N112-138 TITLE: Watercraft Wave Energy Prediction Model

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Cross Platform Systems Development (CPSD)

OBJECTIVE: Develop and correlate a parametric analysis prediction modeling tool that can accurately calculate the amount of energy generated when a lightweight watercraft displacement or planing hull absorbs the wave energy from various sea conditions and vessel travel speeds.

DESCRIPTION: Technological advancements in watercraft designs have created shock absorption and wave damping systems that can absorb significant amounts of energy that is being transferred by the waves to the pontoons or hull of the vessel. This energy represents a significant opportunity for the support / augmentation of existing onboard electrical power supplies once accurately modeled. The creation of a device to capture this energy opportunity will be proposed as the subject of a separate Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) topic at a later date. The development of a parametric analysis modeling tool would have a significant positive impact on the total ownership cost of a vessel once the model is capable of accurately describing the amount of energy imparted on the pontoons/hull of a lightweight vessel. A successfully developed parametric analysis tool would have the ability to model various pontoon/hull alternatives and energy input configurations to safely optimize the amount of energy that can be created by the interaction of these systems at various sea conditions and vessel travel speeds. This knowledge would help reduce the amount of electrical energy and/or fuel consumed, increase the utilization of alternative energy sources and improve the operational range of the craft. Ultimately having a parametric modeling tool such as this would help reduce vessel development costs by reducing the quantity of physical models required for validation.

Many of the lightweight watercrafts in operation today were created based on techniques that have been passed down over the years. There is a need to identify new ways of accurately modeling sources of alternative energy for lightweight vessels and to quickly translate these models into transitional physical vessels the warfighter can use in more nontraditional mission deployment areas. The need to develop a parametric model that can quickly and inexpensively validate various vessel concepts would help facilitate the validation of an alternative energy source that would autonomously resupply the vessel�s electrical systems.

The creation of the parametric analysis tool and its successful correlation to the measurements taken from a physical scale model will result in a virtual tool that allows for the optimization of a system capable of creating enough electrical energy to support and /or extend the operational range of an onboard electrical system. A parametric analysis tools that can accurately model the effects of these various sea conditions and vessel speeds on the pontoon/hull of a craft is not readily available. The knowledge of which energy inputs to monitor that most accurately represent all of the variables that can affect the vessel and the proper placement of energy recording sensors on the vessel will be technologically difficult to determine. However, the development of such knowledge would create a system that helps to lower the development cost of lightweight vessels. This will in turn help reduce the time and total ownership cost associated with the development of lightweight vessels for the Navy.

PHASE I: Develop a concept and determine the feasibility of a parametric analysis prediction modeling tool that can accurately calculate the amount of energy generated when a lightweight, not to exceed thirty-three feet, watercraft displacement or planing hull absorbs the wave energy from various sea conditions and vessel travel speeds. Identify the energy inputs that affect the hull such as sea conditions and vessel speed inputs that must be collected to accurately represent the various energy forces on the planing or displacement hull. Then develop the computer based parametric model identified.

PHASE II: Create a physical scale model of a lightweight vessel to validate the parametric analytical model developed in Phase I. Create a sensor plan to identify the type of sensors required to collect the energy force input data, the correct placement of the sensors on the physical scale model and the method to accurately record the input data from that model. Evaluate the physical model, collect the energy input data, and create an energy input file. Using the energy input file validate the computer based parametric model and update that model as needed to establish an accurate correlation between the parametric model and the energy forces as recorded on the physical scale model.

PHASE III: Expand the parametric model�s ability to be used on other similar hull forms.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The development of a parametric model capable of accurately predicting the amount of energy created by sea wave energy would support advancements in the commercial marine battery suppliers industry and could revolutionize how the commercial boating and yachting industries design power supply systems.

REFERENCES:
1. Experimental Study of Nonlinear Wave � Wave Interaction and White-Cap Dissipation of Wind-Generated Waves- Hong-Ye Wu, En-Yun Hsn and Robert L. Street Dept. of Civil Eng., Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

2. Sea Surface Simulation in Large Coastal Region for Maritime Simulators � Yongjin Li, Yicheng Yin, Helong Shen Xinyu Zhang Lab of Maritime Simulation & Control, Dalian Maritime Univ., Dalian, China - http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F5437555%2F5437594%2F05437953.pdf%3Farnumber%3D5437953&authDecision=-203

3. Technology White Paper on Ocean Current Energy Potential on U.S. Outer Continental Shelf � Minerals Management Service Renewable Energy and Alternative Use Program U.S. Dept. of the Interior - http://ocsenergy.anl.gov/guide/current/index.cfm

4. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Scoping Meeting Presentation: Renewable Energy Technologies for Use on the Outer Continental Shelf - http://ocsenergy.anl.gov/guide/current/index.cfm

KEYWORDS: Alternative Energy; Wave Energy Absorption; Nautical Parametric Analysis Tool; Wave Energy

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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