Share reportPower Take Off
This programme supported a wide range of Power-Take Off systems that each proposed a step change in the capital cost and/or efficiency/performance over current technology.
Lead contractor
Artemis Intelligent Power Ltd
Sub-contractor(s)
Quoceant Ltd
Overview
The project completed the next stage of work to integrate Artemis Digital Displacement Pump-motor (DDPM) technology into a state of the art Power Take-Off (PTO) system to produce a new ‘hybrid’ with a combined capability greater than the sum of the parts. The highly innovative system offers continuously variable control of loads in reaction to the wave forces on the wave energy converter (WEC). The hybrid system represents a system close to the ultimate limits of performance for a fluid power WEC PTO system.
The project set out to demonstrate that the sea-proven ‘quantised chamber-switching’ concept provides the most promising foundation for addressing wave energy challenges. Quantised systems are very efficient and able to deal economically with very high instantaneous power levels whilst generating electricity at steady mean powers. However, by its nature, chamber-switching produces coarsely stepped load profiles that limit WEC controllability and compromise wave energy absorption.
In the project, Artemis and Quoceant demonstrated that Digital Displacement® (DD) technology can be used to complement quantised chamber-switching, smooth out the load steps and provide continuously variable control.
By offering unparalleled efficiency, controllability and power handling capability, this hybrid hydraulic ‘Quantor’ PTO can increase the productivity of a wide range of WECs. The Quantor was then advanced to a full demonstration on a purpose built test-rig that allowed realistic representation of WEC dynamics. This was vital because interactions between WEC and PTO can cause instability and performance limitations that must be understood when developing control software.
Stage 2
June 2017
This is the PTO stage 2 project summary report for the Artemis Intelligent Power Hybrid Digital Displacement® hydraulic PTO for wave energy project. Includes a description of the technology, scope of work, achievements and recommendations for further work.
Stage 3
February 2020
This is the PTO Stage 3 summary report for the Artemis Intelligent Power Ltd project.
Included within this public report is a high level overview of the technology, and the activities completed on the Quantor PTO project during Stage 3.
Features include an overview of the scope of work completed, the project achievements, lessons learnt, and recommendations for future work. The project performance against key metrics is also presented.
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