• Energy Research
• 2014 close

Tripoded sponson turbines may be used with various types of pontoon(and vica versa).

GL Garrad Hassan (GH) has a long track record in designing structural components for large wind turbines (eg nacelle machine frame, bearing housing, hub). The designs have evolved over several years, but can be optimised further. GH believes that the method of numeric topology optimisation may be an alternative option to further optimise structural components. Reducing tower head mass also leads to reduced tower and support structure weight. GH plans to evaluate Topology optimisation software (Tosca) on an existing 7MW offshore wind turbine design. Based on the layout of this turbine an 'optimised' nacelle machine frame and bearing housing(s) are generated using numeric topology optimisation. The 'traditional' design and 'optimised' will be compared. Relevant criteria are: fatigue and ultimate strength, but also load distribution on for instance the yaw bearing will be evaluated.

This project will develop a way to use a Suspended Work Platform (SWP) deployed from a small service vessel to carry out in situ inspection, cleaning and repair of offshore wind turbine blades. SWPs are sometimes used for onshore turbines, but have not been deployed offshore from a vessel, and offshore blades are not normally repaired in situ. The project will develop the equipment and safe systems of work needed to demonstrate the feasibility of deployment of SWPs offshore for blade maintenance. The benefits include reduced maintenance costs, reduced use of large jackup barges, less fuel used, less carbon emitted, quicker repairs, less arduous and more productive work, improved blade performance, extended blade life, leading to cheaper electricity from wind.

Reliability and cost reduction are vital to the growth of the wind industry, especially offshore, and to realise the UK's targets for 2020 and beyond. A recent study by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) shows that a reduction of 67% can be achieved in the maintenance costs of offshore wind turbines (WTs) if preventive maintenance is adopted, enabled by condition monitoring systems (CMSs). Reliawind, spun out from Cambridge University Engineering Department, has developed a novel and patent-pending CMS technology for WT drivetrains, which is 60% cheaper and substantially easier to install than its rival products in the market, and has greater fault detection precision and diagnosis. The unique feature of ReliaWind is the use of electrical measurements, already available in WTs, to detect and diagnose mechanical and electrical faults in WT drivetrains. Hence, the hardware and its installation are significantly simpler than existing CMS products. In addition, Reliawind algorithms are based on the analysis of complex electro-magnetic (EM) fields in the generator, derived from the voltage and current measurements, which have shown to give enhanced precision in fault detection. The technology is proven on laboratory-scale prototypes and is being developed for site testing in real wind turbines. This project aims to study, assess and prove the commercial feasibility of Reliawind for on- and offshore wind applications and set the foundation for commercialisation operation to move to the next phase

This project will evaluate the feasibility of transferring existing successful helicopter condition monitoring (CM) technology into the offshore wind turbine industry, in order to improve reliability, enable predictive maintenance, increase operations efficiency, reduce emissions, minimise risk for investors and insurers, and ultimately reduce the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE). We will evaluate the feasibility of combining Helitune’s helicopter Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) technology, Narec’s offshore wind turbine testing capability, and University of Bristol’s aerospace prognostics expertise, to provide a new holistic CM solution for the offshore wind industry.

Laser Optical Engineering wish to develop a high performance photovoltaic based solar collector with a 3 fold increase in power output over current offerings. The product will use a solar harvesting area three quarters smaller and much simpler than currently available, using optics to concentrate and steer solar energy onto Photo voltaic cells. this approach will reduce the conventional tracking of the sun from two planes to a single linear motion which will be done within the system. Novel optics will also reduce the accuracy of the tracking needed improving the system performance and output duration. By keeping the moving parts within a sealed system the impact on the environment and maintenance will be significantly reduced: low curvateure outer optics will be much easier to clean than the heavily radiused, or stepped fresnel lenses found in most concentrating systems. The current system offerings are frequently based upon silicon based photo cells which are at best 13% efficient – which means large areas committed to extracting a small amount of electricity from the sun. Currently high efficiency solar cells cost significantly more per watt making them commercially uncompetitive. Our approach uses an innovative approach to significantly increase the collection efficiency by both generating electricity at a conversion rate of 40% and making use of heat generated. To do this we utilise highly efficient multiple junction photovoltaic cells and integrate them with cooling circuits to increase the efficiency of an air conditioning cycle. By integrating both these circuit in a stand alone module our system will be able to provide both hot water and electricity from a small foot print module. Since up to 70% of electricity in some countries is used to provide air conditioning and cooling our system could be used to power a heat exchanger to convert hot water to cold.