Tag: wave energy

Emerald Isle Bound for EWTEC 2017

Posted on August 27, 2017
Lauren Dunn

We are packing our bags and heading to Cork, Ireland for the 12th Annual European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC). EWTEC brings together leaders in research and development in ocean renewable energy. DSA is privileged to be counted among the attendees.

Our team has put together our top reasons for attending EWTEC, and to let you know what we will be up to while we are there…

  1. To learn:

  •     To Increase our understanding of emerging markets and technologies
  •     Expand our technical expertise through seminar attendance
  •     Visit the global leader in ocean energy – the UK and Ireland currently have more wave and tidal energy devices tested than the rest of the world combined

  1. To network:

  •     Representatives from over 40 countries are in attendance
  •     100+ speakers are sharing thoughts and experiences on ocean energy
  •     Over 400 ocean energy delegates will be in attendance
  •     International exhibitors – find DSA at the Canadian Pavilion.
  •     Connecting with decision makers from across Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe, and international markets.

  1. To share:

  •     Exchange information with fellow ocean energy experts
  •     Share our experiences working with industry leaders in tidal and wave power generation.
  •     Showcase our team’s extensive experience using our validated time-domain software ProteusDS for mooring and installation analysis
  •     We are presenting three papers – check out our listing below

  1. To partner:

  •     Start conversation on big ideas and conversations
  •     Explore the potential of new and existing ocean energy projects.

  1. To have fun:

  •     We love Ireland!  
  •     Discover Cork, Ireland
  •     Visit Europe’s newest test tank, the state of the art, Lir National Ocean Test Facility

 

Paper presentation schedule:

Title : Dynamic Analysis Validation of the Floating ecoSpray Tidal Energy Test Platform

Date: Tuesday, August 29th

Time: 2- 3:20pm

Stream: Station-Keeping, Moorings & Foundations 1

Room: Kane Building, Room G19

Image of the ecoSpray Tidal energy platform images merged from real-life to simulation

The ecoSpray Tidal energy platform

 

Abstract: Floating tidal power generation platforms are developed due to their advantages in positioning turbines in strong surface flows, and their potentially more cost effective installation, operation, and maintenance. Developing a platform and mooring system capable of withstanding large turbine thrust loads and wave loads is needed. Numerical modeling of the system is critical to reliably dimension the components without over engineering and overspending. Validation of numerical models using full scale platform deployment data and accurate wave, current, and wind measurements is required to reduce risks. This process ensures sound engineering assumptions are employed, which leads to optimized structural design and reduced cost. With the goal of reducing risks associated with floating tidal platforms, the ecoSpray tidal energy test platform was deployed in Grand Passage, N.S., Canada in March 2016. The design process, construction, and deployment of the ecoSpray platform, moorings, and anchor blocks provide valuable experience for the industry. The development and validation of the floating platform numerical model in ProteusDS and the boundary element method (BEM) code ShipMo3D is reviewed. The results of the time-domain simulations are compared with data from the deployment.

Title: PLAT-O at FloWave: A validation of ProteusDS at modelling response of a taut-moored tidal platform at tank-testing scale

Date: Wednesday, August 30th

Time: 2- 3:20pm

Stream:  Tidal Device Development & Testing 9

Room: Geography Building, Lecture Theatre

Image of Sustainable Marine Energies PLAT-O at full scale with two 1st generation SITs

Two (first generation) SITs mounted on PLAT-O1

 

Abstract: The motion and mooring tensions of a scaled-down PLAT-O#2 physical model was measured in axial currents at FloWave, Edinburgh. At high flows, the platform ‘squats’ – arc motion along the upstream lines and about their anchors – to a stable lower depth. The compliance improves load share and survivability in extreme seas. To further investigate the squatting motion, the tested set-up is simulated ‘like-for-like’ in ProteusDS software. The modelled and measured trends, motion and line loads, are comparable. A significant lift force is identified with further work focused on estimating it at sea.

Title: IEA OES Task 10 WEC Modelling Verification and Validation

Date/time/location: To be determined

Abstract: This paper is the first joint reference paper for the OES Task 10 WEC modelling verification and validation group. The group is established under the Ocean Energy Systems (OES) Energy Technology Network program under International Energy Agency (IEA). OES was founded in 2001 and task 10 was proposed by Bob Thresher (NREL) in 2015 and approved by the OES Executive Committee EXCO in 2016. The kick-off workshop took place in September 2016 where the initial base line task was defined. Experience from similar offshore wind validation/verification projects (OC3-OC5 conducted within the International Energy Agency Wind Task 30) [1], [2] showed that a simple test case would help the initial cooperation in order to present results in a comparable way. A heaving sphere was chosen as the first test case. The group of project participants simulated different numerical experiments such as heave decay tests, regular and irregular wave cases. The simulation results submitted by the project participants are presented and discussed within this paper.

