Share reportStructural Materials
This programme investigated if it is possible to make a step change impact in LCOE by constructing typical WEC devices from alternative materials to those traditionally used, such as steel.
Lead contractor
Technology from Ideas Ltd
Sub-contractor(s)
Cruz Atcheson Consulting Engineers Lda
DuPont Performance Materials UK Ltd
Radius Systems Ltd
REMTec Consulting Ltd
Overview
This engineering design study explored the use of high-performance thermoplastic elastomers (particularly the copolymer Hytrel) as the outer shell of wave energy converters, using complex 3D surface features to enable the shell to change shape under high structural load scenarios to enhance performance.
Shape changes lead to a change in drag coefficient and can impact peak loads, fatigue loads and impulse loads on the hull and components attached to the hull.
Hytrel, which contains two different polymers within its matrix granting it both rubber and plastic type properties, has been selected for its superb fatigue properties and ability form structural elements which behave as desired under applied loads.
Stage 1
May 2018
Polyshell is a novel material project, where the use of novel high fatigue flexible polymers allows for the hull of a wave energy converter to change shape with changing loads. This change of shape leads to a change in drag coefficient of the shape and can have significant impact on the peak loads, the fatigue loads and the impulse loads on the hull, as well as the components attached to the hull. Ideally such changing shape does not occur in operational loads, but only in high structure load scenarios.
The material in question is Hytrel, a thermoplastic elastomer copolymer, containing two different polymers within its matrix, granting it both rubber and plastic type properties. This material has been chosen due to its superb fatigue properties, and the ability to shape the material into structural elements which behave as desired under applied loads.
The project would be deemed successful if it can confirm that the approach fundamentally works and can deliver a significant enhancement to LCOE.
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