Motion Model and Speed Control of the Cross-Stream Active Mooring System for Tracking Short-Term Meandering to Maximize Ocean Current Power Generation

Abstract

This paper analyzes the speed of lateral movement of the Cross-stream Active Mooring (CSAM) system in an ocean current and its control methods in order to study the system's capability of tracking short term meandering of ocean currents for maximizing power generation capacity. The CSAM concept for marine current power features a hydro sail system that can deploy generator turbines transversely across streams in a marine current. The hydro sail system can further adjust the horizontal position of the turbines, by changing the angle of attack of the hydro sail, to actively track fast streams in the marine current to increase power generation capacity. A two-step motion model with analytical formulas was developed and analysis based on mechanics indicated that the simplified model is adequate to estimate the system speed. Using an example system, it was estimated that the proposed active mooring system is capable of matching typical lateral speed of short term meandering and tracking fast streams in an ocean current without any external propulsion other than controlling the angle of attack of the hydro sails. Methods of controlling the system speed of moving from one location to another were also developed.

Implementation and analysis of deflection switched reluctance generator for underwater flow generation applications

“…The technology of deep-water generator lies in the high-efficiency conversion technology of generator. With the breakthrough of underwater low-speed generator, marine energy development will also produce a corresponding leap [2][3][4].…”

Dynamics of The FKT System with Different Mooring Lines

“…They concluded that the SPAR type has better performance for a multi-arrayed system. More recently, Tsao and Feng [14] have developed the cross-stream active mooring system to adjust the horizontal position of a current turbine in order to track fast streams and thus increase the power generation capacity.…”