Innovative R&D and Testing for Sustainable Marine Energy Technologies

The move from fossil fuels to renewable energy has many countries around the world pivoting to make the energy transition. With that pivot and the flow of investment in clean energy research and development, technology developers are looking at untapped hydrokinetic resources such as wave, current, tidal and riverine energy that hold the greatest potential to generate green energy.

To support these trailblazers with their research and development, Ohmsett—the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test facility—collaborates with research institutions, industry, academia, and government agencies on bridging the gap in marine renewables through testing and evaluation of wave and current energy systems, as well as technology used for the Blue Economy.

NEXT-WAVE TEST FACILITY

Tucked away on the shores of the Sandy Hook Bay in central New Jersey, Ohmsett is managed by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and has been offering independent, objective performance testing of sensors, wave energy converters, containment booms and barriers, as well as skimming systems for over 45 years. The distinctive wave facility provides a platform for developers to validate engineering expectations for their products under varying flow, position and load conditions, and obtain quantitative data enabling them to improve their design.

According to marine energy developers, it may take 10-12 years to reach commercialization while going through all of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) gates outlined by Department of Energy (DOE). These TRL gates range from low- to mid-stage analysis such as physical model scale testing wave tanks and basins, and flumes; to higher levels such as open-water and grid-connected testing.

Currently, industry struggles with the limited availability of marine energy testing infrastructure; which according to the DOE Waterpower Technologies Office, limits the ability to quickly assess the performance of devices and components, innovate solutions, and deploy the devices.

WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS

Ohmsett bridges that disparity with the ability to test individual and coupled surface wave energy converters, subsurface wave energy converters (surge and ballast plate), surface current converters and near-shore tidal wash converters at-scale. The very first step for cost effective development of wave, tidal, and current energy devices is through the use of computerized simulation tools that can predict the performance in a variety of operating conditions. “Using this information developers can then perform tank testing to verify the computer models by running experiments using different wave conditions in the controlled testing environment,” according to Paul Meyer, BSEE’s Ohmsett manager. “The various wave energies, wavelengths, and periods during at-scale testing provides valuable validation prior to open water trials. Additionally, physical modeling data can be used to calibrate the numerical models and ultimately optimize the design.”

Ohmsett’s wave generating capabilities include programmable amplitude, frequency and wave length, creating random waves that more closely approximate waves in the ocean, and waves that break at specific locations within the tank. It has a fully computerized control platform for collecting data from various sensors and video cameras for synthesis and analysis. The recorded information from tests performed on marine energy devices includes environmental conditions, wave data, electrical current output, accelerometer data, as well as tether load forces.

In addition to marine energy, Ohmsett conducts technology evaluations for the Blue Economy which includes remote sensing, systems for remote operation, ocean floor mapping, subsurface characterization, wave characterization, and the removal of dielectric fluids from the marine environment. Dielectric fluids are used in wind turbine generators and on centralized electrical service platforms.

FUTURE INVESTMENTS

BSEE is continuously investing in and expanding Ohmsett’s capabilities to develop and test state-of-the-art equipment. This includes infrastructure capital investments for a better and more repeatable test environment. Scheduled for the summer and fall 2021 tank refurbishment, infrastructure improvements will include structural and electrical upgrades, bridge repairs, a new and refined beach system, as well as expanded instrumentation capability. Future improvements include new main and vacuum bridges, an expanded bridge house, upgraded data acquisition, and tighter control over the tank’s water level and salinity.

According to Meyer, BSEE is in the initial design stage of fabricating a small scale wave and flume tank (approx. 60 to 80 feet in length) to compliment the capabilities of Ohmsett’s outdoor tank. “The flume tank would be ideal for smaller scale experiments that would allow researchers to fine-tune experimental methods for expanded tests in the main tank.”

“Facility improvements are primarily focused to support our core mission of oil spill response R&D; however, many of these improvements also advance Ohmsett's capability for testing marine energy and technology for the Blue Economy. Similarly, marine energy and blue technology testing may help develop technologies, e.g., instrumentation/remote sensing/remote operation, which may be advantageous to the oil spill response community,” stated Meyer.

This story was originally featured in ON&T May 2021. Click here to read more.