EMEC – Integrated Monitoring Pod
EMEC’s Integrated Monitoring Pod (IMP) is an all in one environmental monitoring platform for tidal energy sites. The IMP is a 2m cube steel structure with mesh sides which is deployed on the seabed connecting to the shore via a dry mate electro-optic cable. The pod supplies power to devices mounted on the structure and delivers data into EMEC’s SCADA system. It is deployed at EMEC’s tidal testing site and it will be recovered and redeployed on an as required basis.
There is an opportunity for integration of new subsea equipment onto the pod for testing purposes with power and data connections available. EMEC’s Pod currently monitors the following aspects of the marine environment: Detection of seals, cetaceans and other sea life, tidal currents, waves, conductivity, temperature, density, turbulence and ambient noise. The Pod offers an ideal testing for new marine equipment that requires testing in a high energy marine environment.
More information available here http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=1788
Ifremer – Basin of Brest
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=250
Ifremer – Material Testing Facility
The facilities available within the MARINET2 project include: seawater aging of materials and material characterization. Seawater aging is performed in aging tanks at different temperatures (4°C to 90°C), with either natural seawater or deionized water. The water is continuously renewed.
Mechanical testing includes static and cyclic loading up to 100 tons. Specific facilities are available to test ropes and cables, The influence of hydrostatic pressure on both water diffusion and mechanical behaviour can also be studied.
Tecnalia – Component Corrosion Test Platform
The “Component Corrosion Test Platform” is composed of two independent infrastructures:
Natural marine exposure site in immersion zone at Pasaia’s port: installed in a floating dock of the port of Pasaia (Gipuzkoa, Spain), materials can be tested in a classical marine environment. Samples (alloys, coated materials, polymers…) are placed in immersion zone, while main environmental parameters are monitored. This facility gives valuable information concerning the material degradation mechanism and the lifetime forecasting. Due to its high nutrient loads and high water retention time, this site is specially recommended for biofouling assays (see doc “Natural marine exposure site_TECNALIA”).
Offshore marine exposure site in splash zone at BIMEP area: installed in one of the beacon buoys that define BIMEP Area (2 km away from Armintza, Bizkaia, Spain), this exposition site can host probe samples which are exposed to real offshore conditions in splash zone. Environmental conditions in BIMEP area are monitored, and regular inspections by boat are expected.
University of Exeter – DMac
The Dynamic Marine Component Test facility (DMaC) is a purpose built test large-scale rig that replicates the forces and motions components are subjected to in offshore applications.
The test rig comprises of a linear hydraulic cylinder that can be used to replicate any tensile or compressive force up to 23tonnes (dynamically) and 44 in static tests.
The unique ‘moving headstock’ with three degrees of freedom representative of x- and y-bending or torsion allows replicating the movement (up to ±30º) and forces (up to 10kNm moment). The rig allows immersed testing in freshwater. The test specimens can be variable in length, up to 6m.
Unique facility will allow to accommodate sections of full-scale components (e.g. mooring, power cables). Allows unique 4 degrees of freedom testing with high-frequency (up to 10Hz) motion displacements. Submerged, wet testing possible. Fully flexible test regime and test control capability. Builds on portfolio of test expertise and knowledgeable staff to support testing.
The facility is supported through the University Research Knowledge Transfer team that is accredited to ISO9001:2008, as well applying mooring tests procedures such as: ISO 18692. Access will be provided on a typical 5 day a week; 8hr working day. However, if continues testing is required arrangements will be made for 24hr/day testing. The facility manager will be available 100% throughout an access as well as academic support will be provided through senior and other research and technical staff members.
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=1780
University of Exeter – FaBTest
FaBTest (Falmouth Bay Test Site) is an award-winning, pre-consented, 2.8km2 test area situated within Falmouth harbour, between three and five kilometres offshore in Falmouth Bay. The infrastructure provides demonstration opportunities for scaled or full scale devices, as well as providing scope for field demonstration of sub-systems such as moorings, foundations and umbilical cables are all supported.
FaBTest has a pre-consented status, which allows for up to three devices to be deployed concurrently, aims to provide a fast, flexible low risk and low cost solution for the testing of marine energy technologies, components, moorings and deployment procedures. The site offers water depths of 20m-50m and seabed types of rock, gravel and sand. Operational support of the site, as well as ongoing monitoring and world leading research is provided by the Renewable Energy Group from the University of Exeter, based on the nearby Penryn campus.
