些调整可以通过车载智能响应系统进行。3. 控制几何形状的非线性变化将使可变形的织物结构能够适应或减轻高载荷，而不会达到临界应力集中，从而提高生存能力，降低安装和使用寿命成本。4. 灵活性开启了使用一系列pto的可能性，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、电双层电容器或微液压位移机。具有弹性聚合物结构的轻质柔性结构不太可能造成碰撞损坏，因此对于小众应用来说是一种低风险的选择，例如与海上风力设备共存。柔性响应系统在波浪能方面的性能、它们在操作条件下的优化以及它们在风暴波中的生存能力，将通过波盆实验和不同柔性WEC概念的数值模拟程序进行评估。生存能力是所有WEC概念的关键障碍，因为从本质上讲，它们需要在充满活力的海况下做出反应，同时避免极端海洋中的临界应力。对于灵活的响应结构，这意味着避免应力集中（通过坍塌/折叠自然避免）或应变集中（通过在操作条件下使用分布式PTO避免）。数值模型将被开发，以解释波浪作用，变形膜结构和内部流体之间复杂的相互作用。这些模型将被告知，校准，并使用材料测试和基础水弹性实验的结果进行验证。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的技术来避免褶皱、折叠或动脉瘤形成的问题，通过这种创新的方法，一个全新的设计可能会出现。我们的目标是展示一种降低柔性织物WECs成本的途径，优化性能，结构设计和制造，适用于公用事业规模和利基应用。

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.