History - Wave power plant by V. Ovsyankin
WAVE POWER PLANT BY V. OVSYANKIN
Specialists of scientific production company “Krok-1” (Kyiv, Ukraine) under the guidance of V.Ovsyankin have created the design of the brand new wave power plant converting sea wave energy under high sea conditions into electric power and having a series of fundamental distinctions from all the existing WPPs.
First of all, distinction of WPP by Ovsyankin design is that its operating parts (energy-absorbing cells) are a part of water environment they occupy. Relative movements of separate water volumes that arise under the incoming waves influence are received by the WPP operating parts by means of hydrodynamic thrust, creating torsion moment on working shafts. This moment is converted and transmitted to the generator shaft.
WPP design is patented in Ukraine (patent ¹56481) and has good prospects for patenting of various design updates in other countries.
WPP has modular assembly; standard module is shown in Fig. 9.
One kilometre of wave front can be equipped with up to 24 modules. They can be combined both into a single WPP and, for example, into 6 WPPs each consisting of 4 modules. Reasonability of a certain solution is determined while developing the construction project and taking into consideration all the relevant factors.
For the high seas and oceans the designed modules have power of 1 and 2 MWt, for enclosed seas it is up to 0.5 MWt.
Recommended module power and its dimensions for the WPP are calculated in terms of the exploited water area energy potential.
WPP is connected to the coastal substation by electric cable.
WPP reliable performance in the sea storm is provided by its design features, such as wave transmittivity and ability to submerge into the area where the waves of rated parameters operate.
Water area there WPP is supposed to be built must be absolutely open to the waves, be at least 25 m in depth and have a location as close to the power consumer object as possible.
While considering the water area, it is preferable to choose sea areas with high energy potential and long seasonal duration of average heaving.
WPP by Ovsyankin has the following advantages:
- flexible energy-absorbing system that constantly changes its parameters under the influence of incoming waves having wide range of lengths and amplitudes, providing high efficiency of the WPP;
- low level of investment costs per unit – $3500-$4000 per kWt;
- low cost of produced electric energy - $0,05-$0,08 per 1 kilowatt-hour;
- low materials consumption – up to 150kg per kWt;
- high reliability in the sea storm;
- power plant is portable and can be towed away to any part of the water area.
Fig. 9. Standard WPP module
Energy characteristic of 2 MWt WPP operation is represented in the Fig. 10.
Fig. 10 Energy characteristic of 2MWt wave power plant.
SPC “Krok-1” has carried out works on creation of wave power plant for over 20 years. During this period 8-stages testing of power plant model and its 10 kWt prototype (WPP-10) was held.
Model testing was held in the wave basin of the Institute of Hydromechanics of NAS of Ukraine, as well as in the natural environment of the Kyiv water storage. The results of the tests proved the functionality of power plant models and gave the basic data for the design of the power plant prototype.
The obtained results enabled the National Aviation University (Kyiv, Ukraine) to develop a methodology of energy-absorbing cell parameters calculation;
Fig.11 shows the testing of wave power plant models in the wave basin.
Fig. 11. Testing of models in the water basin
WPP-10 prototype was assembled in 2006 by the Kyiv Shipyard. Testing of the prototype was held in spring 2007 on the basis of Scientific Research Centre of Ukrainian Armed Forces “State Oceanarium” (Sevastopol, Ukraine).
Fig. 12 shows WPP-10 prototype on the pier before the submergence.
After the launch, WPP-10 was towed 60 m away from the pier. Control and monitoring station was on the pier in the GAZ-66 automobile shown in the Fig. 13. It was connected with the power plant by the power cable and control cable that were bottomed in the water area. The load was simulated by rheostats.
In the course of the tests video recordings of all the key moments were made.
Fig. 12. WPP-10 prototype on the pier before the launch
Fig. 13 Control and monitoring station of the WPP-10
Tests were carried out in March-April 2007.
WPP-10 plant is designed for the waves of 0.3- 1.0 m, that is why the Kozatska Bay was chosen to be the tests site, as it is protected from the waves of the high sea.
Depth in the place of installation was 8 metres.
During the test in the water area waves up to 2 metres and periods of dead calm were observed.
Under the influence of waves having 0.3-0.4 m in height, rotation of the working shaft of 4-5 revolutions per min was observed that corresponded to the indications of the tachometer on the generator shaft – 400-500 rpm.
Operation of WPP-10 was the most effective under the influence of short waves having 0.6-0.7 m height and 2.0-2.2 m length, when the working shaft revolutions value was within the limits of 12 to15 rpm and the power produced by generator made up 2-3 kWt.
Test results provided reasons for the following conclusions:
1. WPP-10 prototype demonstrated its functionality within the range of rated values of waves height and stood the test.
2. For the designed wave power plants, the energy-absorbing cell length must make up about 1 to 2 maximum wavelengths of the rated range for the specified water area regardless of the WPP power. Thus, for Black Sea water areas the length of the energy absorbing cell must be 40-50 metres.
ÒMoreover, according to the WPP-10 tests results the engineering specifications were worked out for the standard project development of the wave power plant module with the power of 200 kWt for the Black Sea water area. This project was developed by the National Shipbuilding University (Mykolaiiv, Ukraine).
For the purpose of building a wave power plant with the power of 2000 kWt in the Black Sea water area there is a need of $8 mln investment.
As a result of project realization, the water area observation will be carried out, its energy potential will be evaluated, construction project will be developed, underwater and coastal facilities will be built, the corresponding standard WPP project will be developed, a 2000kWt wave power plant will be produced, installation and commissioning will be carried out, testing and startup will be performed.
Project implementation time is 2.0 – 2.5 years.
Wave energy use will provide the required conditions for the development of Zmiiny Island multi-faceted infrastructure, the objects of continental shelf and in the coastal area, allowing to save the unique natural environment of the Black Sea..
In December 2008 the project on WPP construction was considered and approved by the academic council of the State scientific and research project designing institute of the power engineering and energy saving innovation technologies.