Power Production by Linear Wave Energy Converters of Point Absorber Type with Vertical Cylindrical Buoys during Various Sea States

• Two wave energy converters (WEC) were deployed near the city of Lysekil as part of Uppsala University's wave energy project. The converters were electrically identical and mechanically very similar. The converters were installed on the seabed at 25 m depth at the same site and believed to be exposed to very similar wave conditions. They utilized permanent magnets oscillating vertically due to surface buoys actuating the generators. The buoys were vertical cylinders excitated by ocean waves, with different diameters but with equal volume. The power production from the converters and the sea states were measured and comparison of power production between the two converters during various sea states was conducted. Also wind and tidal oscillations were considered and were found to influence the power production directly or indirectly, as did also significant wave height and energy period. The only difference between the two converters were the buoys, as the generators and electric loads were equal. During a 4 day period of various wave climates, the WEC with the buoy with 78 % larger water plane area than the WEC with the more narrow buoy with a water plane area of 7.07 m2 was found to produce 11 % more power.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Energiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Energy Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

wave power

point absorber

WEC

experiment

efficiency

energy

buoy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)