October 9, 2024 by Matt Shipman, North Carolina State University
Collected at: https://techxplore.com/news/2024-10-tool-aids-marine-hydrokinetic-energy.html
Researchers have created a new modeling tool that can be used to help develop ocean-based hydrokinetic energy projects. The tool can be used both to help design more robust marine hydrokinetic technologies and to inform risk assessments that are essential for securing financing and permitting of commercial projects. The paper, “Bayesian Modeling and Mechanical Simulations for Fragility Curve Estimation of The Mooring System of Marine Hydrokinetic Devices,” is published in the journal Applied Ocean Research.
At issue are marine hydrokinetic devices, which convert the mechanical energy of the ocean’s tides, current and waves into electricity.
“Marine hydrokinetic technologies hold promise for being a significant contributor to sustainable energy portfolios in the future,” says Anderson de Queiroz, co-author of a paper on the work and an associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University.
“However, the same currents and waves that allow hydrokinetic devices to generate electricity can also damage the devices during extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or tropical storms. For example, waves generated by high winds could potentially tear devices loose from their moorings and anchoring system.”
“Marine hydrokinetic energy projects are expensive to get off the ground,” says Mo Gabr, co-author of the paper and Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering and Construction at NC State. “If a developer is proposing a marine hydrokinetic project, it will need to apply for permits and get insurance—and both of those things will require the developer to do a robust risk assessment. That’s where fragility curve estimates come in.”
For risk assessments, it is important to know how much force the components of marine hydrokinetic device can withstand before it breaks loose from the ocean floor. And that’s exactly what a fragility curve estimate can tell you. Specifically, in this context, a fragility curve estimates how much force a marine hydrokinetic device can withstand from hurricanes or storms before damage occurs due to mooring system failure.
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