Utilização do método dos elementos finitos na análise da interação solo-duto em instalações offshore

O comportamento de um duto quando submetido a carregamentos externos é governado pela interação duto-solo. Essa interação não é, ainda, completamente entendida, e muitas incertezas são observadas nos modelos disponíveis baseados em experimentos ou em análise numérica. A carga máxima lateral que a seção de um duto pode atingir antes de movimentos significativos serem observados é uma das mais importantes respostas que um modelo de interação duto-solo deveria ter, junto com o projeto. Algumas fórmulas simples para calcular esta carga limite são encontradas na literatura, estudadas por VERLEY & LUND (1995) e BRUTON et al. (2004). Interessada em entender a resistência lateral máxima duto-solo, junto com a rigidez lateral inicial e deslocamentos associados com a carga máxima, a autora realizou uma série de análises não lineares em elementos finitos. Como resultado alguns aspectos relacionados à resposta lateral duto-solo foram mostrados. O modelo indica que o deslocamento em que a carga máxima é mobilizada, não está diretamente ligado ao diâmetro do duto, como alguns autores afirmariam.O presente trabalho discute esses e outros aspectos sobre os resultados da análise em elementos finitos

O&M Models for Ocean Energy Converters: Calibrating through Real Sea Data

Of the cost centres that combine to result in Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE), O&M costs play a significant part. Several developers have calculated component costs, demonstrating how they can become commercially competitive with other forms of renewable energy. However, there are uncertainties relating to the O&M figures that can only be reduced through lessons learned at sea. This work presents an O&M model calibrated with data from real sea experience of a wave energy device deployed at the Biscay Marine energy Platform (BiMEP): the OPERA O&M Model. Two additional case studies, utilising two other O&M calculation methodologies, are presented for comparison with the OPERA O&M Model. The second case study assumes the inexistence of an O&M model, utilising a Simplified Approach. The third case study applies DTOcean’s (a design tool for ocean energy arrays) O&M module. The results illustrate the potential advantages of utilising real sea data for the calibration and development of an O&M model. The Simplified Approach was observed to overestimate LCOE when compared to the OPERA O&M Model. This work also shows that O&M models can be used for the definition of optimal maintenance plans to assist with OPEX reduction.The authors are grateful to the European commission for funding the OPERA and EnFAIT projects as part of the Horizon 2020 framework. The authors also thankful to Oceantec-Idom for providing feedback to OPERA model’s inputs. A special thanks to Shona Pennock and Donald Noble for their diligent proofreading of this paper

O&M Models for Ocean Energy Converters: Calibrating through Real Sea Data

Of the cost centres that combine to result in Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE), O&M costs play a significant part. Several developers have calculated component costs, demonstrating how they can become commercially competitive with other forms of renewable energy. However, there are uncertainties relating to the O&M figures that can only be reduced through lessons learned at sea. This work presents an O&M model calibrated with data from real sea experience of a wave energy device deployed at the Biscay Marine energy Platform (BiMEP): the OPERA O&M Model. Two additional case studies, utilising two other O&M calculation methodologies, are presented for comparison with the OPERA O&M Model. The second case study assumes the inexistence of an O&M model, utilising a Simplified Approach. The third case study applies DTOcean’s (a design tool for ocean energy arrays) O&M module. The results illustrate the potential advantages of utilising real sea data for the calibration and development of an O&M model. The Simplified Approach was observed to overestimate LCOE when compared to the OPERA O&M Model. This work also shows that O&M models can be used for the definition of optimal maintenance plans to assist with OPEX reduction