A novel mooring tether for peak load mitigation: Initial performance and service simulation testing

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier. NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in International Journal of Marine Energy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. The ‘In press‘ version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijome.2014.06.001One of the main engineering challenges for floating marine renewable energy devices is the design of reliable, yet cost-effective mooring solutions for the harsh and dynamic marine environment. The mooring system must be able to withstand the ultimate limit state during storm conditions as well as the fatigue limit state due to the highly cyclic wave motions. This paper presents the performance and service simulation testing of a novel mooring tether that combines the material properties of elastomeric and thermoplastic elements. This allows to 'tailor' the load-extension curve to exhibit a low stiffness response for the expected normal, operating, load conditions and a high stiffness response for the envisaged extreme, storm, conditions. The experimental results demonstrate the working principle of the mooring element and show good agreement between the theoretical load extension curve and the conducted performance tests with a distinct hysteresis effect caused by the thermoplastic element. The hysteresis is dependant on the applied pre-tension and load cycle amplitude of the element and to a lesser extent on the cycle frequency. The relaxation of the elastomeric element is quantified, giving insight into the expected longterm performance of the tether. The demonstrated working principle and the possibility to tailor the mooring response allows engineers to load- and cost-optimise the mooring system of floating marine energy converters.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE)European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA

Wave Conditions Inducing Extreme Mooring Loads on a Dynamically Responding Moored Structure

The aim of this paper is to determine which wave conditions are inducing extreme mooring loads on a highly dynamically responding moored structure. Currently, the design of a mooring system for a typical oil and gas offshore structure is based on the prediction of the extreme mooring loads for a limited number of wave conditions along the envelope of a wave scatter diagram. During the design process, an inappropriate choice of wave conditions could lead to an incorrect estimation of extreme mooring loads, which may result either in the loss of the mooring system or in a costly overdesign. This paper draws on mooring tensions and wave conditions that have been recorded at a mooring test facility using a multi-leg catenary mooring system. The mooring loads have been assessed to identify extreme mooring loads, which have been analysed in respect to the corresponding wave conditions. Further, joint probability distributions of wave conditions that results in extreme mooring loads have been determined. The most important finding is that extreme mooring loads were not necessarily identified to occur on the envelope of the wave climate parameter scatter diagram

Component reliability testing for wave energy converters: Rationale and implementation

Copyright © 2013 European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference10th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, Aalborg, Denmark, 2 – 5 September 2013The reliability of marine renewable energy (MRE) converters is a key issue that has to be addressed and included in a whole system approach, in order to make the energy extraction from these sources a viable option. At the current development stage of MRE converters, an increasing number of devices are being field tested at pre-commercial demonstration scale, yielding field experience and load data useful for refining, demonstrating and improving the reliability of devices. This paper gives a brief review of the most advanced technologies and common reliability aspects that provide the rationale for dedicated component testing. It describes a service simulation test approach and the development of a unique large-scale component test facility. The test rig is capable of replicating the forces and motions experienced by components for a range of floating marine applications. The replication of motion angles is demonstrated in this paper. The service simulation test of a marine power cable is presented as a case study on how component performance can be assessed and demonstrated prior to long-term field deployments in order to ensure the reliability of crucial sub-systems and components in the harsh marine environment.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)PRIMaR

Wave conditions inducing extreme mooring loads on a dynamically responding moored structure

PublishedThe aim of this paper is to determine which wave conditions are inducing extreme mooring loads on a highly dynamically responding moored structure. Currently, the design of a mooring system for a typical oil and gas offshore structure is based on the prediction of the extreme mooring loads for a limited number of wave conditions along the envelope of a wave scatter diagram. During the design process, an inappropriate choice of wave conditions could lead to an incorrect estimation of extreme mooring loads, which may result either in the loss of the mooring system or in a costly overdesign. This paper draws on mooring tensions and wave conditions that have been recorded at a mooring test facility using a multi-leg catenary mooring system. The mooring loads have been assessed to identify extreme mooring loads, which have been analysed in respect to the corresponding wave conditions. Further, joint probability distributions of wave conditions that results in extreme mooring loads have been determined. The most important finding is that extreme mooring loads were not necessarily identified to occur on the envelope of the wave climate parameter scatter diagram.The work described in this publication has received funding from the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) through the MARINET initiative, grant agreement no 262552. It also received funding from the Technology Strategy Board. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the South West Regional Development Agency for its support through the PRIMaRE institution.http://hdl.handle.net/10871/1430

Advancing reliability information for Wave Energy Converters

Marine renewable energy promises to provide a significant contribution to the future electricity supply. It is estimated that 17% of today's UK electricity demand could be generated from wave and tidal sources. The ambition to harvest this resource is in the public interest, as it eases the pressures on energy security, holds the potential to reduce carbon emissions and has the prospect to create a new UK industry sector worth £15 billion. From an engineering perspective, marine energy is one of the least developed renewable energy technologies and has to be regarded as unproven. The reliability of components and devices in the harsh marine environment is one of the main engineering challenges. Reliability assessments and the assurance of acceptable reliability levels are dependant on the adequacy of failure information, which is scantily available for marine energy. This thesis shows that large failure rate uncertainties impede the reliability assessment for wave energy converters and how a suite of experimental, numerical and statistical methods can be applied to improve scarcely available reliability information. The analysis of component load conditions identifies fatigue as failure mode of concern and the fatigue life of mooring lines and marine power cables is quantified in a floating wave energy application. A Bayesian statistical approach and dedicated service-simulation component testing is proposed, and implemented to improve the quality of reliability estimates and to provide relevant data and assurance. The methods presented, along with the results, will assist reliability assessment and design during early development stages, and will inform the prediction of maintenance requirements during operation. Reliable marine energy systems will be the technical enabler for the successful transition of prototype devices to a commercially viable marine energy industry.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), SuperGen Marine Phase 2Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) funded by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Postgraduate Scholarshi

