WELCOME - Numerical design of floating wave energy conversion mechanisms: efficiency and survivability

Funding: ENE2016-75074-C2-1-R, Period: 2021–2024, Responsible: Crespo, Alejandro JC

Type	Competitive R&D&I project
Acronym	WELCOME
Funding entity code	ENE2016-75074-C2-1-R
Import	95.590 €
Start date	2016-12-30
Due date	2019-12-29
Developer entity	University of Vigo
Description	This project aims to develop a numerical tool to study wave energy converters, in particular floating oscillating water columns (OWC), anchored to the seabed. The tool will allow optimizing the design of the devices by analyzing their efficiency in different sea conditions, dimensions and PTO (Power Take-Off) systems. The survival of the devices in extreme conditions will also be evaluated to optimize their anchoring and increase their durability in high-energy areas such as the Atlantic coasts. The tool will be published as open source and will have a user-friendly interface for researchers, companies and administrations. The OWC consists of a partially submerged chamber open to the sea, with an air tank that expands and compresses with the movement of the waves, driving a turbine that generates electricity. Unlike other solutions, it has no moving parts in contact with the water, which makes it easier to maintain. The project will bring advances to turn this technology into a more efficient and durable option for renewable energy generation.
UPC research group	LIM/UPC - Maritime Engineering Laboratory (Research Center)