Modular horizontal pendulum wave energy converter: Exploring feasibility to power ocean observation applications in the U.S. pacific northwest

Abstract

Marine renewable energy as a power source for ocean observation applications has the potential to allow longer deployment operations due to the consistent, higher, and denser energy available from this resource. This additionally could encourage deployments in remote locations where maintenance is costly or resource availability is low if dependent on solar power. More importantly, gaps in spatial data could be filled. This paper examines the feasibility of a modular horizontal pendulum wave energy converter to power National Data Buoy Center's Self-Contained Ocean Observations Payload (SCOOP) off the coast of Washington State, U.S. The effect on power output was studied when the pendulum's radius arm, mass, and power take-off damping were varied. Results using Matlab toolbox WEC-Sim revealed positive correlation between radius arm length and mass to power output, where power maximised for optimal damping values. Seasonal trends in power were not significant, where a 20 kg pendulum mass was needed to meet the SCOOP base power requirement of 5 W throughout the year.