Development of a marine component testing facility for marine energy converters

Abstract

High reliability and availability of marine energy devices are key for successful and viable commercial-scale projects. This paper briefly reviews applicability and uncertainties of available component failure rate data and how reliability importance measures could be used as a tool to identify critical system components. Furthermore two component test facilities currently under development at the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) group at the University of Exeter are described. The intention is to enable component reliability testing for marine renewable energy converters.

The South Western Mooring Test Facility (SWMTF) is a unique mooring load and response test facility, at large scale in real sea condition and has been recently installed. The Dynamic Marine Component Test facility (DMaC) is capable to perform accelerated component testing under simulated in-service field conditions. Those two facilities will allow measuring loads that are experienced in the field through prototype testing at the SWMTF and subsequently replicate those load conditions (or information from device developers) at the DMaC for accelerated reliability testing.

The application of component reliability testing can reveal design weaknesses prior to deployment and establish necessary reliability and maintenance information. Components tested under service simulated conditions could be evaluated regarding performance, expected lifetime and subsequently be (cost-)optimised.