Anti-biofouling strategy for operators: a systems approach for the tidal energy industry
dc.contributor.advisor
Smith, Helen
en
dc.contributor.advisor
Sayer, Phillip
en
dc.contributor.advisor
Ingram, David
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dc.contributor.author
Vezzà, Rachel
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dc.contributor.sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
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dc.date.accessioned
2020-02-19T13:36:21Z
dc.date.available
2020-02-19T13:36:21Z
dc.date.issued
2019-11-11
dc.description.abstract
For a tidal energy operator, reducing costs and increasing reliability are paramount to
delivering competitive renewable energy. This can be done in part by considering anti-biofouling
solutions: the reduction, removal and recording of associated marine
organisms which can impact numerous turbine operations, such as obstructing heat
exchange or increasing blade drag, and can provoke environmental concerns.
The aim of this thesis is to develop a comprehensive, quick and cost effective anti-biofouling
approach for renewable energy operators, in collaboration with the tidal
turbine developer Nova Innovation. Novel methodologies are needed for the operator
to compare antifouling coatings, investigate biofouling removal intervals and record
biofouling for engineering purposes and in relation to the potential presence of alien
invasive species. A three stage anti-biofouling strategy for non-scientific turbine
operators has been developed and tested in the high-flow environment of Shetland.
Firstly, three frames were designed to enable four field experiments for the
comparison of antifouling solution settlement panels. Secondly, basic image analysis
was applied to underwater camera thumbnails to investigate biofouling amount and
the preferred turbine cleaning season. Thirdly, 3D photogrammetry was employed for
capturing and saving biofouling information from recovered turbines.
The developed methodologies were found to be successful, resulting in a novel and
practical anti-biofouling approach for renewable energy operators. Specific outcomes
include (1) preferred coatings for turbines off Shetland: a silicone coating was the
preferred blade coating and a copper coating was the preferred coating for the heat
exchanger, (2) an estimation of turbine fouling in the Shetland location (given the
current coating) resulting in a cleaning schedule suggestion of once every 1.5 years,
(3) a 3D turbine model of millimetre accuracy for alien invasive species analysis, and
(4) an observation regarding turbine heat distribution, suggesting that in particular
warmer areas increase the amount of biofouling on turbines.
In renewable energy, the conversation about biofouling reduction, removal and
recording processes has only just begun. The tasks of linking theoretical results back
to true turbine fouling, steps towards automating biofouling image analyses and
integrating the approach into the company workflow are presented as future work.
en
dc.identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1842/36798
dc.identifier.uri
http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/103
dc.language.iso
en
dc.publisher
The University of Edinburgh
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dc.subject
tidal energy
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dc.subject
anti-biofouling
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dc.subject
Nova Innovation
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dc.subject
biofouling removal
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dc.subject
silicone coating
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dc.subject
turbine fouling
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dc.subject
cleaning schedule
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dc.subject
alien invasive species analysis
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dc.title
Anti-biofouling strategy for operators: a systems approach for the tidal energy industry
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dc.type
Thesis or Dissertation
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dc.type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
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dc.type.qualificationname
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
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