Visit of IFREMER-Boulogne on 12 Nov 2013

Reported by Mr Alexei Sentchev PhD, HDR, LOG/ULCO

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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)