Mr Matthew Allmark

Publication

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Research

I have been working in tidal-stream energy research for the last 10 years. In particular, I work on aspects of tidal-stream energy which places reduction in the cost of tidal-stream energy at the forefront - characterising the dynamic loads tidal-stream devices face, implementing better control solutions for tidal energy, investigating how to reduce loads on tidal stream turbine rotors and finally, researching novel ways to monitor and optimise tidal-stream energy device operation. I undertake this research through both experimental investigations conducted at the 1/20th scale and numerical simulations (BEMT, BEM, CFD, Simulink). Other aspects of tidal-stream energy I am passionate about research is the application of the technology to community-scale energy provision often for remote communities. Recently, I have been expanding my research portfolio to consider other forms of offshore renewable energy recently studying the implication and practicalities of utilizing wind energy to produce green hydrogen for industrial shipping. 

Research Overview: 

I am a dedicated offshore renewable energy research with a focus on tidal-stream energy. My research interests include:

• Lab-Scale testing of tidal-stream turbines. 
• Loading of tidal-stream turbines.
• Load mitigation strategies for tidal-stream turbines. 
• Modelling of tidal-stream turbines response to stochastic and extreme flow conditions (CFD, BEMT)
• Developing control algorithms for tidal-stream turbines. 
• Developing novel monitoring approaches and O&M optimisation strategies for tidal-stream turbines. 
• Application of tidal-stream technology to community-scale energy generation. 
• Optimising array layout and modelling/simulating array interactions. 
• Using offshore wind energy to produce green-hydrogen. 

Current Research Projects: 

Canada Inuit Nunangat UK Artic Research Programme - NERC - NE/X004589/1

This project will investigate the energy-resilience and diesel consumption reduction for Arctic homes and shelters through integration of renewable energy conversion technologies and the sympathetic reduction of community energy demands focused on the IQ principles of qanuqtuurniq (being innovative and resourceful) and avatittinnik kamatsiarniq (respect and care for the land, animals, and the environment). Demand reduction measures will investigate feasible advanced building design configurations and operational strategies to inform new solutions towards Net Zero Best Practice which are applicable to the extreme climatic conditions experienced and the cultural way of life of the Mumavut population. The implementation of these practices will serve to improve the indoor environmental comfort conditions experienced while reducing both the extreme seasonal energy demands and resulting plant capacity needed to service the Communities during the extremes of seasonal climate variations to be experienced. Applicable low/ zero carbon energy supply strategies will be investigated which meets the extremities of the energy demands. This will consist of hybrid renewable energy supply solutions where seasonal operational factors will be developed in order to account for the variation in practical energy yields across the seasons. This is to ensure demand-supply matching is maintained across the different energy outputs when operating under the influence of seasonal climate effects (snow, ice, freezing temperatures) and resulting fluctuations in the renewable resource (wind, solar, hydrokinetic, etc.). In addressing the energy yields to be expected from seasonal influences in performance of the renewable energy technologies, A Capacity Balance Ratio will be developed which informs the mix of technology type i.e. wind, solar and micro-mini hydro kinetic supply systems with capacity rating of these in order to minimise energy buffering/ storage requirements. The socio-economic benefits to be attained by the adopting communities through embedding indigenous installation and maintenance capabilities and capacities within the communities will be demonstrated while community upskilling and engagement will be enacted through local enterprise engagement and bi-lateral 'village hall' interactions.

Improving the Modelling of Floating Tidal Stream Turbines - ENGIN ECR Fund 2022 

Tidal Stream Turbines extract kinetic energy from the moving tides in locations where tidal velocities are amplified bathymetric features such as islands and headlands. Recent estimates show that if fully exploited the tidal capacity in the UK could meet 12 % of UK electricity demands. Floating TSTs are currently in ascendance within the tidal sector due to the greater flow speeds in the upper portion of the water column and the inherent ease of installation and removal of such devices. However, floating tidal devices are subject to wave and turbulence effects which combined with the yawing, heaving, and pitching motion of the floating device, can lead to extreme and damaging peak loading. Generally, this has been overcome by over engineering of the devices as detailed understand of potential peak load profiles is difficult and requires complex and computationally expensive modelling approaches.

The ultimate aim of the work proposed is to develop and validate the application of bespoke models to study load mitigation strategies for floating TSTs – the full project will be achieved through EPSRC fellowship funding. As such, resources are requested herein to undertake a preliminary study to develop the proposal generating some initial results to guide and strengthen future research activities in the area.

SUPERGEN Cross-Hub Seedcorn Fund impact Scheme - EPSRC - FlexFund Call

To balance renewable energy supply and demand, storage is needed. The amount and technology of the renewable energy storage trilemma must also be considered within the context of decarbonising other sectors and future potential advances; for example, should excess wind energy be used within balancing of the national electricity grid or as an offshore energy grid to aid the decarbonisation of shipping? The proposed research contributes to a vision of a decarbonised maritime industry using offshore renewable energy (ORE) in a manner that supports both a carbon-free electricity grid and developments in the field of long-term energy storage. The project will produce and disseminate a feasibility study for the use of hydrogen produced using excess offshore wind electricity as a fuel for shipping; thus, informing decision makers of the best use of excess wind energy, and offshore energy grid design/potential.

