Concrete for Wave Power
The project will examine how concrete technology can be applied to large offshore wave energy devices in this case Wave Dragon and KNSwing. The study will examine solutions such as ordinary reinforced concrete, post- and pre-tensioned concrete, different reinforcement materials, concrete mix and different connection details.
While conventional concrete will be used for the bulk of the WEC’s the project will explore the possibility of using Compact Reinforced Composite (CRC) concrete in special areas. CRC is stronger and more durable compared to normal concrete. This means that CRC is especially suitable for structural parts that are exposed in a splash zone or has a high fatigue or experience similar stresses.
The cost related to identified concrete types and fabrication methods will described and the reliability, survivability and maintainability evaluated. Thereby the cost of energy for the WECs will be calculated based on material and component units and unit costs, expected lifetime and maintenance costs.
Both the Wave Dragon and the KNSwing device are scalable, and the dimension, weight and installed power increases with device and wave size size – as part of this project the minimum scale suitable to be built in concrete will be defined.
The objective of the project is to investigate concrete as construction material for floating Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and evaluate the costs of energy compared to using other materials.
Two of the project partners are WEC developers Wave Dragon and Development v. Kim Nielsen. They participate in the project because the structures of their large passive WECs, “Wave Dragon” and “KNSwing” both are well suited to be built in concrete. Wave Dragon is an overtopping system using low head water turbines and KNSwing is a multi-chamber oscillating water column system using air turbines. The two WECs under investigation are at full scale multi MW converters for offshore deployment at water depths above 30 meters.
The project is coordinated by Energy Innovation Cluster – and further partners are Hi-Con a Danish producer of thin walled Compact Reinforced Composite-type concrete elements and Aalborg University adding know-how concerning design models related to floating wave energy structures in the offshore environment.
The outcomes of this project will provide experience and insight in the use of concrete for WECs for the 11 Danish WECs under “Partnership for Wave Power” development (www.wavepartnership.dk).
Key figures
Category
Dokumenter
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| Offshoreenergy.dk | 0,10 mio. DKK | 0,07 mio. DKK |
| Aalborg Universitet (Fredrik Bajers Vej) | 0,16 mio. DKK | 0,02 mio. DKK |
| WAVE DRAGON ApS | 0,37 mio. DKK | 0,25 mio. DKK |
| Development v/Kim Nielsen | 0,22 mio. DKK | 0,15 mio. DKK |
| HI-CON A/S | 0,16 mio. DKK | 0,16 mio. DKK |
Contact
Kanalen 1,
6700 Esbjerg
Tlf.: 36 97 36 70