Ryan Nicoll Receives International Award For Moorings Work

Posted on August 25, 2017
Lauren Dunn

Ryan Nicoll, Director of Engineering and co-founder of DSA, has received the 1906 Award from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for his tireless contributions towards the development of mooring standards for marine renewable energy applications.

Image of Ryan Nicoll's 1906-Award from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Ryan Nicoll receives 1906 Award from IEC

 

The IEC 1906 award was created in 2004 to commemorate the IEC’s year of foundation and to honour IEC subject matter experts. The award recognizes exceptional, and recent achievement by experts on a project or other specific contribution related to the activities of the IEC and which contributes in a significant way to advancing the work of the IEC.

The letter attached to the award reads;

Ryan Nicoll has been recognized for the significant leadership he provides to IEC TC 114 Marine Energy, as convenor of Adhoc Group 6 and as the Canadian Head of Delegation.

Furthermore, he contributes broadly to the efforts of TC 114.We would also like to take this opportunity to thank your organization for its commitment and support for Canadians participating in standardization activities, and in sustaining Canada’s national standards network.

Congratulations Ryan!

 

ProteusDS Singapore Workshop

Posted on February 23, 2017
Lauren Dunn

About ProteusDS training

If you want to maximise your ProteusDS investment, there’s no better way than giving you or your people the skills to use ProteusDS to its fullest extent. That’s why we offer a range of training options, from small in-person classes to virtual training, self-led tutorials, and private workshops.

 

Course type: ProteusDS user workshop

When: March 9th & 10th 2017

Where: The Hive

Nanyang Technological University
52 Nanyang Avenue Singapore 639816

Room TBD

Please email Martin Koh @ martinkoh@oceanpixel.org for confirmed final event location

Registration:

Please email Martin Koh @ martinkoh@oceanpixel.org to register.

Who should attend?

  • New users
  • Prospective users
  • Existing users looking to refresh or build skills and
  • Technologists, engineers, and scientists deploying and designing moorings

Key topics:

  • Single and multiple leg moorings
  • Subsurface moorings
  • Automated mooring report tools
  • Tidal energy platforms
  • Wave energy converters
  • Towed bodies
  • Booms and floating pipes
  • Aquaculture net systems
  • Tug, barge, and towed systems
  • Simulating cables, moorings, chains in the marine environment
  • Details in finite element line modelling: meshing, damping, hysteresis
  • Details in floating structure hydrodynamics modelling: meshing and wave radiation/diffraction effects
  • Environmental effects including current, tides, waves, wind effects and
  • Optimizing simulations for speed

All places are reserved on a first come first served basis. To reserve your spot please contact:

Martin Koh
martinkoh@oceanpixel.org

World Oceans Day 2016

Posted on June 7, 2016
Lauren Dunn

Did you know…?

  • We have explored less than 5 percent of the Earth’s oceans. In fact, we have better maps of Mars than we do of the ocean floor.
  • The earth’s longest mountain range is the Mid-Ocean Ridge more than 50,000km in length. The mountain winds around the globe from the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic, skirting Africa, Asia and Australia, and crossing the Pacific to the west coast of North America. The Mid-Ocean Ridge is four times longer than the Andes, Rockies, and Himalayas combined.
  • The pressure at the deepest point in the ocean is more than 11,318tons/sq m, or the equivalent of one person trying to support 50 jumbo jets.
  • The Kuroshio Current off the shores of Japan is the largest current. It can travel between 40-121 km/day at 1.6-4.8kph, and extends some 1,006 m deep.
  • The Gulf Stream Current is a well-known current of warm water in the Atlantic Ocean. Its speed is close to that of the Kuroshio Current, at a speed of 97 km/day, the Gulf Stream moves a 100 times as much water as all the rivers on earth and flows at a rate 300 times faster than the Amazon, the world’s largest river.

You’re probably starting to wonder why an ocean engineering company is sharing interesting and cool ocean facts with you. June 8th, 2016, is the 7th annual World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day is an annual celebration honoring the ocean’s contribution to our world. The ocean is beautiful to look at and plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives.

At DSA our business is the ocean. We understand how critical the ocean is to our planet and how vital it will be to future of power generation.