British Council Newton Fund Impact Scheme - British Council 

Technology development towards sustainable marine current energy harvesting for coastal communities in Mexico.

Past Research Projects: 

MARINET 2 - Testing of Tidal Turbines (The effect of yaw on device and array performance) - Horizon2020

Tidal turbine technologies will be deployed in arrays as seen in the MAYGEN 6 MW array installed in 2017-18. To optimise array structure and to better appraise the extractable potential from tidal straights the development of the flow deficit in the wake of tidal turbines, referred to herein as wakes, must be well understood. To fully understand wake development the development of wakes under a variety of inflow conditions must be characterised and the complex fluid mechanics involved in the wake recovery must be appraised. This project and associated experimental campaign were developed to add high quality data points to the growing body of data on tidal turbine wake development. In this way the project seeks to add to the understanding of wake recovery in the tidal applications where yawed inflow characteristics are observed.

Quantification of the Effects of Combined Turbulence and Turbine Wake Flow Effects on TST arrays - EPSRC impact Acceleration Account   

Understanding flow deficits in the wake of tidal devices (wakes) is crucial for estimating energy yield from potential deployment sites and for optimising the layout of arrays of tidal devices. Turbulence effects need to be understood and quantified to prolong tidal turbine lifecycles whilst reducing over-engineering. Understanding tidal turbine response to turbulent and wake conditions is also crucial in developing monitoring approaches which can help optimise operations and maintenance activities. Development of this understanding was the goal of the research facilitated and extended via the IAA award. This was done by undertaking the following two related research activities:

1. 1.  measurement and simulation of the wake generated via tidal devices under differing realistic flow conditions.
   2.  measurement and simulation of the loading and power produced by tidal turbines operating within the wake of upstream devices and in turbulent flow conditions.

 These activities were achieved by testing a lab-scale tidal device under various wake and grid generated turbulent flow scenarios. The resulting datasets where leveraged to help understand turbulence and wake effects at lab scale, as well as to produce validation data for detailed turbulent and wake CFD simulations. The novel datasets were collected with the lab-scale device utilising more realistic control approaches an aspect developed to further bridge the gap between lab-scale testing and full-scale deployment.

Dynamic loadings on Tidal Turbine Arrays’(DyLoTTA) - EP/N020782/1.

Funding was secured from EPSRC, on August 1st 2016, for the ‘Dynamic loadings on Tidal Turbine Arrays’ (DyLoTTA –EP/N020782/1) project. The project identified and quantified the effects of dynamic loading on tidal turbine arrays. To date the project has yielded a variety of journal and conference publications. The project has also seen input and reporting to industrial partners and international collaborators. As a major part of the project three 1/20th scale TSTs were developed. These TSTs boast a comprehensive instrumentation suit allowing for the accurate qualification of turbine loading under a variety of scenarios, including uniform and profiled flows, with and without surface waves. Testing has been conducted with the turbines operating under both speed and torque control.

Biography

Dr Matthew Allmark (MA) (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6812-3571) has recently been appointed as a Disglair (Brilliant/Bright) Lecturer within the Centre for Research into Energy, Waste and the Environment. Since gaining his PhD in 2016 studying the effects of realistic flows on tidal turbines (EP/J010200), MA has been an essential member of the Cardiff Marine Energy Research Group, most recently working on the EPSRC funded Dynamic Loading of Tidal Turbine Arrays (EP/N020782). During this time, MA has been PI on two MARINET2 (Horizon2020) projects with a combined value of £80k and has secured funding as a Co-I from EPSRC through CU’s impact acceleration account to study the effects of turbulence on tidal devices (£43k), as well as from UKCMER and Wave Energy Scotland to study array effects on tidal device performance (£60k). MA has a track record of working in an interdisciplinary team and has worked closely with domestic (University of Strathclyde, University of Southampton and Bangor University) and international researchers (NREL in the USA and INHA in South Korea). MA has over 30 journal and conference publications (h-index 8) related to modelling and testing wave effects in marine energy and device design & production.

Academic positions

• April 2019 - Present: Disglair Lecturer, Cardiff University  
• September 2016 – March 2019: Research Associate, Cardiff University
• October 2013 - September 2016: PhD Researcher, Cardiff University 

Supervisions

I am interested in supervising PGR student projects in the following areas:

• Lab-Scale testing of tidal-stream turbines. 
• Loading of tidal-stream turbines.
• Load mitigation strategies for tidal-stream turbines. 
• Modelling of tidal-stream turbines response to stochastic and extreme flow conditions (CFD, BEMT)
• Developing control algorithms for tidal-stream turbines. 
• Developing novel monitoring approaches and O&M optimisation strategies for tidal-stream turbines. 
• Application of tidal-stream technology to community-scale energy generation. 
• Optimising array layout and modelling/simulating array interactions. 
• Using offshore wind energy to produce green-hydrogen.