Pelamis WEC

The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter is a semi-submerged, articulated structure composed of

cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints. The wave-induced motion of these joints is resisted
by hydraulic rams, which pump high-pressure fluid through hydraulic motors via smoothing
accumulators. The hydraulic motors drive electrical generators to produce electricity. Power
from all the joints is fed down a single umbilical cable to a junction on the sea bed. Several
devices can be connected together and linked to shore through a single seabed cable.

Pelamis offers technological, economic and environmental advantages including:

Survivability built in 100% available technology

No maintenance carried out No offshore intervention

at offshore site required

'Hands Free' operation Lowest kWh costs in the

market

High return potential Commercial track record

Verified and insured  

Current production machines are 180m long and 4m in diameter with 4 power conversion
modules per machine. Each machine is rated at 750kW. The energy produced by Pelamis is
dependent upon the conditions of the installation site. Depending on the wave resource,
machines will on average produce 25-40% of the full rated output over the course of a year. Each
machine can provide sufficient power to meet the annual electricity demand of approximately
500 homes.

PELAMIS WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER

An efficient renewable energy system

NITESH. Y
MECHANICAL BRANCH, II YEAR,
SRI INDU COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
AND TECHNOLOGY.
Email:nitesh.yalavarthi@gmail.com
Contact no: 9052222455

G. SANDEEP
MECHANICAL BRANCH, II YEAR,
SRI INDU COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
AND TECHNOLOGY.
Email:rocks.sandy65@gmail.com
Contact no: 9848023198

ABSTRACT:

This paper aims at introducing a wave energy device which converts mechanical energy obtained from
the sea waves into electrical energy. This is done by the action of the hydraulic rams which compress the fluid and
help to drive the motor and generator set through the accumulators. It explains the essential features of the device
and tries to convey the key design and various construction details. It’s intellectually demanding and technically
challenging nature creates an edge over all other wave energy converters (WEC’s). Its reliability, compactness and
survivability under harsh conditions make it the future of power generation.

KEYWORDS:
Wave power, Pelamis, Power Conversion Module’s (PCMs), Survivability,
Hydraulic rams, Motor-Generator Set, Pelamis - P1B.
INTRODUCTION:

Wave power refers to the energy of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work.
Sea waves are a very promising energy carrier among renewable power sources, since they are able to manifest an
enormous amount of energy resources in almost all geographical regions. The global theoretical energy from waves
corresponds to 8x106 TWh/year, which is about 100 times the total hydroelectricity generation of the whole planet.
To produce this energy using fossil fuels it would result an emission of 2 millions of tones of CO2. This means that
wave energy could contribute heavily for the attenuation of pollutant gases in the atmosphere. The global wave
resource due to wave energy is roughly 2 TW. However, for various reasons, it is estimated that only 10 to 15% can
be converted into electrical energy, which is a vast source of energy, able to feed the present all world. Eventually,
wave energy could make major contribution by yielding as much as 120 TWh/year for Europe and perhaps three
times that level worldwide. The ocean is a true store of renewable energy.

Sea wave formation: The combination of forces due to the gravity, sea surface tension

and wind intensity are the main factors of origin of sea waves. Wave size is determined by wind speed and fetch (the
distance over which the wind excites the waves) and by the depth and topography of the seabed (which can focus or
disperse the energy of the waves). To distances far from the fetch, sea waves have a regular shape and the
phenomenon is called swell. The water particles excited by the wind have in each location of the ocean circular
trajectories with highest diameter at the surface and diminishing exponentially with depth. The conjugation of this
circular motion is responsible for the wave formation and respective propagation.

PELAMIS WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER:

The Pelamis is a semi-submerged wave energy converter with a simple geometry configuration based on
individual cylindrical segments linked linearly by hinged joints. The name Pelamis is basically a Greek work
derived from the name of a Sea Snake. As waves pass down the length of the machine, the induced motions of the
separate segments relative to one another are resisted by hydraulic rams to produce the required power and this
power is transmitted to a power grid with the help of underwater cables.

ESSENTIAL PARTS:
 The essential parts of the wave energy converter are, Pelamis, which consists of two main parts, power
conversion modules and main tube segment which includes the hydraulic rams, high pressure accumulators, variable
displacement motors, induction generators, reservoir, hinged joints(sway and heave joints).

CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING:

Main tube cylinders are separated at each joint by shorter Power Conversion Module’s (PCM’s), each
housing an independent power generation system consisting of two separate hydraulic circuits. Located at either end
of the PCM’s are pairs of hydraulic rams; one pair resisting a sway joint and the other end-pair resisting a heave
joint. The hydraulic rams drive pressurized fluid into power smoothing, high pressure accumulators which then
direct the fluid through variable displacement motors and back to low pressure fluid reservoirs. The variable
displacement motor is directly linked to an asynchronous generator producing a 3-phase voltage situated in the nose
cap of the first main segment. The maximum overall generating capacity of a single Pelamis machine is 750kW. The
motor generator sets in each PCM feed the produced electricity onto a high voltage bus-line which runs the length of
the device and feeds into a nose-mounted transformer. The transformer output is fed down to the seafloor via a
flexible umbilical connector which is subsequently joined to a static high voltage cable on the sea bed taking the
generated power to the shore and a suitable grid connection.
PRODUCTION:

The Pelamis takes the profile of the sea wave. Due to this the hydraulic rams are resisted by the two
hinged joints present namely, the sway joints and the hedge joints. Thereby, the fluid present in the hydraulic
cylinders gets pumped in with high pressure through the high pressure accumulators (these are basically used to
smoothen the fluid) and sent into variable displacement motors. Here, the motor and the generator set are coupled.
Hence the motor drives the induced generator to produce electricity. This power is passed to the nose head or to the
first main tube segment of the Pelamis where a 10kV transformer is present. The device is moored in offshore
depths >50m by a unique mooring spread which enables it to self-reference itself and maintain a directional heading
perpendicular to the predominant wave direction. This electricity is sent to the shore by underground umbilical
cables and connected to a power grid.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Structure:
Overall length
150m
Diameter
3.5m
Nose
5m long, drooped conical
Power take off
3 independent power conversion units
Power conversion unit:
Power:
Overall power rating
750kW
Annual output
2.7GWh
Nominal wave power
55kW/m
Hydrostatic power limiting
>6 – 7m significant wave height
Generator type
Asynchronous
System voltage
3-phase, 415/690Vac 50/60Hz
Transformer
950kVA step up to typ. 11kV or 33kV
Power take off
4 x hydraulic rams(2 heave, 2 sway)
Ram speed
0 – 0.1m/s
Power smoothing/storage
High pressure accumulators
Working pressure
100 – 350 bar
Powerconvers ion
2 x variable displacement motors
Generator
2 x 157kVA / 125kW
Speed
1500rpm

power projects, on and offshore. Pelamis has what is anticipated to be the lowest environmental and visual impact of
all renewable technologies. The seabed footprint is limited to small fixed anchor points and the system itself is
practically invisible from the shore. All systems are contained within the machine body, with at least two
independent seal barriers to the outside world. No environmental harmful substances are used - the hydraulic fluid
specified is biodegradable and certified as non-toxic to marine organisms.

IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT:

The recent 15th climate change summit conducted at Copenhagen proved to be a failure where the leaders
of the world nations couldn’t help this earth to restore its old glory. This shows that there is an urgent need to have a
clean and a green environment. This is provided by the Pelamis wave energy converter device. As explained above
this device to found to be the most eco-friendly in all respects. Since it never resists the flow of the wave, it creates
least disturbance to the marine life and the ecosystem and the underwater cables occupy very little area on their
course to the seashore. It is extremely in-toxic and it is totally insulated to inherit the leakage of the electricity in to
ocean affecting the marine life. Its high production capabilities in terms of power and its emission free nature makes
it a reliable mechanism for more development and research in this field of study at the hot spots for tidal energy in
this world.

COMMERICAL IMPORTANCE:

The world's first commercial wave energy project being the Pelamis wave energy converter is now
delivering 2.25MW off the north Portugal coast. Ocean Power Delivery (OPD) has supplied the first three Pelamis
P-750 "advanced wave energy conversion technology" machines, with another 28 machines being planned along the
Portugal coast within a year. They will generate 22.5MW for state-run power company Energias de Portugal.

The order for the initial phase is worth €8.2m, funded by a Portuguese consortium led by Enersis. The
project brings power ashore at Agucadoura, and will supply 1,500 homes using the national state run electricity grid
system. When complete, the project should meet the average electricity demand of more than 15,000 Portuguese
households. It should also displace above 60,000 carbon dioxide emissions tons per year.