Reliability assessment and criticality analysis for Wave Energy Converters

This paper applies existing reliability methods, namely Reliability Block diagrams, to a notional wave energy converter configuration. It shows possible source of information and difficulties associated with an omnipresent lack of failure rate data.The reliability of wave energy converters (WECs) is a key issue that has to be addressed in order to make them a viable energy option. At this stage of early industrial development the reliability assessment of WECs is a challenging task. In this paper existing reliability methods, namely Reliability Block diagrams, have been applied to a notional configuration. It was found that omnipresent lack of failure rate data makes rather crude adjustments of often generic data necessary which generally lead to rather unfavourable and highly uncertain results. Reliability data is either not available due to sparse field experience or is kept confidential, within different project developments to secure competitive advantages and intellectual property. In order to foster the progress of the marine energy industry, the reliability of devices must be demonstrated and improved. This requires a joint effort between industry stakeholders to collect, share and disseminate existing failure knowledge and future operational experience.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the SUPERGEN Marine Doctoral Programm

Is it a showstopper? Reliability assessment and criticality analysis for Wave Energy Converters

The reliability of wave energy converters (WECs) is a key issue that has to be addressed in order to make them a viable energy option. At this stage of early industrial development the reliability assessment of WECs is a challenging task. In this paper existing reliability methods, namely Reliability Block diagrams, have been applied to a notional configuration. It was found that omnipresent lack of failure rate data makes rather crude adjustments of often generic data necessary which generally lead to rather unfavourable and highly uncertain results. Reliability data is either not available due to sparse field experience or is kept confidential, within different project developments to secure competitive advantages and intellectual property. In order to foster the progress of the marine energy industry, the reliability of devices must be demonstrated and improved. This requires a joint effort between industry stakeholders to collect, share and disseminate existing failure knowledge and future operational experience

Assessing loading regimes and failure modes of marine power cables in marine energy applications

publication-status: PublishedHighly reliable marine power cables are imperative for the cost-effective operation of marine energy conversion systems. Cable manufacturers and installers have considerable experience with marine power cables when deployed to operate under static or dynamic load conditions, but highly dynamical power cables for marine renewable energy converters have large uncertainties. The mechanical loadings of a power cable attached to a floating marine energy converter will be considerably different to the present applications like remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or oil and gas umbilicals. The floating structure responds to the wave action and transfers this dynamic motion to the attached power cable. Moreover the frequency of response will be at the wave period (linear case) leading to considerable cyclic effects. At present the loading regime in such applications is not well understood, due to a lack of field experience. The paper describes the parameters and results of a dynamic computational model that investigates the umbilical load conditions for a generic wave energy converter. Two geometric configurations of a double armoured power cable are considered, a catenary and a Lazy Wave shape. The model is set up using the dynamic analysis package OrcaFlex and uses top-end motions measured in 1:20 wave tank tests. While the simple catenary shape experiences high tensional forces at the attachment point and considerable compression, the maximum tensional forces can be significantly reduced and compression is avoided with a Lazy Wave shape. For this configuration the highest tension occurs near the attachment point and at the transition points of the buoyancy section. For the modelled conditions, the power cable accumulated a significant number of tension and bending load cycles, indicating that power cables in floating marine energy applications will operate in a high cycle regime (in the order of 10^6 cycles) likely to accumulate several million load cycles during a single year of operation.EPSRC; SuperGen Marin

Lifecycle fatigue load spectrum estimation for mooring lines of a floating marine energy converter

Copyright © 2012 ASME31st ASME International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1-6 July 2012One of the key engineering challenges for the installation of floating marine energy converters is the fatigue of the load-bearing components. In particular the moorings which warrant the station-keeping of such devices are subject to highly cyclic, non-linear load conditions, mainly induced by the incident waves. To ensure the integrity of the mooring system the lifecycle fatigue spectrum must be predicted in order to compare the expected fatigue damage against the design limits. The fatigue design of components is commonly assessed through numerical modelling of representative load cases. However, for new applications such as floating marine energy converters numerical models are often scantily validated. This paper describes an experimental approach, where load measurements from tank tests are used to estimate the lifecycle fatigue load spectrum for a potential deployment site. The described procedure employs the commonly used Rainflow cycle analysis in conjunction with the Palmgren-Miner rule to estimate the accumulated damage for individual sea states, typical operational years and different design lives. This allows the fatigue assessment of mooring lines at a relatively early design stage, where both information from initial tank tests and the wave climate of potential field sites are available and can be used to optimise the mooring design regarding its lifecycle fatigue conditions.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EU Sixth framework Programm

Reducing Reliability Uncertainties for Marine Renewable Energy

ArticleTechnology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are a widely used metric of technology maturity and risk for marine renewable energy (MRE) devices. To-date, a large number of device concepts have been proposed which have reached the early validation stages of development (TRLs 1–3). Only a handful of mature designs have attained pre-commercial development status following prototype sea trials (TRLs 7–8). In order to navigate through the aptly named “valley of death” (TRLs 4–6) towards commercial realisation, it is necessary for new technologies to be de-risked in terms of component durability and reliability. In this paper the scope of the reliability assessment module of the DTOcean Design Tool is outlined including aspects of Tool integration, data provision and how prediction uncertainties are accounted for. In addition, two case studies are reported of mooring component fatigue testing providing insight into long-term component use and system design for MRE devices. The case studies are used to highlight how test data could be utilised to improve the prediction capabilities of statistical reliability assessment approaches, such as the bottom–up statistical method.European Community’s Seventh Framework ProgrammeSuperGEN UKCMER (EPSRC