Results From Numerical Simulation and Field Tests of an Oceanographic Buoy Powered by Sea Waves

Abstract

The paper presents a performance analysis of a wave-energy converter designed for oceanographic applications to generate 300–500 W of electrical power on average. The prototype consists of a small draft cylindrical buoy connected to a submerged anti-heave plate by a hydraulic power takeoff system and cable. Engineering details and design of the system are based on the results of a detailed time-domain hydrodynamic analysis of the system, discussed here. The performance of the prototype is assessed with respect to the submerged plate size/added-mass and the effectiveness of latching schemes. Additionally, results for the power extraction are statistically compared with measurements performed during field tests in Monterey Bay, California. During these tests performance measurements were logged by the buoy, and wave data was recorded by a measurement buoy positioned 1 km from the deployment site. This allows the comparison of actual performance to model predictions run for the sea state present during testing. In general, the results of the numerical model match fairly well with the data acquired in field testing. The proposed causal latching control schemes have been shown to be ineffective for this type of wave-energy converter.

Hydrodynamic Coefficients of Heave Plates, With Application to Wave Energy Conversion

“…A controllable PTO will be added to the miniWEC in future experiments. Many systems that are dynamically similar to the miniWEC have been proposed and studied [38]- [40]. AquaHarmonics, Portland, OR, USA, Fred Olson, Oslo, Norway, and Oscilla Power, Seattle, WA, USA, are just a few examples of companies attempting to develop systems that are conceptually similar to the miniWEC [34], [41].…”

Research on design and optimization of the pitching float wave energy converter

“…23 Ocean Power Technologies Corporation of the United States has developed a point-absorber wave energy power buoy device. It works by utilizing the mutual heave motion of the inner and outer parts of the buoy 24,25 and has already entered the commercial application stage. China's heaving buoy wave energy converter has been rapidly developed.…”