Browsing by Author "Polagye, Brian"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Control of a Helical Cross‐Flow Current Turbine
    Cavagnaro, Robert; Fabien, Brian; Polagye, Brian (2014-04)
    Adaptive control strategies utilizing preview information of upstream velocity are promising approaches for enhancing performance and reducing loads on hydrokinetic turbines. A control scheme relating a turbine's characteristic performance curve and rotation rate to an optimal torque setpoint is implemented experimentally and in simulation for a laboratory‐scale helical cross‐flow turbine. Energy extraction performance for schemes employing adaptive/preview techniques is compared to performance under constant speed and non‐adaptive control. Results in simulation indicate significant improvement over constant speed operation and modest improvement over non‐adaptive strategies. Experimental results for adaptive strategies are comparable to non‐adaptive strategies, due to uncertainty in instantaneous performance curves.
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    Design and Development of an Integrated Avian and Bat Collision Detection System for Wind Turbines
    Suryan, Robert; Albertani, Roberto; Polagye, Brian; Flowers, Jeremy; Harrison, Trevor; Hu, Concong; Beattie, William (Virginia Tech, 2015-06)
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    Design and Initial Component Tests of an integrated Avian and Bat Collision Detection System for Offshore Wind Turbines
    Flowers, Jeremy; Albertani, Roberto; Harrison, Trevor; Polagye, Brian; Suryan, Robert M. (2014-04)
    We describe the development and initial testing of a multi‐sensor instrumentation package capable of detecting avian and bat interactions with offshore wind turbines. The system design emphasizes the ability to detect collisions with the blades, tower, and nacelle of a turbine and to provide taxonomic classification of the animal involved in the collision. This system will allow the environmental impacts of offshore wind turbines to be remotely monitored and help ensure that the benefits of renewable power generation are not outweighed by mortality of protected species. Conceptual design of the complete system, initial testing of vibration sensors, and proof of concept for sensor integration and event detection are presented.
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    Development of an Adaptable Monitoring Package for Marine Renewable Energy Projects Part I: Conceptual Design and Operation
    Rush, Ben; Joslin, James; Stewart, Andrew; Polagye, Brian (2014-04)
    The Adaptable Monitoring Package (AMP), along with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and custom tool skid, is being developed to support near-field (≤10 meters) monitoring of hydrokinetic energy converters. The AMP is intended to support a wide range of environmental monitoring in harsh oceanographic conditions, at a cost in line with other aspects of technology demonstrations. This paper, which is the second in a two part series, covers the hydrodynamic analysis of the AMP and deployment ROV given the strong waves and currents that typify marine renewable energy sites. Hydrodynamic conditions from the Pacific Marine Energy Center's wave test sites (PMEC) and Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington are considered as early adoption case studies. A methodology is presented to increase the AMP's capabilities by optimizing its drag profile through a combination of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling and sub-scale experiments. Preliminary results suggest that AMP deployments should be possible in turbulent environments with a mean flow velocity up to 1 m/s.
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    Development of an Adaptable Monitoring Package for Marine Renewable Energy Projects Part II: Hydrodynamic Performance
    Joslin, James; Rush, Ben; Stewart, Andrew; Polagye, Brian (2014-04)
    The Adaptable Monitoring Package (AMP), along with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and custom tool skid, is being developed to support near-field (≤10 meters) monitoring of hydrokinetic energy converters. The AMP is intended to support a wide range of environmental monitoring in harsh oceanographic conditions, at a cost in line with other aspects of technology demonstrations. This paper, which is the second in a two part series, covers the hydrodynamic analysis of the AMP and deployment ROV given the strong waves and currents that typify marine renewable energy sites. Hydrodynamic conditions from the Pacific Marine Energy Center's wave test sites (PMEC) and Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington are considered as early adoption case studies. A methodology is presented to increase the AMP's capabilities by optimizing its drag profile through a combination of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling and sub-scale experiments. Preliminary results suggest that AMP deployments should be possible in turbulent environments with a mean flow velocity up to 1 m/s.