Abstract
A single-body point absorber system is analysed to improve its power absorption at a finite water depth. The proposed wave energy converter consists of a single floating body coupled to a direct-drive power take-off system placed on the seabed. The structure of a cylindrical buoy with large draft is changed by a single body composed of three structures rigidly coupled, reducing its volume and improving its frequency-dependent hydrostatic parameters that are obtained through a numerical analysis tool called NEMOH. The undamped natural frequency of the oscillating system is tuned to a specified wave period and the performance of the WEC system is obtained assuming a linear Power Take-Off system. In time domain, the performance of the WEC device is carried-out under a regular (sinusoidal) and irregular incident wave profile. Comparing the performance of the WEC system using the cylindrical and the proposed buoy outcomes that the system with the proposed buoy is able to absorb more energy from incident waves with a wider frequency range, whereas the oscillating system is kept as simple as possible.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONFROM the diverse renewable sources of energy, ocean waves contain a higher energy density than others, representing a large energy source with less intermittency [01]
FROM the diverse renewable sources of energy, ocean waves contain a higher energy density than others, representing a large energy source with less intermittency [01].Among the different types of devices categorized by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), point absorber and submerged pressure-differential devices are capable of extracting wave energy from incoming waves in all directions
In this paper, a single-body pointabsorber Wave Energy Converter (WEC) is designed to operate in Mexican coastal waters in the Pacific Ocean, where the sea states are characterized by short-period waves and the wave energy resource is low to moderate in comparison to other places especially at higher latitudes
Summary
FROM the diverse renewable sources of energy, ocean waves contain a higher energy density than others, representing a large energy source with less intermittency [01]. The second body adds inertia to the oscillating system and shifts its natural frequency towards dominant incident waves; the performance and the capture width ratio of the WEC device are increased Both bodies have to be placed at adequate distance to avoid a hydrodynamic interference between them, requiring deeper water conditions for deployment. In deeper waters, the installation and recovery manoeuvres would be complicated In this type of WEC, a large buoy is used to RUEZGA et al.: PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF A SINGLE BUOY POINT-ABSORBER WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER shift the natural frequency of the WEC device towards the dominant incident wave frequencies. In this paper, a single-body pointabsorber WEC is designed to operate in Mexican coastal waters in the Pacific Ocean, where the sea states are characterized by short-period waves and the wave energy resource is low to moderate in comparison to other places especially at higher latitudes
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