Mathematical model of sea wave energy in electricity generation

Abstract

This paper presents the conceptual model for pressure amplification in harnessing sea wave energy to generate electricity. It is named as AH Presto 1 which is the short form for Air-Hydraulic Pressure Storage Version 1. The idea of the concept is converting the air pressure generated from undulating sea water free surface inside the oscillating wave column (OWC) chamber adopting the concept done from previous study by few scientists and to amplify the hydraulic pressure which can be stored in hydraulic accumulator for consistent pressure distribution source for electricity generation. The OWC is commonly and widely used in the existing wave energy converter (WEC) devices to extract the energy from sea waves. Mathematical model is used in proving the energy conversion and pressure amplification. Initially, basic conceptual model is developed to represent the whole process from the sea wave signal until the final output. Several sub-modules have been developed to integrate the complete system. Amongst the sub-modules are; sea wave energy extraction and air pressure development using OWC, air pressure to hydraulic pressure amplification, hydraulic pressure storage; hydraulic pressure distribution, gearing system and electricity generation. Mathematical equations have also been derived in this study to represent the processes involved in each stage.