Session: 07-04-02: Fluid Structure Interaction / Marine Electromechanical Systems and Ocean Mechatronics

Paper Number: 95774

95774 - Performance Characteristics of PMDC Motor of Small-Scale Experimental Ocean Current Turbine 

The fundamental research in this paper is designed to address the performance characteristics of a permanent magnet direct current (PMDC) motor associated with ocean current energy production. A comprehensive numerical model was developed to provide a unique numerical simulation toolset for the design and analysis of a small scale three bladed horizontal axis ocean current turbine (OCT) operating in a laboratory towing tank located at the University of New Orleans. For the numerical analysis, we have developed a different electromechanical model to simulate the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. This numerical model was developed to compare with experimental data acquired from multiple designs of the same system. It is important to have precise estimations of the startup time and the speed of the turbine before it does what it supposed to do, i.e., generate power. Thus, it is required to power the PMDC motor to startup and rise speed to a predefined point, subsequently governed by hydrokinetic energy. This energy drives the turbine by applying a lift force on the rotor blade. As a result, a complete knowledge of both the motor and generator aspects of the PMDC motor is essential. The experimental method was to design a system in such a way that it can be divided in two subsystems, motor power supplier and generator power production. Two identical PMDC motors were connected shaft to shaft to investigate performance of the system for both the PMDC in motor mode along with the motor-load couple that was operated as a generator. Once electrical power is applied to the motor, the generator will operate due to its shaft coupling. Generated electrical current flowing through the electrical brake can be measured to calculate the output power. The transient and the steady state solutions of the system were both calculated using a computer program in addition to electromechanical dynamic analysis. Experimental data from the output signal, was processed to calculate the three types of torque exerted on the generator: mechanical loss, brake, and applied torque. This study addresses itself to the motor terminal voltage and current, system’s speed, and to the generated voltage, current and output power, all of these being affected by the input electrical power. The objective was not only to derive such models, but also to calibrate them in terms of parameter value ranges and to classify the dynamics by their importance. Based on this work, a parameterized family of open-loop models will be generated which we will be using for motion control systems to meet the robustness specifications for stability and performance. 

Presenting Author: Shahab Rouhi The University of New Orleans

Presenting Author Biography: This is Shahab Rouhi, Ph.D. candidate in Engineering and Applied Science at the University of New Orleans, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department. My main field is Engineering and Applied Science with the concentration on Electromechanical Systems. I have worked in collaboration with several different research groups during my post-graduate studies within the U.S. I have had an opportunity to develop a broad horizon in the field of electromechanical systems, renewable energy, and marine mechatronics. These investigations have been primarily concentrated on the Power Takeoff System Synthesis for Underwater Current Turbine which is a section of “Design and Control of Networked Offshore Hydrokinetic Power-Plants with Energy Storage” Founded by national science foundation (NSF). This cooperation is integrated research between University of New Orleans, Virginia Tech, and Florida Atlantic University in conjunction with Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC). As a Ph.D. student, I have started working on this promising project.<br/>I got my bachelor degree in Engineering in Tehran, Iran. Afterwards, I got my first M.Sc. degree in Integrated Science and Technology at the Southeastern Louisiana University in 2017. Subsequently, I started my second M.Sc. degree in Engineering and Applied Science at the University of New Orleans and I graduated in 2020. In addition, I have started my PhD studies in Engineering and Applied Science at the University of New Orleans.

Authors:

Shahab Rouhi The University of New Orleans
Nikolaos Xiros The University of New Orleans
Erdem Aktosun The University of New Orleans
James Vanzwieten Florida Atlantic University
Cornel Sultan Virginia Tech
Juliette Ioup The University of New Orleans
Setare Sadeqi The University of New Orleans