Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload

Traditionally, the nominal power of a generator in renewable energy converters is determined based on its maximum mechanical input power within the drive train. Implementing this procedure for Wave Energy Converters would result in a generator operating well below its nominal power, leading to prolo...

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Main Authors: Joseba Lopez-Mendia, Iker Erkiaga, Pablo Ruiz-Minguela, Ivan Ruibal, Eider Robles, Salvador Ceballos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Energy Conversion and Management: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000017
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author Joseba Lopez-Mendia
Iker Erkiaga
Pablo Ruiz-Minguela
Ivan Ruibal
Eider Robles
Salvador Ceballos
author_facet Joseba Lopez-Mendia
Iker Erkiaga
Pablo Ruiz-Minguela
Ivan Ruibal
Eider Robles
Salvador Ceballos
author_sort Joseba Lopez-Mendia
collection DOAJ
description Traditionally, the nominal power of a generator in renewable energy converters is determined based on its maximum mechanical input power within the drive train. Implementing this procedure for Wave Energy Converters would result in a generator operating well below its nominal power, leading to prolonged periods of suboptimal efficiency depending on the location of the device.Generators are generally engineered to manage brief periods of overload. Consequently, opting for a smaller generator and permitting it to function above its nominal power can be a viable strategy. However, it is essential to carefully evaluate the limits and operational durations specific to each application. Enhancing the operational speed may result in increased vibrations, while boosting the torque can elevate the temperature of the stator winding. This temperature rise can eventually compromise the insulation of the stator winding, leading to potential failure.At the present work, an overload operational regime of a generator, under the special operation mode of the MARMOK-Idom Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converter (WEC), will be evaluated at overload till the end of its life. The testing procedure uses an “accelerated testing” concept, introducing consecutive representative power peaks instead of real wave trains, reflecting the probable mechanical power peak magnitudes and durations to simulate real conditions. Several generator condition monitoring alternatives will be evaluated to identify the best option to detect and predict a future failure of the generator stator winding, such as Electrical Signature Analysis, Park’s Vector Approach, or direct monitorization of stator temperature and insulation. Through an appropriate condition monitoring technique, a stator winding degradation model will be developed, which could assist in the sizing phase of the generator’s nominal power in future designs, as well as in making decisions to modify the control law based on the degradation of the generator during the operation of the wave energy converter.
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series Energy Conversion and Management: X
spelling doaj-art-c735a26ba12c46eaafdbadf53a75200a2025-01-06T04:08:57ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-01-0125100869Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overloadJoseba Lopez-Mendia0Iker Erkiaga1Pablo Ruiz-Minguela2Ivan Ruibal3Eider Robles4Salvador Ceballos5TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, E-48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain; Automatics and System Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao 48013, Spain; Corresponding author.Energy Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, E-48160 Derio, Bizkaia, SpainIDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U., Bilbao, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, E-48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain; Automatics and System Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao 48013, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, E-48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain; Department of Electronics Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao 48013, SpainTraditionally, the nominal power of a generator in renewable energy converters is determined based on its maximum mechanical input power within the drive train. Implementing this procedure for Wave Energy Converters would result in a generator operating well below its nominal power, leading to prolonged periods of suboptimal efficiency depending on the location of the device.Generators are generally engineered to manage brief periods of overload. Consequently, opting for a smaller generator and permitting it to function above its nominal power can be a viable strategy. However, it is essential to carefully evaluate the limits and operational durations specific to each application. Enhancing the operational speed may result in increased vibrations, while boosting the torque can elevate the temperature of the stator winding. This temperature rise can eventually compromise the insulation of the stator winding, leading to potential failure.At the present work, an overload operational regime of a generator, under the special operation mode of the MARMOK-Idom Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converter (WEC), will be evaluated at overload till the end of its life. The testing procedure uses an “accelerated testing” concept, introducing consecutive representative power peaks instead of real wave trains, reflecting the probable mechanical power peak magnitudes and durations to simulate real conditions. Several generator condition monitoring alternatives will be evaluated to identify the best option to detect and predict a future failure of the generator stator winding, such as Electrical Signature Analysis, Park’s Vector Approach, or direct monitorization of stator temperature and insulation. Through an appropriate condition monitoring technique, a stator winding degradation model will be developed, which could assist in the sizing phase of the generator’s nominal power in future designs, as well as in making decisions to modify the control law based on the degradation of the generator during the operation of the wave energy converter.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000017Oscillating Water ColumnPower take-offInduction GeneratorCondition MonitoringMotor Current Signature AnalysisVoltage Signature Analysis
spellingShingle Joseba Lopez-Mendia
Iker Erkiaga
Pablo Ruiz-Minguela
Ivan Ruibal
Eider Robles
Salvador Ceballos
Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload
Energy Conversion and Management: X
Oscillating Water Column
Power take-off
Induction Generator
Condition Monitoring
Motor Current Signature Analysis
Voltage Signature Analysis
title Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload
title_full Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload
title_fullStr Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload
title_full_unstemmed Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload
title_short Experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an OWC electrical generator operating at overload
title_sort experimental assessment of condition monitoring techniques for an owc electrical generator operating at overload
topic Oscillating Water Column
Power take-off
Induction Generator
Condition Monitoring
Motor Current Signature Analysis
Voltage Signature Analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000017
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