EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N38299/01
Title: TUNABLE ELECTRICAL POWER TAKE OFF FOR WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS
Principal Investigator: Mueller, Professor M
Other Investigators:
Spooner, Professor E Bumby, Dr JR
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Engineering Business Ltd Newage International Ltd
Department: Engineering and Computing Sciences
Organisation: Durham, University of
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 March 2001 Ends: 29 February 2004 Value (£): 208,994
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Electric Motor & Drive Systems Energy - Marine & Hydropower
Power Electronics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The aim of this project is to demonstrate that the direct-drive principal used in wind energy can also be applied to wave energy.The preliminary investigation will be a design optimisation concentrating on permanent magnet machines and in particular members of the transverse flux machine family. The study will focus on the design of a 10kw machine operating at speeds typical in a WEC, 0.5 to 5m/s.A 10kw prototype will be built and test results for steady state operation will be generated. An integrated dynamic model of the generator, its associated grid converter and a WEC will be developed in MATLAB/SIMULINK to investigate the concept of tunable direct drive WECs. The model will be used to develop control strategies and choose the optimum topology of grid-side converter. An experimental rig consisting of variable speed drive and spring-mass damper system will be built to crudely emulate a WEC in order to test tuning performance of the generator and associated converter.Finally designs of direct power take-off electrical generators for medium and deep water devices will be produced for integration in real wave energy converters such as the IPS Buoy and the Salter Duck.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: