Operational strategy update for marine energy converters based on dynamic reliability assessment through integration of Structural Health Monitoring

This project aims to develop a framework that will integrate data collected and recorded through a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system for marine energy converters, in order to estimate reliability levels at component and system level in real time and evaluate its ability to further fulfil its intended function. Obtaining a more well-informed understanding of the actual state of the system, alternative operational strategies can be adopted, particularly taking into consideration its residual capacity after extreme environmental events, optimizing its inspection and maintenance scheduling and hence reducing the OPEX. Application of the developed framework on an existing prototype wave device, already developed by the Chinese partners, will allow its validation and extension to future applications. This reference case will be employed in order to classify its components and determine potential failure modes and limit states to assess failure. From the key failure mechanisms that will be identified, arrangements for Structural Health Monitoring will be proposed obtaining data from relevant measurements (ie strains and accelerations) that can then inform the reliability evaluation in real time, updating its operational strategy, particularly taking into consideration residual capacity after extreme environmental events. Outcome of the project will be a generic framework applicable to a range of marine energy devices.

This project aims to develop a framework for marine energy systems that will integrate data collected and recorded through Structural Health Monitoring, in order to estimate reliability in real time and evaluate its ability to further fulfil its intended function. The better understanding of the actual state of the system, can qualify alternative operational strategies, particularly taking into consideration its residual capacity after extreme environmental events, optimizing its inspection and maintenance scheduling and hence reducing the OPEX.

The work detailed in this proposal is expected to bring valuable research outcomes both to academic and industrial beneficiaries, ranging from developers, manufacturers, operators, certification authorities and final users of marine energy devices. In China as well as in the UK, there are several universities (Ocean University of China, Shandong University, Harbin Engineering University, Edinburgh, Southampton, and Cranfield Universities), institutes (NOTC from SOA, Guangzhou Energy Institute from CAS, National Renewable Energy Centre, European Marine Energy Centre, RenewableUK) and companies who are developing marine energy devices, who can be direct users of this research. The outcomes of this project will be of particular interest not only to marine energy applications but also to other complex systems where optimization of the CAPEX-OPEX balance becomes of interest towards concept commercialisation.