Browsing by Author "Ou, Binjian"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    A comparative experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of two floating solar structures with a breakwater in waves
    (Elsevier, 2024-12) Yang, Yifeng; Mi, Chenhao; Ou, Binjian; Wong, Anson; Duffy, John Gordon; Wood, Tim; Utama, IKAP; Chen, Wenchuang; Huang, Luofeng
    Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) is considered as a highly promising clean energy solution. In recent years, FPV has been widely deployed in calm water around the world. However, to find available space for further expansion, FPV needs to be deployed in seas whilst the oceanic waves significantly influence the structural stability and energy performance. On one hand, wave loads may cause structural fatigue and damage. On the other hand, wave-induced rotations of a floating solar panel will vary its tilt angle to the sunlight and thus affect the power output. To explore the new research field of ocean-based FPV, this work first designed a novel catamaran FPV floater with a four-point mooring system. Comparative experiments were then conducted in a wave tank to compare its seakeeping ability with a conventional flat-plate floater. Besides, a breakwater structure was further introduced to enhance the stability of these two types of floaters. Detailed data on floater motions and mooring line forces were collected under monochromatic wave conditions. Extensive analysis was performed to evaluate the wave-mitigating performance of the breakwater, as well as the nonlinearity in the motion and force time histories. Overall, the work provides valuable experimental data and novel insights into the design of FPV floaters and breakwater protection, supporting long-term sustainability of FPV on the ocean.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    A symmetric experimental study of the interaction between regular waves and a pontoon breakwater with novel fin attachments
    (MDPI, 2024-12-02) Lyu, Xiangcheng; Yang, Yifeng; Mi, Chenhao; Tang, Chi Man; Adeboye, Lukman; Farhan, Mohamed; Collins, Stan; Ou, Binjian; Wong, Anson; Duffy, John Gordon; Huang, Luofeng
    Floating breakwaters are widely applied on the ocean water surface to protect human infrastructure from the destructive power of waves. This study designs and investigates the performance of a novel symmetric-pontoon floating breakwater with a symmetric pair of hydrofoils. Based at the Cranfield Ocean Systems Laboratory, the system was constructed and tested in various wave conditions using different fin configurations. The floating structure was anchored using a symmetric four-point mooring system. The tested waves were regular and symmetric perpendicular to the propagating direction. Key parameters, including the attenuated wave amplitude, motions of the breakwater, and the mooring forces, were measured. The wave parameters utilised for testing covered 1.61–5.42 relative wavelength to structural length, with wave heights of 3 cm and 5 cm. Results showed the 90° fin configuration can reduce wave transmission by up to 74%, with the lowest mooring forces at 3.05 relative wavelength, enhancing the performance of wave energy dissipation and structural seakeeping. At 90° setup, the mooring force was lowest at 2.41 relative wavelength. This research can inform novel designs of breakwaters to improve protection abilities for coastal cities and offshore infrastructures, especially renewable energy systems.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Developing reliable floating solar systems on seas: a review
    (Elsevier, 2025-04-01) Huang, Luofeng; Elzaabalawy, Hashim; Sarhaan, Mohamed; Sherif, Ahmed; Ding, Haoyu; Ou, Binjian; Yang, Danlei; Cerik, Burak Can
    Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV), as a clean and affordable energy solution, has become ubiquitous around the world. In order to install enough PV coverage to meet the demand of global climate action, there has been a growing research interest in deploying solar panels on abundant sea space. However, the harsh marine environment is holding stakeholders back with safety concerns. There is a necessity to ensure the reliability of FPV on seas. To facilitate research in this area, the present review scans all Floating PV (FPV) literature related to the ocean, with a focus on reliability and risk mitigation. It starts by presenting contemporary and potentially future FPV designs for seas, inventorying both mechanical and electrical components. Accordingly, possible risks in the system are discussed with the associate mitigations suggested. Subsequently, a series of protective approaches to assess offshore wind and wave loads on FPV are introduced. This is followed by a structural integrity review for the system’s fatigue and ultimate strength, accompanied by anti-corrosion, anti-biofouling, and robust mooring concerns. Finally, essential research gaps are identified, including the modelling of numerous floating bodies on seas, mooring methodology for enormous FPV coverage, the interactions between FPV and the surrounding sea environments, and remote sensing and digital twins of the system for optimal energy efficiency and structural health. Overall, this work provides comprehensive insights into essential considerations of FPV on seas, supporting sustainable developments and long-term cost reductions in this sector.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Effects of a breakwater on a floating solar farm in heading and oblique waves
    (AIP Publishing, 2024-11-01) Zou, Detai; Wei, Yujia; Ou, Binjian; Zhang, Chao; Chu, Shengnan; Huang, Luofeng
    Floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar farms have gained significant research and industrial interest in recent years. However, to support its deployment in abundant ocean space, FPV is required to be protected against wave loading. Thus, the usage of a breakwater in front of a floating solar farm is particularly promising. In this work, a time-domain simulation model for an array of FPV solar units in heading and oblique waves was established. Following validation against experiments, the model was used to predict the wave-induced motion and loading responses of each floating solar unit in an array, first without a breakwater, and subsequently with a breakwater. By comparison, it was found that a breakwater can reduce the wave-induced motions of a floating solar farm by up to 56%, alongside up to 55% reduction of loading on the joints between FPV units. However, the breakwater is less effective in relatively long waves and could induce some increase in loading on joints, signifying future work to optimize the design of the breakwater based on the intended environmental condition. Overall, the present results provide insights into a practical breakwater solution for FPV in offshore and coastal conditions, supporting the long-term development of this industry.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Floating solar power loss due to motions induced by ocean waves: an experimental study
    (Elsevier, 2024-11-15) Huang, Luofeng; Yang, Yifeng; Khojasteh, Danial; Ou, Binjian; Luo, Zhenhua
    Whilst there is an interest in floating solar energy systems in coastal and offshore regions to utilise available sea space, they are subject to ocean waves that introduce constant momentum. Consequently, solar panels undergo periodic motions with the waves, causing a continuous change in tilt angle. The tilt angle variation is a sub-optimal process and leads to a loss of energy harnessing efficiency. To investigate this phenomenon, the present study innovatively installed a solar simulator on top of a wave tank. The solar simulator was used to generate high-strength light beams, under which, a floating solar unit was subject to periodic incident waves. Wave-induced motions to the solar system as well as the output power were measured. A systematic analysis of the results indicated that a floating solar unit can have significantly lower power output in waves, compared to its calm-water counterpart. An evident link was established between the wave-induced power loss and the wave-induced rotational movement of the panel. An empirical equation was derived which shows the power loss is predictable through the rotational amplitude. The results also highlight the importance of implementing wave attenuation technologies such as breakwaters to minimise wave-induced motions to floating solar systems. Overall, this research presents a novel experimental approach to assess the difference of floating solar power in ocean-wave versus calm-water scenarios, providing valuable insights for future solar projects on the ocean.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Motion characteristics of a modularized floating solar farm in waves
    (American Institute of Physics (AIP), 2024-03-07) Wei, Yujia; Zou, Detai; Zhang, Deqing; Zhang, Chao; Ou, Binjian; Riyadi, Soegeng; Utama, I. K. A. P.; Hetharia, Wolter; Wood, Tim; Huang, Luofeng
    Modularized floating solar farms exhibit the potential to replace conventional steel-frame ones, effectively remedying hydroelastic issues of a very large floating structure through discrete modules with mechanical connections. However, the response of the discrete modules under cyclic wave loading has not been fully understood. This paper assesses the motion characteristics and expansibility of modularized floaters in waves, based on computational results from fluid–structural interaction simulations. A crucial factor, denoted as the ratio of frame length to wavelength 𝑅 = 𝐿𝑠/𝜆, is determined to predict the motions of a large floating solar system in head waves. Results indicate that the motion characteristics is predictable based on the R value. The empirical relationship between the R value and the motion of every unit in an array is analyzed. In particular, the results calculated from using the multiple-rigid-bodies method are also compared with those from using the single-large-hydroelastic-body method, and it was found that these two results are similar when R > 1. This similarity allows for predicting the multi-hinged bodies' behavior in waves through a simplified hydroelastic approach. Overall, this study reports insights that are useful for the design and optimization of modularized solar farms and can help address cyclic loading and motion concerns for long-term durability.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Simulation of a floating solar farm in waves with a novel sun-tracking system
    (IOP Publishing, 2023-08-09) Wei, Yujia; Ou, Binjian; Wang, Junxian; Yang, Liang; Luo, Zhenhua; Jain, Sagar; Hetharia, Wolter; Riyadi, Soegeng; Utama, IKAP; Huang, Luofeng
    The awareness of the energy and climate crisis has accelerated the development of renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants harvest clean solar energy and convert it to electricity, which will be one of the most promising alternatives to the power industry in the context of a low-carbon society. Due to its low power density, the traditional deployment of PV systems on land or inland rivers requires much space. Therefore, industries are increasingly interested in expanding offshore Floating PhotoVoltaics (FPV) to oceans, where FPV has less influence on the marine environment and does not occupy precious space for land resources and human activities. This study performs a hydrodynamics-based structural response analysis for a novel FPV system in OpenFOAM. The wave-proof FPV platform is newly designed for this work, which integrated breakwater technologies to sustain the system's survivability in harsh ocean-wave environments. Firstly, the rational mooring types for FPVs installed close to the island are studied considering seabed effects. Subsequently, extensive parametric studies have been conducted to determine a rational design strategy for the mitigation of wave impact. Several potential effects of the proposed platforms on the hydrodynamics in a coastal sea are evaluated for the first time.