Wave Rotor
| Project acronym: | HYD-CEH-12 |
| Name of Group Leader: | Peter Scheijgrond |
| User-Project Title: | Wave Rotor |
| Facility: | LDB |
| Proceedings TA Project: | |
| Data Management Report: | Data Management Reports Page You will need to login to view this page |
User Project Objectives:
The goal of this project is to convert wave and tidal energy into electric energy and thus using the unlimited renewable energy supply of the oceans and seas. The wave motion is transferred to rotational motion by using a Wells rotor. The tidal motion is transferred to rotational motion by using Darrieus Blades. Earlier tank testsat IFREMER (Brest, France) have already proven the principal of using a Wells rotor to convert the wave-energy, a Darrieus rotor to convert tidal energy and a combined rotor to convert both into electricity with only one rotor.
Multiple goals were set for the tests at CEHIPAR:
- Repeat tests with a combined rotor.
- Investigate the influence of marine growth on Darrieus blades.
- Investigate the behavior and power output of a Well’s rotor in waves
- Test a novel set-up and configuration (not discussed in this report due to reasons of confidentiality)
The generated power was measured more accurately and in a wider spectrum of wave conditions compared to earlier tests. In order to test the rotor at different submergences below the water level a special device was used to mount the rotor which made it possible to easily change submergence levels.
User-Project Achievements and difficulties encountered:
The most important project achievement is the proof of the new concept. Results are still being processed, but the general concept appears to be promising.
Another achievement is the repeating of results achieved in earlier test with a combined rotor: This repetition proved that the concept works and gave more confidence in its overall performance.
During the start-up of the two week test period a number of preparations still needed to be done, both for the installation and for the wave rotor itself. Firsts test executed where the towing tests with the Darrieus blades and on Friday afternoon the Wells rotor tests could commence.
At the start of the wave tests the test set-up proved to be sufficiently rigid.
In the second week of testing under higher wave lading, the vertical axis showed too much vibration.
After consultation, a new bearing was made by CEHIPAR that could be placed on the lowest point of connection. At this position the axis could now be supported in the horizontal plane thus decreasing its bending motion, resulting in a much “smoother” ride. The fabrication of this new bearing took almost a day so testing could continue on Wednesday afternoon. With everything up and running,Thursday and Friday proved to be very successful testing days where most of the planned tests could be completed within the allocated time.
Highlights important research results:
- Proof of principle for the new concept
- Successful repetition of tests with combined rotor, confirming the operational characteristics.
- More insight in behavior of a Well’s rotor in different wave climate
- Insight in the influence of Marine growth on a Darrieus blade on the performance of the Wave Rotor during current simulation
 Fig 1: Installation of the darieus blades to the welsh blades |
 Fig 2: The Wells rotor from above |