Edinburgh Wave Power Project archive
The UK Department of Energy funded research into wave energy between 1974 and 1983 under its Wave Energy Programme. The programme’s goals were to assess the feasibility and cost of energy of wave generated electricity for the UK grid. The Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU) was responsible to assess the possible contribution of wave energy to the UK energy supply. Several device teams were funded including the Edinburgh Wave Power Project, which developed the Edinburgh Duck.
This archive Community contains unpublished information from the Edinburgh Wave Energy Project, and information and reports from the Wave Energy Programme at a UK level, including the Edinburgh reports for ETSU.1Recent Submissions
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An investigation of surge wave profiles in open channel flow
(The University of Edinburgh, 1957)When a sudden increase in the discharge occurs in an open channel, a surge wave is formed. This body of water appears to move along the initial surface. Depending on the discharge this surge can be undular, breaking ... -
Digital displacement hydrostatic transmission systems
(The University of Edinburgh, 2007)Digital Displacement pumps and motors are a new type of hydraulic machine, in which fluid commutation and displacement control are achieved by solenoid actuated valves under the command of a microprocessor, rather than ... -
Electrical power conversion in arrays of linear direct drive wave converters (WECs)
(The University of Edinburgh, 2013)Wave energy has drawn great interest as a renewable energy technology since it is not been fully explored and is still in its infancy. Over the last few decades several very different types of wave devices have been ... -
Power conversion systems for Ducks
(IEE 'Future Energy Concepts' Conference, 1979-01-30)This paper tries to define the problems of power conversion for a wave power device . It presents a little of the background theory; it discusses design principles, existing components and modifications to them; it tries ... -
Power from sea waves
(The University of Edinburgh, 1974-03)There are people, until recently regarded as eccentric, who question our practice of treating as income those resources which our descendants will regard as capital. That apart, there are difficulties in satisfying ... -
Solo Duck Mooring Forces
(The University of Edinburgh, 1993-03-12)One of the major difficulties in the design of a wave energy device is the occasional occurrence of severe conditions at sea. The largest waves far exceed typical amplitudes over the year. Although it would be possible ... -
Preliminary report on the use of tunnels for power transmission
(The University of Edinburgh, 1979-10-15)The potential for power generation from wave action increases with the distance off shore and the initial study has suggested that a location some 15 kilometres to the west of Uist would be attractive. The transmission ... -
Bending moments of short spines
(1984-09-05)The Lanchester Polytechnic's 'Clam' wave energy device consists of a series of flexible air bags driving self-rectifying turbo-generators, mounted on an unjointed spine. The device is designed to be moored at about 35 ... -
EWPP - SCOPA - Laing, 5th year report, Volume 2, Appendix
(The University of Edinburgh, 1979-11)1. Mechanical Design Philosophy and Calculations 2. Civil Design Philosophy and Calculations 3. Alternative Beaks 4. Lists of Drawings 5. Contributing Manufacturers with their comments 6. Reliability Considerations 7. ... -
Parrots and monkeys
(The University of Edinburgh, 1982)Before this series of experiments, Narrow Tank Duck control strategy had been researched by varying damping and spring in the three modes, nod, heave and surge. The justification for using this simple system was that ... -
Edinburgh wave energy device moorings
(The University of Edinburgh, 1980-01)These notes are intended to bring together the various aspects of mooring of the Edinburgh Device known at the present time. Model tests indicate that the mooring forces for the device are substantially below those of other ... -
EWPP - SCOPA - Laing, 5th year report, Volume 2, Drawings
(The University of Edinburgh, 1979-11)Engineering drawings of the Edinburgh Duck, consisting of: Artists Impression, G.A. of 10m Duck (25m wide), G.A. Flywheel Assembly, G.A. Spine Joint, Schematic of Power Cable Take-Up, Ring Cam Pump Assembly, Plan View Ring ... -
Some Numerical Results for the Flat and Tall Floats
(The University of Edinburgh, 1994-08-26)Graphs are given for the added mass matrix, damping matrix and excitation force vector for the two floats discussed at the Hanstholm meeting. The flat float has a diameter of 6m, a height of 1.5m and is half submerged, ... -
Comparing wave power from a Northern and a Southern site
(The University of Edinburgh, 1978)Instantaneous wave power at a single site varies considerably with time. Combining the power outputs from two distant sites could be a way of reducing the variation in instantaneous power output. Wave data from Boyle, ... -
Long spines with appendages
(The University of Edinburgh, 1987)Spines are generic to a number of wave energy devices . Ducks use round spines with very low freeboard. Other devices use spines which are, for example, rectangular in section, or have higher freeboards. This report ... -
Absorbing wave makers and wide tanks
(Proceedings of the Conference on Directional Wave Applications, 1981-09)Experiments aimed at generating power from sea waves used models which sometimes reflected waves back to the wave-maker. The difficulty was avoided by changing the wave-maker control system so that it could absorb reflections. ... -
Sonar Ranging
(The University of Edinburgh, 1987-08)The purpose of this project is to develop a working instrument for use in model test tanks which will allow the convenient measurement of all three axes of water movement. -
Optimal Control of a Duck
(The University of Edinburgh, 1992-05)Experimental values have been obtained for optimal (complex-conjugate) control of an Edinburgh Duck model in the presence of unidirectional monochromatic incident waves, in a one-dimensional test tank of intermediate depth. ... -
Design Considerations of Submarine Power Links
(The University of Edinburgh, 1976-05)The high installation and repair costs incurred in the transfer of electrical power across an expanse of water suggest careful consideration should be given to the choice of the route followed by the submarine cable. The ... -
Moorings, current state of development
(The University of Edinburgh, 1980-01)These notes are intended to bring together the various aspects of mooring of the Edinburgh Device known at the present time. Model tests indicate that the mooring forces are substantially below those of other floating ...