FaBTest has unique pre-consent for device demonstration which fit in to the envelope of licenced activity. Such devices require no additional lease of licences for deployment, reducing time and cost to developers. Full site survey and resource characteristics available to support planning, design and deployment process. The facility provides the opportunity to generate knowledge and test data through field demonstration for whole systems and sub-systems such as moorings, marine power cables and validation of numerical models. A minimum of 8 weeks is required to go through diligence process with FaBTest regulatory panel and the minimum of installation interval is 1 month.
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=795
CTC – Marine Corrosion Test Site ‘El Bocal’
The Marine Corrosion Test Site “El Bocal” (MCTS “El Bocal”) is a Marine Laboratory placed in open water and located at the shoreline of the Cantabrian coast, few kilometers away from Santander, whose main purpose is to test, study and analyze the behavior of different materials and coatings against marine biofouling and corrosion.
The facility has been designed to test specimens under realistic conditions of exposure in any of the three different exposure zones (submerged, tidal and splash). In addition to materials and coatings, pieces of other components with marine requirements, such as fishing nets, ropes, steel wires offshore chains or materials for aquaculture cages can be placed and tested.
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=210
NUI Galway – Large Structures Test Cell
Full-scale structural testing of composite, reinforced concrete and metallic ocean energy structures, including structural testing of tidal stream blades under fatigue and static loading – in accordance with IEC and ISO standards, assisting blade manufacturers to achieve industry certification. The structural test facility may also be used to provide motive power to test power take off systems for wave energy devices.
A large reconfigurable test frame (10m x 6m 6m) along with multiple servo hydraulic actuators up to 750 kN) allow a very flexible test approach. The advanced actuator control system allows for a wide variety of load or displacement sequences across multiple actuators, which is suitable for static and fatigue testing.
Data acquisition of up to 136 independent high speed channels can be carried out simultaneously; displacement, force, acceleration, strain and other types of sensor are available to configure the test. Cutting edge technology such as a stereo camera Digital Image Correlation device (non-contact 3D position and strain), a 3D laser scanner (surface recovering) and a CT scanner are also available to increase testing possibilities.
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=1785
University of Limerick – ROV
Work-Class Intervention ROV, High forward thrust – 4knots, 2000m rating, Precision navigation, PHINS INS, Ocean RINGS automated control for piloting and manipulation, 3 x 4k UHD cameras, High Resolution Multibeam imaging system, Launch & Recovery system (LARS) and Tether Management System (TMS), 285kg Payload, Laser line scan imaging, Dual Orion 7P Manipulators. 20ft Control Cabin.
System is developed for operating in the splash zone. System can be used with LARS & TMS (with total footprint of 2 x 20ft containers) or it can used in free swimming mode without LARS/TMS (with total footprint of 1 x 20ft container and the ROV itself).
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=836
PLOCAN
The PLOCAN Marine Test Site is located on the East coast of Gran Canaria Island (Spain, www.plocan.eu). The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, south-west of Spain and Northwest of Africa. The marine test site includes an area of about 23 km2 with a wide range of water depth from shoreline to 600 m. This Marine Test Site is available to projects focused on testing and demonstrating of all kinds of marine devices but mainly marine renewable energy converters. The final testing decision would be conditioned to the appropriateness, opportunity and availability of the facilities.
The electrical and communication infrastructure (REDSUB) is composed of two medium voltage cables (13.2kV) with a capacity of 5MW, each one, within the range of ±1% of 50Hz. The infrastructure will be mostly underwater, comprising hybrid cabling, with copper cables for the transmission of electrical power and fibre optics for data transmission, including a short terrestrial section to connect to the electrical substation on land. The onshore infrastructure will go from the manhole up to the electrical substation (66kV), where the electricity is raised up for its deliver to the national transmission grid. The onshore infrastructure will be composed by an underground medium voltage cable with a capacity of 15MW, by a power transformer station (13.2kV to 66kV) and all electrical protections required. This part will only be available after the Summer of 2017.
More information available here: http://rid.eurocean.org/record.jsp?load=944