New anti-corrosion surface coating protects vital hydralic components

The Armourcote® division of Surface Technology plc and specialist hydraulics components manufacturer Sun Hydraulics® – both based in Coventry – have worked closely together on the development of a new multi-layer anti-corrosion and anti-wear surface coating – ‘TriCem 3800’ – specifically to protect vital hydraulic components used in the innovative ‘Pelamis’ wave power generation system, designed by Edinburgh-based Ocean Power Delivery Ltd.

The 120-metre long Pelamis wave energy converter is a semi-submerged, articulated structure composed of cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints. The wave-induced motion of these joints is resisted by hydraulic rams, which pump high-pressure oil through hydraulic motors via smoothing accumulators. The hydraulic motors drive electrical generators to produce electricity. Power from all the joints is fed down a single umbilical cable to a junction on the seabed. Several devices can be connected together and linked to shore through a single seabed cable.

A 750kW prototype machine has been subjected to intensive testing off Orkney for a number of years, and three production specification machines will soon be commissioned off northern Portugal as part of the world’s first commercial “wave farm”.  When complete, this project will embrace over 30 machines and generate 22.5MW, to meet the demand of some 15,000 Portuguese households.