Multidisciplinary system design optimisation of oscillating water column power plants: a nonlinear stochastic approach

Abstract

This thesis presents the Multidisciplinary System Design Optimisation of Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Power Plants. This work is based on a stochastic nonlinear approach. A novel Vane-Less Contra-Rotating Turbine (VLCRT) has been designed which outperforms any of the existing architectures both in terms of on- and off-design characteristics. A multi-fidelity design framework together with optimisation genetic algorithms was used to develop and improve this OWC component.