Trelleborg designs rubber membrane for wave energy project

08 December, 2017

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, the Wetfeet project, which has brought together 12 partners spanning six EU countries, aims to address a number of the major constraints that have delayed the sector’s progress to date and develop innovative technology solutions for use in wave energy devices.

Challenges

José Cândido, head of economy & industry at WavEC Offshore Renewables, the company leading the project, says: “Wave energy has enormous potential to fulfil part of the global demand for a clean, safe and sustainable energy source and as a result, contribute to the creation of jobs across not only the EU but worldwide. In recent years however, wave energy research has revealed a number of challenges such as the reliability of technical components, high development costs and risks, as well as industrial scalability of proposed and tested technologies.

“Wetfeet was set up to address these issues and pull together a team focused on developing viable components, systems and processes to help fulfil wave energy’s potential.”

To date, the project has seen the development of a set of breakthrough technology solutions integrated into two wave energy converters, a floating oscillating water column and Symphony, a variable-volume submerged point-absorber.

Bespoke solution

Jacco Vonk, marketing & business development manager for Trelleborg’s engineered products operation, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Wetfeet project. Using our experience and insights in supplying high performance polymer solutions to the offshore wind energy sector, we have developed a bespoke flexible rubber membrane for Symphony to drive forward innovation in the wave power category.

“Our polymer membrane technology ensures that the membrane not only acts as seal to protect internal components from external water pressure, but as a bearing to prevent the hull and compensation tank from colliding. Both of which ensure a best-in-class submerged pressure differential device in a smaller geometry, helping to reduce concerns around the cost of Symphony’s development.”

Trelleborg’s engineered products operation and Trelleborg Group

Part of the Trelleborg Offshore & Construction business area of Trelleborg Group, the Trelleborg engineered products operation is a global developer, manufacturer and provider of engineered polymer solutions to the energy, infrastructure and mining industries. Performing in some of the harshest environments on earth, its principal offerings are sealing systems for tunnels, dredging hoses, polymer solutions for offshore applications and wear resistant products for the mining industry. With local support, a track record of over 100 years and its everyday ingenuity, customers can rely on Trelleborg’s engineered products operation to deliver innovative polymer solutions that can significantly improve the quality, safety and efficiency of its customers’ operations worldwide.

www.trelleborg.com/engineeredproducts