Wave power - The future of energy supply? Focusing on its sealing solutions

Abstract: A new concept for extracting renewable power has been developed at KTH Electric Power and Energy Systems, this time regarding wave power. Unlike other wave energy converters this concepts generator opens up the possibility to be operative also during low speed and at the same time preserve high power density and efficiency. This solution needs to be sealed since its components don’t withstand the ambient environment; this is therefore the purpose of the project. Several problems exist with the sealing solutions that currently are available, that is why it exists a need to produce a custom sealing solution for this concept. Some of the problems are, for example, leakage and fatigue failure that lead to unacceptably short life expectancy. The issues discussed in the report and the project, are whether there are any loads acting on the seal that are specifically critical, if there is any way to easily reduce these, if there are any solutions that are denser than the current ones (which also have approved properties of strength and life expectancy as a result of the requirements imposed on them), if these solutions would be applicable in all seas and if these solutions are also economically applicable. To answer this, most conceptualizations have been conducted using brainstorming where potential solutions were evaluated based on the extensive information retrieval, to finally reach out and outline the most promising final concepts. These were then modeled using the 3D-modeling software Solid Edge to finally be analyzed using the Ansys software. The results and conclusions from both the search for information and the detailed analyzes were that the critical loads are stresses that arise from compression, expansion and bending of the buoy, which can be reduced by creating an inner structure in the seal which causes loads to occur more continuously. There are also sealing solutions that are completely dense as they enclose the part of the wave power concept that needs to be sealed, so-called gaiter solutions. In addition, these solutions are applicable in all seas, both from a material perspective, but also from a dimensioning one such as the possibility of adjusting the length of the seal during the manufacture along varying wave heights of where it is to be applied. Regarding the last question, which addresses economic applicability, no sufficiently accurate results could be generated and hence no conclusions could be drawn.