CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
29 April 2009
Implementation Investments
Green Ocean Energy Harvests Power of Ocean Waves With Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk has named Green Ocean Energy Ltd. (Green Ocean), a renewable energy company headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for April 2009. Green Ocean successfully used Autodesk Inventor software in the development of the Ocean Treader and Wave Treader, floating devices that convert the motion of the ocean into clean, renewable energy.
The Ocean Treader is much like a buoy with a pair of arms, and is meant to be moored one to two miles offshore in open water. The Wave Treader shares a similar design but is intended to be mounted on the base of a static offshore structure, such as a wind turbine or tidal turbine. Both devices work on the same principle: as the ocean causes the floating arms to rise and fall, the motion is harvested by hydraulic cylinders that generate electricity, which can then be exported back to shore via cable.
The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk Inventor software - the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping. A digital prototype is a 3D digital model of the entire end product, used to virtually explore and validate a product before it is built to reduce the necessity of constructing physical prototypes.
Digital Prototyping Tests "Seaworthiness"
One of the primary challenges Green Ocean faced was building a device that could withstand the rough waters of the North Atlantic, where wave heights range from a relatively small six to 10 feet, to as much as 30 feet during winter storms. Every working part of the Ocean Treader needed to be thoroughly analyzed and tested to help make it have the strength to survive in such a powerful and dynamic environment.
"Fortunately, Inventor is more than just design software; it's an analysis tool too," says George Smith, managing director at Green Ocean. "Inventor allows us to validate our designs on the computer before there's any investment made in constructing a physical prototype."
Modeling in 3D - combined with collaboration from Autodesk reseller and training partner Imass Design Solutions - has allowed Green Ocean to efficiently develop working prototypes of the Ocean Treader and Wave Treader. These models have allowed the company to prove its concept through extensive indoor wave-pool testing. The team is currently raising funds to develop a full-size prototype to start offshore testing in 2011.
"The race is on to find the best way to harness energy from our natural resources, and Inventor is helping Green Ocean innovate its way into a frontrunner position," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk.
About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 800,000 users of Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation for Digital Prototyping. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.
About Green Ocean Energy Ltd.
Green Ocean Energy Ltd. is a renewable energy company headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland. The company is dedicated to developing technology that will allow the harnessing of energy from the Earth's oceans in a way that is harmonious to the environment and economically viable, thereby providing a clean and sustainable source of energy. For additional information about Green Ocean Energy, visit www.greenoceanenergy.com.
About Imass Ltd
Imass Ltd is a UK-based IT provider of practical and integrated software solutions to customers within the public safety, utilities and manufacturing design sectors.
Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.
Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.
CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.