Wave power

About: Wave power is a(n) research topic. Over the lifetime, 2671 publication(s) have been published within this topic receiving 41439 citation(s). The topic is also known as: wind wave energy & sea wave energy.

Wave energy utilization: A review of the technologies

Abstract: Sea wave energy is being increasingly regarded in many countries as a major and promising resource. The paper deals with the development of wave energy utilization since the 1970s. Several topics are addressed: the characterization of the wave energy resource; theoretical background, with especial relevance to hydrodynamics of wave energy absorption and control; how a large range of devices kept being proposed and studied, and how such devices can be organized into classes; the conception, design, model-testing, construction and deployment into real sea of prototypes; and the development of specific equipment (air and water turbines, high-pressure hydraulics, linear electrical generators) and mooring systems.

A review of wave energy converter technology

Abstract: Ocean waves are a huge, largely untapped energy resource, and the potential for extracting energy from waves is considerable. Research in this area is driven by the need to meet renewable energy targets, but is relatively immature compared to other renewable energy technologies. This review introduces the general status of wave energy and evaluates the device types that represent current wave energy converter (WEC) technology, particularly focusing on work being undertaken within the United Kingdom. The possible power take-off systems are identified, followed by a consideration of some of the control strategies to enhance the efficiency of point absorber-type WECs. There is a lack of convergence on the best method of extracting energy from the waves and, although previous innovation has generally focused on the concept and design of the primary interface, questions arise concerning how best to optimize the powertrain. This article concludes with some suggestions of future developments.

Digital Bispectral Analysis and Its Applications to Nonlinear Wave Interactions

Abstract: The bispectrum, which is an ensemble average of a product of three spectral components, is shown to be a very useful diagnostic tool in experimental studies of nonlinear wave interactions in random media. In particular, it is shown that the bicoherence spectrum may be used to discriminate between nonlinearly coupled waves and spontaneously excited waves and to measure the fraction of wave power due to the quadratic wave coupling in a self-excited fluctuation spectrum. Practical aspects of digital bispectral analysis techniques, such as estimation and statistical variability of the estimator, are also discussed. Finally, applications of bispectral analysis techniques in the analysis and interpretation of plasma fluctuation data are described.

Numerical benchmarking study of a selection of wave energy converters

Abstract: The aim of this study is to estimate the mean annual power absorption of a selection of eight Wave Energy Converters (WECs) with different working principles. Based on these estimates a set of power performance measures that can be related to costs are derived. These are the absorbed energy per characteristic mass [kWh/kg], per characteristic surface area [MWh/m2], and per root mean square of Power Take Off (PTO) force [kWh/N]. The methodology relies on numerical modelling. For each device, a numerical Wave-to-Wire (W2W) model is built based on the equations of motion. Physical effects are modelled according to the state-of-the-art within hydrodynamic modelling practise. Then, the W2W models are used to calculate the power matrices of each device and the mean annual power absorption at five different representative wave sites along the European Coast, at which the mean level of wave power resource ranges between 15 and 88 kW per metre of wave front. Uncertainties are discussed and estimated for each device. Computed power matrices and results for the mean annual power absorption are assembled in a summary sheet per device. Comparisons of the selected devices show that, despite very different working principles and dimensions, power performance measures vary much less than the mean annual power absorption. With the chosen units, these measures are all shown to be of the order of 1.

Design, simulation, and testing of a novel hydraulic power take-off system for the Pelamis wave energy converter

Abstract: The economic viability of a wave energy converter depends largely on its power take-off system. Active control of the power take-off is necessary to maximise power capture across a range of sea-states and can also improve survivability. The high force, low speed regime of wave energy conversion makes it a suitable application for high-pressure hydraulics. This paper describes the hydraulic power take-off system employed in the Pelamis wave energy converter. The process of the system's development is presented, including simulation and laboratory tests at 1/7th and fullscale. Results of efficiency measurements are also presented.