OPERA H2020
Location: Mutriku and BIMEP, Spain
Technology: KymanAIR biradial Turbine
Scope of Work: Demonstration
Timeframe: 2016-2019
Summary of Work:- PTO Delivery
- Dry Testing in IST
- Onshore Testing in Mutriku Wave Plant
- Offshore Testing in BIMEP
The OPERA (Open Sea Operating Experience to Reduce Wave Energy Cost) project aimed at reducing the costs of wave energy by 50% in the long term, validating and de-risking four industrial innovations and delivering, for the first time, open access, high-quality open-sea operating data to the wave energy development community. The project followed a structured and progressive testing approach of laboratory testing, inshore testing and offshore testing of the innovations.
Kymaner, together with IST, designed and supplied the PTO, consisting of a patented bi-radial turbine that was built and experimented across the complete test plan: IST aerodynamics laboratory > inshore in Mutriku Wave Power Plant > offshore at BIMEP on the IDOM/MARMOK-A spar buoy.
A control strategy was also developed by IST and tested. The new PTO concept fulfilled the expectation of an increase in efficiency of >55%, proven in the Mutriku Wave Power Plant, in comparison with the installed Wells turbines.
The turbine is protected by a cylindrical highspeed stop valve that is capable of closing the duct in 1/4 sec, protecting the turbine rotor from the risk of over speeding. The valve is operated by means of fast acting linear actuators, enabling latching and an almost instant control of the air flow rate during operation, thus potentiating the response of the turbine in global energy conversion.