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.

Power smoothing system for wave energy converters by means of a supercapacitor-based energy storage system

Abstract: One of the main issues of wave energy nowadays is the oscillation of the generated power, which is due to the oscillating nature of the waves. These power fluctuations may have an important undesired impact on the electrical grid. This paper proposes a system that compensates power oscillations in wave energy applications by means of a supercapacitor-based energy storage system. A laboratory test bench is used to emulate wave power oscillations and to partially suppress them. The paper describes the control strategy implemented in the test bench and includes experimental results for regular waves.

Wave Spectral Bandwidth as a Measure of Available Wave Power

Abstract: A key requirement in the description of the performance of a wave energy converter is how the efficiency of power capture changes with the properties of the sea. This paper examines the effect of two generic power transfer functions (PTF) on power production from six simulated wave spectra. These were chosen to represent a series of wind, wind-swell mixed and swell dominated seas. The spread in energy within the sea state as defined by a variety of bandwidth parameters was examined to determine if there was a correlation between the width of the transfer function and the sea bandwidth. It was found that, for the ‘constant’ height PTF, the bandwidth parameter Bb (calculated using zeroth, minus-one and minus-two spectral moments) provided the best correlation. Customary bandwidths e and ν performed poorly. When the PTF was allowed to vary in height as well as width there was little improvement in correlation from the un-scaled results.Copyright © 2006 by ASME

Wave power plant

Abstract: The wave power plant is intended for converting the energy of a disturbed water surface into electrical energy by means of a displacement-type body (2) which floats on a water surface (1) and in which an electrical generator (10) is accommodated and spontaneously rotated by means of the tension force of a cable (5) that connects the body (2) to a diving, floating anchor (6). The tension force occurs every time the body, floating to the surface as a result of buoyant force, moves upwards in the Earth's gravitational field. The free (i.e. not connected to the sea bed) orientation of the anchor (6) under the body (2) makes it possible to use the plant in deep waters where wave energy is highest.

Evaluation of the Potential of Wave Energy in Chile

Abstract: In Chile, incentives have been created during the past years for the installation of non-conventional renewable energy plants (NCRE). It is within this context that wave energy can be transformed into a feasible alternative for electrical power generation in the near future within the country. This work corresponds to the first approach to quantify the wave energy resources in Chile based in a technically superior manner. The first step in the assessment of a wave energy plant is to quantify the available resources, therefore the wave climate was obtained for various sites along the Chilean coastline and a deterministic assessment was made of the power of the waves and their main characteristics, especially the variability under different time horizons. In order to convert the mechanical energy of the waves into electrical power, an assessment was made of various offshore devices existing on the market. An estimate was made of the output power of these conversion devices based on the wave climate and on the energy conversion matrixes that define them, performing an analysis that is completely analogue to that of wave power. Waves in the Chilean coast arrive year in and year out with scarce variation during the various seasons, are very regular, with low directional dispersion and high periods. This determines the low seasonal variability of the power and the high capacity factors that conversion devices can develop. The characteristics of waves in Chile are due mainly to the presence of swell usually found in great oceans, which makes Chilean territory one of the most appropriate sites in the world for the generation of electrical power with energy from the waves.Copyright © 2008 by ASME

Air-borne sound generated by sea waves.

Abstract: This paper describes a semi-empiric model and measurements of air-borne sound generated by breaking sea waves. Measurements have been performed at the Baltic Sea. Shores with different slopes and sediment types have been investigated. Results showed that the sound pressure level increased from 60 dB at 0.4 m wave height to 78 dB at 2.0 m wave height. The 1/3 octave spectrum was dependent on the surf type. A scaling model based on the dissipated wave power and a surf similarity parameter is proposed and compared to measurements. The predictions show satisfactory agreement to the measurements.