Output power characteristic of WEC for a buoy

• Published in: Journal of mechanical science and technology 2009, 23(6), , pp.1571-1575
• Main Authors: Oh, Jin-Seok, Kwak, Jun-Ho, Bae, Soo-Young, Lee, Ji-Yeoung, Komatsu, Toshimitsu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buoys; Control; Design engineering; Devices; Direct power generation; Dynamical Systems; Energy; Energy of waters: ocean thermal energy, wave and tidal energy, etc; Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Fouling; Heaving; Holes; Industrial and Production Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Natural energy; Optimization; Studies; Vibration; 기계공학
• ISSN: 1738-494X; 1976-3824
• DOI: 10.1007/s12206-009-0412-6

Floating devices, such as a cavity resonance device, take advantage of both the water motion and the wave induced motions of the floating body itself. In the design of a wave energy converter (WEC), the most significant factor is that an optimum length of the internal water column should exists, that is, a length in which maximum power is converted near the heaving resonance. A theoretical analysis of this power generated by a pneumatic-type WEC is performed, and the results obtained from the analysis are used for a real WEC for a buoy. The length of the internal water column corresponds to that of the water mass in the water column. If designed properly, a WEC can take advantage not only of the cavity resonance but also of the heaving motion of the buoy. This paper presents the test results of the generation characteristic of a WEC and the harmful effect of fouling in the internal water column. The results are then applied to the design of a WEC for a buoy.