Did you know there are six way to generate power from the ocean?

  1. Floating wind energy
  2. Wave energy
  3. Tidal energy
  4. Ocean current energy
  5. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OETC) – Energy derived from the temperature difference at various ocean depths and
  6. Osmotic power – energy derived from the different content of freshwater and saltwater.

Almost 90% of global wind energy is contained in the turbulence above the world’s oceans. Wind, waves and currents combined contain 300 times more energy than humans are currently consuming. Ocean Energy Systems headquartered in Portugal estimates the global potential for tidal energy is 1200+ TWh/year and wave power at 29,000 TWh/year. The potential for current energy, OETC and osmotic energy is still under evaluation.

With 44% of the global population living within 150 kilometres of the coastline, and more people migrating to these regions every year, working to create a sustainable marine energy industry is a natural choice – especially for Canadians. Producing renewable energy from ocean waves and marine currents has the potential to play a pivotal role in creating jobs and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Harnessing the power of the ocean to produce energy is still a relatively new industry, and extensive research is taking place to understand the challenges. By continuing to place an emphasis on understanding how our oceans produce thermal and mechanical energy we will ensure that our planet has access to reliable and affordable alternative energy sources.

Oceans are the heart of our planet and a great source of renewable energy. Join DSA as we celebrate World Oceans Day!

Setting the Standard

Posted on April 21, 2016
Ryan Nicoll

A path to a sustainable future with standard development.

Imagine if you had to install a new driver when you joined every new wireless network. Or if you had to convert that new album to play on your phone, computer, and stereo—sounds somewhat frustrating, doesn’t it?

This is why international standards have been developed: they touch your life daily in the electronics you use, the buildings you live and work in, the food you buy, the bridges you cross, and in hundreds of other ways you may never notice. International standards ensure safe products and equipment, and they also help the spread and adoption of technology, bringing those resulting benefits to your everyday life.

The ocean covers over 70% of the planet and 44% of the global population live within 150 kilometres or 100 miles of the coastline, with more people migrating to these regions every year.

Producing renewable electricity from ocean waves and marine currents has the potential to play a pivotal role in creating jobs, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and putting us on a path to a sustainable future.

Still, as a relatively new industry, there are significant challenges with marine renewables. One way to help overcome these obstacles and spread innovation is through—you guessed it—creating international standards. Multinational and interdisciplinary volunteers from academia, government, and industry share and pool their knowledge and experience to develop these standards.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has been fostering this process for over 100 years since it began pioneering standards for hydroelectric dams in the early 20th century. The IEC has specific groups that work on different types of electronics and electricity-producing equipment, and DSA has a role in Technical Committee (TC) 114, which focuses on marine renewable energy.

This month Dynamic Systems Analysis Ltd. (DSA) co-founder and Director of Engineering, Ryan Nicoll, attended the annual IEC TC114 plenary held in Guangzhou, China. Ryan leads the team developing and updating mooring standards for marine renewable technology.

TC114 Plenary group photo

TC114 Plenary group photo

DSA, representing Canada, along with other international experts from Japan, Spain, Denmark, UK, USA, Korea, Ireland, France, China, Germany, and Israel, produced an IEC standard for the design of mooring systems for wave, tidal, and floating river energy converter technologies. This, along with other criteria like power performance assessment, power quality, acoustic monitoring, and so on, will help ensure new devices and power projects certified to IEC standards will be safe and reliable.

TC114 group site visit to the Sharp Eagle wave energy converter off the coast of Wanshan island.

TC114 group site visit the Sharp Eagle wave energy converter off the coast of Wanshan island.

The Canadian government has recognized the abundant renewable energy resources Canada holds. This has led to Canada’s Marine Renewable Energy Technology Roadmap, which established targets for the Canadian sector to contribute projects totalling 75MW by 2016, 250MW by 2020 and 2GW by 2030 for installing in-stream tidal, river current and wave energy generation.With generous ocean wave, tidal flow, and river resources across the entire country, Canadians in every province will be affected positively as these new technologies help raise the standard for power generation.

DSA works closely with companies across Canada to develop sustainable marine renewable energy projects, from tidal energy in Nova Scotia, to Hydrokinetic testing in Manitoba and the West Coast Wave Initiative with the University of Victoria in British Columbia, near the west coast office of DSA.

We understand that the ocean is the heart of our planet and we believe renewable energy, especially marine energy, will allow us to create a more sustainable, low impact form of electricity to power us into the future.