scholarly journals Dynamic Properties and Energy Conversion Efficiency of A Floating Multi-Body Wave Energy Converter

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao-hui Yang ◽  
Yong-qing Wang ◽  
Hong-zhou He ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Hu Chen
2014 ◽  
Vol 986-987 ◽  
pp. 956-962
Author(s):  
Xiong Bo Zheng ◽  
Yu Nong Yang

Under the pressure of fossil energy shortage, rational exploitation of ocean wave energy is propitious to establish an environmentally friendly society. This paper presents the results of a practical research done in a test tank, on the hydrodynamic performance of a wave energy converter with swing arms and floaters designed purposely. Fixed on a trailer, the converter was composed of two floaters, two swing arms, mechanical transmission devices and generators. The method of this research was to measure the floater’s acceleration and the output voltages of the generator under the movement of waves, analysis the influence of wave height and period on floaters’ movement, then compute the wave energy conversion efficiency. At last, the research findings show that the converter performed well with heaving motion performance and high energy conversion efficiency.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
Haeng Sik Ko ◽  
Sangho Kim ◽  
Yoon Hyeok Bae

This study primarily investigates an optimum energy conversion efficiency of asymmetric wave energy converter (WEC). A power take-off (PTO) system that provides a constant load torque opposite to pitch motion was implemented. Incident wave conditions were selected based on the measured data in the western sea of Jeju Island, South Korea. An optimum torque was calculated by comparing the time-averaged extracted power with various PTO load torque. InterDyMFoam solver based on Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations were used in an OpenFOAM v4.0 framework—an open-source computational fluid dynamics model—against the experimental results derived from the wave flume. The upward pitch excursion was induced by wave force due to the asymmetric WEC characteristics; however, the downward pitch excursion depends on its weight. Numerically, the PTO torque was only loaded in uni-direction against the upward pitch motion. Moreover, the optimum PTO torque was estimated by comparing the time-averaged extracted power. Finally, the optimum PTO torque was evaluated by an irregular wave as a function of significant wave height. The optimum PTO provides design information about the asymmetric wave energy converter to improve energy conversion efficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9803
Author(s):  
Ji Woo Nam ◽  
Yong Jun Sung ◽  
Seong Wook Cho

The InWave wave energy converter (WEC), which is three-tether WEC type, absorbs wave energy via moored cylindrical buoys with three ropes connected to a terrestrial power take-off (PTO) through a subsea pulley. In this study, a simulation study was conducted to select a suitable PTO when designing a three-tether WEC. The mechanical PTO transfers energy from the buoy to the generator using a gearbox, whereas the hydraulic PTO uses a hydraulic pump, an accumulator, and a hydraulic motor to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The hydraulic PTO has a lower energy conversion efficiency than that of the mechanical PTO owing to losses resulting from pipe friction and the individual efficiencies of the hydraulic pumps and motors. However, the efficiencies mentioned above are not the efficiency of the whole system. The efficiency of the whole system should be analyzed considering the tension of the rope and the efficiency of the generator. In this study, the energy conversion efficiencies of the InWave WEC installed the mechanical and hydraulic PTO devices are compared, and their behaviors are analyzed through numerical simulations. The mechanics of mechanical and hydraulic PTO applied to InWave are mathematically expressed, and the issues of the elements constituting the PTO are explained. Finally, factors to consider for PTO selection are presented.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1008-1009 ◽  
pp. 1180-1185
Author(s):  
Xiong Bo Zheng ◽  
Yu Nong Yang ◽  
Peng Xie

Rational exploitation of wave energy makes great contribution to relief the current global energy crisis. Power generation has been taken into the agenda as the main form to utilize wave energy. The point absorber in this paper is simplified to three modules: floater, pontoon and chain. Based on the theory of linear regular wave, the research task of the point absorber is to improve the conversion efficiency and device reliability. This paper researched on the double floater wave energy converter by hydrodynamic numerical calculation, studied the factors that contain the PTO system damping coefficient, wave frequency and the device mass and other factor which can influence the energy conversion efficiency. At last, we found an optimized method for the energy conversion efficiency.


Author(s):  
Reza Taghipour ◽  
Arswendy Arswendy ◽  
Me`lanie Devergez ◽  
Torgeir Moan

In this paper the structural response of a multi-body wave energy converter with power take-off is analyzed in the frequency domain. The device consists of a semisubmersible platform and 21 buoys. The buoys can slide along guides that are attached to the platform. The hydrodynamic and structural problems are solved by using boundary element and finite element software systems WAMIT and ABAQUS. The hydrodynamic analysis is carried out by a linear perturbation approach. A mode expansion method, with total number of 27 modes, is used to describe the dynamic behavior. Moreover, an idealized form of power absorption mechanism is considered herein. A general procedure is established to interface the relevant information between the two software systems. Such information includes the radiation, diffraction and restoring force pressures and inertia loads, etc. In this way, the interaction between the floating bodies is included in the solution in which the dynamic reaction forces are carried as external forces. The structural response is obtained by a quasi-static approach. The objective is to investigate the still water and wave induced internal loads in the column-deck and guide-deck connections in the form of transfer functions. To demonstrate the approach, calculations are made for a following- and oblique-sea wave condition.


Author(s):  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Ted Brekken ◽  
Ken Rhinefrank ◽  
Al Schacher ◽  
Joe Prudell ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document