Wave power

About: Wave power is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2671 publications have been published within this topic receiving 41439 citations. The topic is also known as: wind wave energy & sea wave energy.

Wave power generating system with floating-body-based rope pulley

Abstract: The invention provides a wave power generating system with a floating-body-based rope pulley, relating to a wave energy power generating system and comprising a wave energy collecting part, a power generator and a base, wherein the wave energy collecting part has the mechanism of: pushing a floating body by waves, tightening a rope, further driving a rotating wheel arranged on the floating body to apply work, and outputting mechanical energy to realize the collection of wave energy; and in a wave dropping step, reversely rotating the rotating wheel by using small force, withdrawing the rope, pulling and withdrawing in the way, and continuously circulating. The wave energy collecting part is used for supplying power to the power generator to generate power. The wave power generating system can adapt to most shapes of waves and has the advantages of strong wind and wave resistance, low cost and easy maintenance.

Economic and Social Benefits from Wave Energy Conversion Marine Technology

Abstract: This paper summarizes the energy resource, the energy conversion technology, and the economic and social benefits of using wave energy technology. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates that the U.S. wave resource potential that could credibly be harnessed is about 6.5% of the 2004 U.S. national electricity energy demand (the total 2004 demand was about 4,000 TWh). Wave energy conversion (WEC) is an emerging technology; ten WEC devices have been tested to date in natural waters worldwide over the past 10 years. The economic opportunities are significant. A relatively minor investment by government in the public good today could stimulate a worldwide industry generating billions of dollars of economic output and employing thousands of people, while using an abundant and clean natural resource to meet our energy needs. Wave energy is potentially more easily assimilated into the grid (compared to wind and solar) because it may be more accurately predictable two to three days ahead and sold as firm power. Given proper care in siting, deployment, operations, maintenance and decommissioning, wave power promises to be one of the most environmentally benign electrical generation technologies. The primary barrier to the development and use of these technologies in the U.S. is the cumbersome regulatory process. We recommend and encourage the development of an effective regulatory system that fosters the application of this environmentally friendly electricity generation technology for our society. north and south. The power in the wave fronts varies in these areas between 30 and 70 kW/ m with peaks to 100kW/m in a few locations. EPRI estimates that the U.S. wave resource potential which could be credibly harnessed is about 6.5% of 2004 U.S. national electricity energy demand (EPRI WP-009-US). The U.S. wave energy potential is about 2,100 TWh/yr (see Figure 2) and composed of four (4) regional wave energy climates, each with their own characteristics. Assuming an extraction of 15% wave to mechanical energy (which includes the effects of device spacing, devices which absorb less than all the available wave energy and sea space constraints), typical power train efficiencies of 90% and a plant availability of 90%, electricity produced is about 260 TWh/yr, which is about equivalent to the total 2004 energy generation of conventional hydro power. In order to effectively use wave energy, the variability over several time scales— namely: wave to wave (seconds), wave group to wave group (minutes), and sea state to sea state (hours to days)—must be understood. The time scale of seconds to minutes is important for continuously “tuning” the plant to changing sea states. The hours to days time scale is important for providing firm power guarantees into the day ahead electrical grid market. Being able to accurately forecast changes in wave energy in response to the FIGURE 1 Worldwide Wave Resource (Thorpe, 1998). T Resource he power of ocean waves is truly awesome. Aside from thrilling surfing enthusiasts and enthralling beachgoers, their destructive potential has long earned the respect of generations of fishermen, boaters, and other mariners who encounter the forces of the sea. Ocean waves can be harnessed into useful energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. Instead of burning depleting fossil fuel reserves, we can obtain energy from a resource as clean, pollution free, and abundant as ocean waves. The technology, though young, exists to convert the power of ocean waves into electricity. The worldwide wave energy resource, stated in kW power per unit meter of wave crest length, estimated by Dr. Tom Thorpe (Thorpe, 1998) is shown in Figure 1. The highest energy waves are concentrated off western coasts in the 40–60 latitude range

On the nature of ULF wave power during nightside auroral activations and substorms: 1. Spatial distribution

Abstract: [1] We present the results of a statistical analysis of ground-based magnetometer Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) wave power and polarization during substorm expansion phase onset in three ULF wave bands, the longer-period Pi1 (10–40 s) band, the Pi1-2 (24–96 s) band, and Pi2 (40–150 s) wave band, in order to determine whether these wave bands are statistically disparate phenomena during expansion phase onset. Utilizing over 800 nightside auroral activations and substorms identified by the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite, we characterize the two-dimensional spatial distribution of ULF wave power, angle of azimuth, and ellipticity with respect to the spatial and temporal onset of the initial auroral brightening as observed by IMAGE. We determine the statistical ULF wave power spectra observed during substorm expansion phase onset and characterize the spatial decay scales of ULF wave power, in each of the three ULF wave bands, as a function of latitude and longitude. In general, we find that the spatial distribution of ULF wave power, angle of azimuth, and ellipticity in each of the three ULF bands is consistent with previous case studies and that the Pi1-2 and Pi2 wave bands are remarkably similar. Additionally, we find that the spatial decay scales of ULF wave power in the long-period Pi1, the Pi1-2, and the Pi2 bands are surprisingly similar. Finally we show that the statistical ULF wave power spectrum is characteristic of a power law with no preferred frequency or discontinuity to differentiate between the three ULF wave bands, demonstrating the importance of studying the entire ULF spectrum during substorm expansion phase onset.

Assessment of theoretical near-shore wave power potential along the Lithuanian coast of the Baltic Sea

Abstract: Gradually increasing interest in utilisation of wave energy through development of wave energy converters is directing more attention to areas of lower energy potential, such as the Baltic Sea, compared to the oceans. In this paper, the theoretical wave power potential in the Lithuanian coast is evaluated using available multi-year visual observation data. A brief review of European wave energy resources, focusing more on semi-enclosed seas, is provided, as well as a comparison between wave energy potential and conventional hydropower potential in European countries. A conventional hydrological method, designed for calculating a distribution of annual hydrologic variables, was adopted to evaluate the design wave heights. Wave power flux values for monthly, seasonal and annual wave conditions were evaluated for high, median and low intensity years. In addition multi-year annual and seasonal wave power fluxes were calculated using scatter diagrams. The wave power flux for annual wave heights along the Lithuanian coast varies from 1.6 kW/m in a high intensity year to 0.4 kW/m in a low intensity year, which makes the near-shore wave power potential along the Lithuanian coast comparable with that of other European semi-enclosed seas.