Search NASA⌕ Search
Home/Archive/DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI · 3014925

Testing and Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) Program Support (CRADA Final Report)

Driscoll, Fredrick [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)]·Fao, Rebecca [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)]·Ogden, David [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)]·Zuo, Lei [Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)]
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Virginia Tech (VT) had previously developed a 50 kW AC to DC power converter that is specifically designed to improve the performance and efficiency of wave energy converters (WECs). Through this CRADA, NLR will test the VT power converter via a coupled dynamometer and power electronics test platform. The NLR test platform will be comprised of (1) a rotary dynamometer that will drive a VT provided gearbox and generator, (2) one or more DC regenerative power supplies that provide input power to and take power from the VT supplied power electronics, and (3) a data acquisition system for measurement. NLR will work with VT to develop a test plan, set up the test platform and integrate the test article, perform the testing, and assist in the data analysis.

Explore related subjects

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWERCRADAFOSWECmooring configurationPacWave SouthTEAMER

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Driscoll, Fredrick [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)], Fao, Rebecca [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)], Ogden, David [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)], Zuo, Lei [Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)]. 2026-01-09. Testing and Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) Program Support (CRADA Final Report). https://doi.org/10.2172/3014925

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

DOE OSTI2026

Applied Research and Development to Support Open-Water Testing at PacWave

This report presents the findings from Task 7 of the project, which focused on improving the performance and reliability of wave energy converters (WECs) under real-world conditions, particularly in the presence of marine growth (biofouling) and system faults. The work was conducted using the RM3 point absorber WEC model, a marine current turbine based on the SHARKS project model, and the WEC-Sim simulation platform, and it included both modeling and control system development.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2026

Power performance and loads characterization of laboratory-scale cross-flow rotors fabricated using additive manufacturing

Tidal energy conversion is a relatively new application for additive manufacturing (AM), where the focus has been on fabricating axial-flow turbine blades. AM techniques add material precisely where it is needed, creating more complex shapes with less waste. Cross-flow rotor geometry presents an opportunity for AM to improve rotor performance by fabricating features that cannot be created economically via conventional manufacturing. The challenges associated with using AM in cross-flow design include water resistance and degradation over time while retaining a level of quality equivalent to conventionally machined parts. In this work, AM materials were tested by environmentally conditioning samples in a seawater tank for 5 months, followed by performance and phase-resolved load testing of laboratory-scale rotors in a hydraulic flume. We found that while metals like titanium and Inconel have excellent performance in marine environments, achieving the desired geometry and performance is difficult. Thermoplastics degraded in seawater but were easier to form into desired geometries and could exceed the performance of an aluminum control rotor. Warping and surface finish were significant detractors from AM rotor performance. These results suggest that the primary benefits of using AM for cross-flow rotors is to quickly fabricate and test unconventional rotor geometries.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