Business Plan and Detailed Technical Design Presented for the U.S. Department of Energy Marine Energy Collegiate Competition 2020-2021 Lightning: A Wave Energy Converter to Power the Future of Ocean Observation by Obseaver Marine Energy Oregon State University Christian Bergin Courtney Beringer Diane Brandt Megan Carlson-Funk Chris Dizon Daniel Gaebele Andres Gonzalez Carson Gray Leila Kenner Deven Leon-Patino Nicholas May-Varas Jorren Mills Paris Myers Nicholas Touchette Carson Williams Faculty Advisors: Bryson Robertson and Pedro Lomónaco Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 3 Business Plan ......................................................................................................................... 5 Concept Overview ..........................................................................................................................5 Relevant Stakeholders ...................................................................................................................6 Market Opportunity .......................................................................................................................7 Development and Operations ...................................................................................................... 12 Detailed Technical Design .................................................................................................... 13 Design Objective .......................................................................................................................... 13 Design Details .............................................................................................................................. 15 Hydrodynamic Modeling .............................................................................................................. 17 WEC-Sim Modelling...................................................................................................................... 18 Analytic Model of Reduced Dynamics ........................................................................................... 23 Incorporation of Environmental and Sustainability Factors............................................................ 25 References........................................................................................................................... 26 2 | Oregon State University Executive Summary Our team investigated an attenuator style wave energy converter (WEC). This device, named The Lightning, has two floats that rotate around a center nacelle which houses the power take-off system (Figure 1). Our goal was to create a low impact wave energy convertor to house an array of oceanographic sensors and instruments that could collect quality data year-round regardless of sea-state (through WEC stabilization control), greatly reduce the need for expensive boat time (through longer deployments), and mitigate the current issues of power access (through generation of renewable wave power). These are our social, technical, environmental, and financial goals. To meet these goals, we designed the power electronics and controls to meet the needs of a suite of oceanographic sensors. The design includes a mounting system for sensors and a rechargeable battery, as well proof of concept for a stabilizing control algorithm that aims to reduce the WEC motion in harsh sea conditions. Figure 1: Attenuator style WEC used in collaboration with our industry mentor, C-Power Ocean observation is federally required to monitor environmental impacts and is also central in academia and industry to observe and react to the health and conditions of our oceans. Therefore, we proposed a business, named the Obseaver Marine Energy to provide a versatile WEC platform for various oceanographic sensors: acoustic sensors, pH monitors, temperature sensors, pressure gauges, cameras, chemical sensors, velocity meters, and more. Two areas of need in the oceanographic sensing blue economy market sector are the need for reliable, clean energy and the option for a stable sensor platform to increase data accuracy. The team’s engagement with sector stakeholders indicated that oceanographic sensors typically rely on pre-charged batteries, limiting the length of deployment. For some sensors, their data accuracy is dependent on the motion of their platform. The motion of the waves both powers the sensors and potentially disrupts accurate data collection. We designed a “stable operation” mode option for sensors that require a stable platform. The WEC will has two operating modes: one for storing generated power and one for stabilization (Figure 2). 3 | Oregon State University Figure 2: Dual-mode Operation Models 4 | Oregon State University Business Plan Our goal was to create a low impact wave energy convertor that could house an array of oceanographic sensors and instruments that could collect quality data year-round regardless of sea-state (through WEC stabilization control), greatly reduce the need for expensive boat time (through longer deployments), and mitigate the current demands for an arsenal of batteries (through the generation of renewable wave power). These summarize our social, technical, environmental, and financial goals which will be further expanded upon throughout the report. Concept Overview Business Model/Vision Obseaver Marine Energy is a hypothetical company located in Portland, Oregon. Our product, the Lightning wave energy converter (WEC), is designed as a customizable attenuator style WEC to power sensors for metocean observation and research. Our baseline design provides consistent, reliable, and renewable power to the rechargeable batteries. In addition to designing a WEC to mount and power sensors, we incorporated a stabilization mode with controls informed by data collection issues on currently deployed buoys. The stabilization mode solves the issue of sensors collecting bad data during extreme sea states. Featuring two sensor mounting platforms (above and below the water level), the Lighting WEC can accommodate a wide variety of oceanographic measurements and customer needs. Obseaver Marine Energy has two product offerings. The base model for the Lighting WEC includes the energy storage system for renewable energy generation, battery storage, stabilization control, and the sensor attachment system all shown in Figure 1. Given the broad array of sensors available for oceanographic measurements (acoustic sensors, pH monitors, temperature sensors, pressure gauges, cameras, chemical sensors, and velocity meters), Obseaver has an extended model which allows clients to customize for specific sensors they need on the device to accomplish their mission. The extended model builds off the base model and allows Obseaver to customize the Lighting WEC with the sensors; based on client requirements. Triple Bottom Line Our Lighting WEC address two primary financial obstacles present with traditional battery-powered buoys. The first is the life of the battery. Researchers and federal agencies are limited on the number of sensors they can attach to oceanographic buoys and how much data they can collect, due to battery energy budgets. This is especially prevalent when the data is being transmitted telemetrically. Our device generates its own reliable, consistent renewable energy to allow for increased deployment length and reduced battery storage requirements. This ability has larger financial implications by reducing ship time to service and replace batteries on buoys which is expensive. Socially, there is pressure for organizations to move to more sustainable solutions. This is important so that future generations can enjoy a healthy environment with lower carbon emissions. Many companies follow the triple bottom line framework for ensuring that they are focusing on social and environmental goals as opposed to just their profits. Obseaver’s vision and mission required a triple-bottom-line approach to all company activities. Environmentally, oceanographic sensing is important in understanding changing ocean environments, impacts of climate change, bathymetric mapping, ocean observations, etc. The Lighting WEC offers a low- impact platform to secure these needed datasets by using wave energy instead of batteries and significant 5 | Oregon State University fuel usage for deploying/picking up equipment. This minimizes the impact on the ocean environment while expanding out the collective ability to study ocean processes to inform current and future ocean activities. With a continually changing ecosystem, it is necessary to continually monitor the ocean to build understanding. The lighting WEC provides this transformational ability. Relevant Stakeholders Obseaver Marine Energy has identified several key stakeholders from coastal communities to government agencies who use observation buoys. Outreach conversations with private marine energy companies like C-Power, university professors, and attending seminars such as Waves to Wind - Marine Energy in the Pacific Northwest by the Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) were key to understanding the different groups of people impacted by our company. The oceanographic sensing market is currently reliant on battery-powered sensors and intermittent renewables like solar. We want to help this industry in making the leap to wave-powered sensors. The current stakeholders of battery-powered buoys need a safe and reliable alternative to make this transition.