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Course description

Objectives:  The course aims to give delegates the tools to appreciate the design process of a range of offshore renewable energy systems: from conceptual design, where the design space is investigated, to the preliminary design where the concept is refined, through to the experimental phase, where the concept is validated.

In order to fulfil this objective, the course introduces the primary tools used in the following subject areas:

• Structural Design, Finite Elements Analysis, Reliability
• Fluid loading on structures, ocean wave theory
• Hydrostatic and hydrodynamics of offshore structures
• Aerodynamics and CFD applications (wind)
• Turbines for marine renewable energy systems (wave, tidal)
• Model testing techniques
• Power systems

Course arrangements:  The course is held over one week, formal lectures presented in the mornings with laboratory and workshop activities in the afternoons. This will include tutorials in state-of-the art software packages as well as the access to testing facilities.

Who should attend? Engineers working or wishing to work in the emerging and fast developing offshore renewable energy industry (wind, wave and tidal energy).

• Design engineers 
• Dynamics modelling engineers
• Test engineers
• Mechanical engineers
• Research engineers
• Certification engineers
• Design and technical management personnel

Topics

• Structural Design, Finite Elements Analysis, and Reliability: Structural design covers the theory of structural design philosophies and application through codes and guidance documents for the design and assessment of offshore structures. An introduction to finite element stress analysis for ultimate strength is addressed through illustrative examples, fatigue design; inspection and corrosion protection strategies including structural joining techniques are also covered. Structural risk and reliability covers the consideration of reliability of different methods and standards for the design of offshore structures. Deterministic and probabilistic techniques for estimation of reliability as well as an introduction to the most up-to-date techniques of spectral stochastic FEM and stochastic response surface methods are addressed.
• Fluid loading on structures, ocean wave theory: The aim is to provide a theoretical and applied understanding of fluid mechanics and fluid loading on structures. Main subject areas are: basic fluid mechanics, added mass concept, Froude Krylov force, wave theory, wave loading, wind loading, tidal current loading.
• Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamics of offshore structures: This section gives a basic and applied understanding of the dynamics of floating structures. Main subjects areas are: basic properties of a fluid at rest, buoyancy force and static stability, dynamic response analysis, dynamic analysis applied to semisubmersibles, buoys, TLP, effect of moorings.
• Aerodynamics and CFD applications (wind): This section will consider the dominant flow features that influence the performance of both horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines. Strategies for modelling these flows, from state-of-the-art high fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods to engineering methods using Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT), Vortex and Cascade models will be discussed in relation to their practical use in a design office. In addition to aerodynamic performance, the modelling of fluid-structure (aero-elastic) interactions and aero-acoustic performance will be introduced. The section will also discuss the wake interactions of adjacent turbines and CFD approaches to designing the optimal layout of wind farms.
• Turbines for marine renewable energy systems (wave, tidal): Many wet renewable generation systems employ turbo machinery components as part the transformation mechanism of wave or tidal energy into mechanical and thus electrical power. Turbines employed in oscillating water column devices or as part of tidal power equipment share many of the conceptual characteristics of generic turbines but have, in addition, operation and hence design specificities that require a specialised treatment. The turbine module of the course seeks to highlight these differences while offering an overview of nonspecific turbine design principles. 
• Model Testing Techniques: A review of existing facilities and model scale testing techniques will be presented through case studies.
• Power Systems: A theoretical background of power conversion will be presented as well as applications to current developments in wave and tidal energy. The objective of this module is to provide the attendees with the required understanding of power conversion and to highlight its importance in the production of grid-compliant power.

For any query regarding our short courses, please email: opee-courses@cranfield.ac.uk