| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/N508445/1 |
| Title: |
Mid-stage development of the CCell Wave Energy Converter |
| Principal Investigator: |
Hillis, Dr AJ |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Bath |
| Scheme: |
Technology Programme |
| Starts: |
06 July 2015 |
Ends: |
05 July 2018 |
Value (£): |
572,717
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Energy - Marine & Hydropower |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Recent large-scale laboratory tests of the curved Mark 1 CCell paddle and its control system, conducted with TSB funding
#131499, have demonstrated the predicted four-fold increase in performance to cost ratio compared to other wave energy
devices. Preliminary sea trials of components are ongoing and the technology is now ready for mid-stage development to
build a complete system. This project takes lessons learned from Mark 1 system development and incorporates them into a
Mark 2 Wave Energy Converter (WEC) technology package based on the CCell paddle, its control and its foundation
system.
The project aims to demonstrate cost-effective performance of an array of CCell paddles. This will be achieved through
optimisation of the shape of the curved paddle and Power Take Off (PTO) for a wide range of sea conditions. Intelligent
proactive control algorithms will be developed to maximise power capture in the highly variable conditions that operating
devices will experience. Numerical tools developed and validated as part of the preceeding project will be extended to
study interactions between arrays of CCell paddles. Co-operative PTO control strategies will be developed to optimise
array performance, matching demanded power with generated power and balancing against device loading and
degradation. Prototype systems will be constructed and tested both in laboratory conditions and at sea to validate
concepts.
Successful completion of the project will bring CCell and associated technology to the pre-commercial stage. Economic
viability will be established and the barriers preventing the uptake of competitor technology will be removed.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bath.ac.uk |