The Pelamis has a similar output to a modern wind turbine. Future 'wave farm' projects are likely to
consist of multiple interlinked machines connected to the shore by a single subsea cable. A typical 30MW
installation would occupy a square kilometre of ocean.

TESTING AND PERFORMANCE (NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL

TESTING):

The Pelamis suite of programs consists of three core programs of increasing computational requirement:
linear frequency domain, linear time domain and non-linear time domain. The linear frequency domain program is
appropriate for device optimisation and initial power production predictions and the linear time domain program is
used for design of control algorithms in small and moderate sea states, and for producing fatigue cycle calculations.
The Non-linear program is appropriate for investigating mooring response and extreme sea state survivability.

Experiments have been performed at several scales, both to verify the numerical models so they can
confidently be used for design, and to directly provide design data for regimes in which the numerical models are
not reliable. Tests are performed in regular or irregular waves, which must be measured and input into the numerical
model to simulate the experiments.

Due to limitations in the simulation of the steepest and largest waves, experimental tests are required to
design for the extreme survivability of the Pelamis. However experiments have their own limitations as their
duration is often limited by cost and the buildup of tank reflections. It is therefore important to focus the tests on the
important survivability conditions. Statistical analysis is required to evaluate the extreme wave conditions for each
extreme survivability characteristic at each site. For Pelamis, the extreme mooring extensions occur in the highest
and longest waves associated with the maximum horizontal particle excursion, for which the correctly scaled water
depth is important.

A variety of numerical and experimental models are required in order to investigate various features of
the Pelamis. The numerical models have been verified by independent numerical comparisons and with
experimental tests. Further work is required to use simulations for survivability in extreme waves and at present
experimental work is still required.

2nd GENERATION PELAMIS:

Pelamis second generation P2 wave convertor devices capable of generating up to 20 MW in total unlike
P-1 which can generate only 2.25 MW. The device is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2010. P-2 is said
to be much more efficient than its predecessor. Current production machines (Pelamis - P1A) have a geometry
consisting of four main tube sections and three PCM’s. However the next generation of production machines
(Pelamis - P1B) consist of an additional main tube section and PCM. Both P1A’s and P1B’s have the same rated
capacity (750kW). The P2 machine will be 180m and offers major improvements in efficiency, survivability,
operability, maintainability and overall cost-effectiveness by approaching double annual yield for similar cost.

FUTURE OF WAVE ENERGY:

Wave energy is not expensive to operate and maintain, no fuel is needed and no waste is produced.
However, it depends on the intensity of the waves and needs a suitable site where waves are consistently strong. The
infrastructure must be able to withstand very rough weather.

Wave power lies not in huge plants but in a combination of on-shore generation and near-shore
generation (using a different technology) focused on meeting local or regional needs. If this system proves to be
economically possible, only 0.1% of the renewable energy within the world's oceans could supply more than five
times the global demand for energy.

The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter is a revolutionary concept resulting from many years of
engineering development. It was the world’s first commercial scale machine to generate electrical energy into the
grid from offshore wave energy and the first to be used in commercial wave park projects.

While solar and wind power plants are now becoming increasingly common, one as yet untapped area of
renewable energy is wave energy - using the kinetic energy of waves to generate electricity, but recent technological
advancements could soon mean wave energy becomes a far more viable option.

CONCLUSION:
 This is proved to be one of the best technologies off-shore with greater reliability and better options for
modification and maintaince if necessary. Primarily, the only disadvantage with this system is that it can be
implemented only in the areas where wave potential is available, that is where wave power is greater than or equal to
60m/s. But when we look at the advantages we find with only 10% utility of the oceans, the whole can meet with its
energy demand. This most advanced technology of Europe and first commercial renewable energy will rule the
energy generation sector in years to come.

REFERENCES:
•
Paper on Pelamis wec - recent advances in the numerical and experimental modeling
programme by, David J. Pizer, Chris Retzler of Ocean Power Delivery, Edinburgh,
Scotland, UK.
•
Cover story on Harvesting the Ocean’s Power with Pelamis and
Realistic Simulation.
•
Paper on Wave power conversion systems for electrical energy production by,
Leão Rodrigues.
•
Paper on wave energy project based on Pelamis technology in New Caledonia.
•
www.google.com
•
www.pelamiswave.com