Modeling and Simulation of Buoy Heave Response Under Electric Generator Load Using Simulink

Abstract

According to the different links of energy transmission, the oscillating buoy wave energy converter is divided into mechanical mode and hydraulic mode. For the oscillating buoy wave energy converter with mechanical transmission, it’s requisite to consider the influence of electric generator and different transmission ratio on the heave response of buoy in its design process. Consequently, the Simulink toolbox is used to establish the simulation model of the buoy heave response under the electric generator load, and the heave response of the buoys with different diameters under the electric generator and transmission ratio is analysed. The results show that as the buoy diameter increases linearly, the heave displacement, heave velocity and generating power curve amplitude do not increase linearly which shows that the increment of amplitude becomes smaller. Therefore, buoys with different diameters have different load capacity.