Post on 02-Nov-2018
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TUESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2013 VISIT OF IFREMER TEST CENTER IN BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, FRANCE Participants:
Mr. Jacob van Berkel, Entry (technical management), NL
Mr. Leo van der Klip, Projectlead Pro-Tide, Province of Zeeland, NL
Mrs. Ingrid de Kubber, Province of Zeeland, NL
Mr. Pieter Looijestijn, Reeleaf, NL
Mr. Roel Notelé, Waterwegen en Zeekanaal, Belgium
Mr. Olmo Durant Median, PhD student, LOG, France
Mr. François G. Schmitt, LOG, France
Mr. Alexei Sentchev, LOG/ULCO, France
Mrs. Tina Strooband, Jusbox (communication management), NL
The site visit to Ifremer was organized on Tuesday 12th November, in the afternoon, the
day before the Pro-Tide partner meeting in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
The Pro-Tide delegates were welcomed by the Director of the Ifremer Test Centre, Mr.
Gregory Germain. He gave a general presentation about the Centre and its activities,
especially in the field of Marine Renewable Energy.
Hydrodynamics facilities (Current Flume Tank infrastructure and support services like
monitoring and data analysis) were installed in Boulogne in 2006 and appointed to Carnot
Institute of IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer). In
2009, the flume tank of Boulogne has been equipped with a wavemaker and a damping
beach. The new wave-current circulation facilities offer a unique opportunity to study the
behaviour of marine devices under the combined effect of waves and current. The Flume
Tank (Fig. 1) is 18 m long, 4 m wide, and 2 m deep. It can generate current with
maximum velocity of 2 m/s and waves up to 25 cm height. High precision optical (laser)
and acoustic (Doppler) sensors are used for measurements of hydrodynamic parameters
of the flow. Other electronic and mechanical sensors are also available in the centre and
are currently used during the experiments.
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Current-Wave Flume Tank infrastructure in Boulogne. View of the tank with surface
waves generated by yellow paddles (left picture). View of the upper part of the tank –
where devices are deployed, and a command desk (right picture).
Since several years, these facilities are used for study the behaviour of under-water
devices and engines (reduced size devices) to ensure their efficiency and sustainability as
the environmental conditions in which they are operating can be extremely harsh.
Recently, the scaled free stream turbines such as Sabell D10, Orca of Alstom, or floating
wind turbine Winflow, were tested in the tank. Figures below give some examples of
devices tested in Boulogne (more than 15 tested in total).
The fluid-device interaction is extremely complex, and experimental work is used to
validate results of numerical simulations. The research team (5 persons, permanent stuff)
also participates in this activity in cooperation with the researchers of the University du
Havre, University of Lille and Littoral (ULCO). Recently, several new PhD students have
joined the research team at Boulogne.
Array of turbines under testing in tank (left). The aim is to study the interaction between
turbines and the effect of wake. Example of the results of numerical simulation of the
wake produced by a turbine in the water (right).
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Mr Gregory Germain reminded that the Marinet FP7 program offers the opportunity to test
marine devices in current flume tank free of charge. He explained the procedure of
application.
A discussion started. Testing parameters, principal of measurements, devices that have
been already or will be tested in the tank were discussed in front of numerous posters
exposed in IFREMER and using small scale prototypes available in the Centre. Some
systems (like oscillating membrane) seemed to be quite new. Mr Germain showed an
animation of the test of oscillating membrane. Some other videos have been also shown.
At the moment of the visit, the Flume Tank did not contain any device in the water.
Preparation work for future test of a free stream turbine has just started.
Roeland Notelé of Waterwegen and Zeekanaal from Belgium is interested in the testing
facilities and in the possibility of testing scaled river turbines free-of-charge in the
framework of MARINET project.
Leo van der Klip, Province of Zeeland, NL and Jacob van Berkel, technical manager Pro-
Tide thanked Gregory Germain of Ifremer for his hospitality and concluded that there are
very few similarities between the French and Dutch Centres and that they are
complementary. They will inform IFREMER of the progress of Pro-Tide.
Findings and conclusions: There are complementarities between test centres in France, in
Belgian, and in Netherland, all involved in work on Tidal Energy. There is opportunity for
all partners to test devices at low cost using the FP7 program.
Actions for Pro-Tide:
Pro-Tide will exchange knowledge about Tidal Energy Test and results with Ifremer. IFREMER will be invited to participate to the Master class on instrumentation of
ocean devices and assessment of their performance in real conditions. Leo van der Klip will inform IFREMER on the progress of the Pro-Tide project. IFREMER will be invited for the final conference of the Pro-Tide.
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Annex 1: Animation of the test of membrane.
Some pictures of devices tested in Ifremer flume tank
Oscillating membrane in the flume tank The Plat-O support turbine device,
developed by Sustainable Marine Energy
Ltd, during test in Ifremer. Laser
velocimeter performs measurements.
Tests of a turbine mounted on floating platform (Electrimar by Tidalys Ltd)