Tim Mundon | University of Washington (original) (raw)

Papers by Tim Mundon

2017 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), 2017

This paper presents the design, construction, and testing of a double-sided, dual airgap linear V... more This paper presents the design, construction, and testing of a double-sided, dual airgap linear Vernier generator for wave energy conversion. Both the electromagnetic as well as mechanical design concepts are explored with a particular emphasis on the mechanical aspect given the fact that maintaining a dual airgap for this topology is challenging and has not been previously implemented.

This project aims to enhance survivability of a multi-mode point absorber. Included in this submi... more This project aims to enhance survivability of a multi-mode point absorber. Included in this submission are content models providing a system definition and baseline LCOE calculations.

The development of accurate design loads is a critical part of the design of a wave energy conver... more The development of accurate design loads is a critical part of the design of a wave energy converter (WEC). In this paper, we evaluate the impact of different approaches to determine extreme wave loading on the Triton WEC using a combination of mid-fidelity and highfidelity numerical modeling tools, complemented by scaled physical model tests. The mid-fidelity approach used is a time-domain model based on linearized potential flow hydrodynamics, whereas the high-fidelity modeling tool is an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. A 1:30-scale physical model of the Triton WEC was tested at the Oregon State University Large Wave Flume. A comparison will be presented between the design loads predicted by the mid-fidelity model, the CFD model, and the physical model tests, and suggestions for best practices will be offered.

Bulletin of the American Physical Society, 2018

Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy

Oscilla Power, Inc. (OPI) is developing a patented magnetostrictive wave energy converter (M-WEC)... more Oscilla Power, Inc. (OPI) is developing a patented magnetostrictive wave energy converter (M-WEC) aimed at reducing the cost of grid-scale electricity from ocean waves, a large-scale resource that is more predictable and more proximal to demand growth than solar or wind. Designed to operate cost-effectively across a wide range of wave conditions, the M-WEC will be the first use of reverse magnetostriction for large-scale energy production. This paper discusses some of the specific optimization issues faced in developing this system, and in particular looks at the design of the submerged heave-plate structure.

This paper presents a causal neural control method that applies a latching strategy to a simple a... more This paper presents a causal neural control method that applies a latching strategy to a simple articulated wave energy converter. The paper first evaluates a simple causal latching strategy for a point absorber in real (irregular) waves, then applies this to a simple two-section single-pivot articulated converter (Analogous to a Cockrell raft), before extending the concept to a three section, two pivot configuration. The proposed methodology is based around a neural network, optimized by a Genetic Algorithm, which is used to apply latching control to the wave energy device.

Volume 8A: Ocean Engineering, 2014

This paper illustrates an approach to the modeling of a point absorbing Wave Energy Converter (WE... more This paper illustrates an approach to the modeling of a point absorbing Wave Energy Converter (WEC) with the intent of analyzing the sensitivity of the system response to variation in the model parameters. Using first principles, the nonlinear equations of motion are formed to describe the heave motion of a 3 body system. A linearized model is developed and used to simulate the system in both the time and frequency domains. The input to the model is a time series displacement and a time series velocity that describes the incident waves. A sensitivity analysis is then performed on the system parameters to show how the characteristics of the heave plate, the component masses, and the mass of the entrained fluid affect the performance of the system. The model is validated by numerically modeling a generation 1 device produced by Oscilla Power Inc., which is compared against experimental data from a field test on Lake Washington. The WEC is designed to provide tension along a series of tethers with connected power take off units. The wave input is specified using frequency spectra measured with a nearby Datawell Waverider MK III buoy during the field testing, from which time domain waves are reconstructed.

Scour and Erosion, 2010

The drive for marine offshore renewables developments has led to focussed requirements for scour ... more The drive for marine offshore renewables developments has led to focussed requirements for scour hazard assessment relating to foundations and the cabling necessary for in-field transmission and power export. Foundations can represent a significant proportion of the installed capital costs of a renewable energy device so the offshore renewable energy community can benefit from the sharing of information and the development of common approaches to scour and geotechnical issues. Foundation options including monopiles, multi-piled tripods and jackets, gravity bases, or suction piles are being considered for a variety of offshore renewable installations. This paper concentrates on scour assessment challenges in currents and waves, including scour experience at built foundations, time-series predictions of scour and considerations with respect to the evaluation of heterogeneous soils.

Renewable Energy Integration, 2014

ABSTRACT

This paper looks at the issues to be addressed when determining optimum locations for the deploym... more This paper looks at the issues to be addressed when determining optimum locations for the deployment of marine renewables. As the public perception of global warming and carbon emissions heightens, governments and authorities are forced to insert renewables into their overall generation mix. Clearly, reducing emissions is a good thing for the planet as a whole, but it also has the added advantage of increasing power-grid resilience through distributed sources of generation. Although constantly improving, in general, renewables are still economically marginal investments, so great care must be taken to select and site these devices so as to maximize their return on investment (ROI). The marine environment contains energy in a variety of forms and in significant quantities; however tapping into these resources has proven to be far from straightforward. Even if you can start with an accurate map of the annual resource, how then do you select the best location in which to locate your ne...