Abstract
Wave Energy is a widespread, reliable renewable energy source. The early study on Wave Energy dates back in the 70’s, with a particular effort in the last and present decade to make Wave Energy Converters (WECs) more profitable and predictable. The PeWEC (Pendulum Wave Energy Converter) is a pendulum-based WEC. The research activities described in the present work aim to develop a pendulum converter for the Mediterranean Sea, where waves are shorter, thus with a higher frequency compared to the ocean waves, a characteristic well agreeing with the PeWEC frequency response. The mechanical equations of the device are developed and coupled with the hydrodynamic Cummins equation. The work deals with the design and experimental tank test of a 1:12 scale prototype. The experimental data recorded during the testing campaign are used to validate the numerical model previously described. The numerical model proved to be in good agreement with the experiments.
Highlights
Modern research on Wave Energy started in the 70’s in Europe and with a particular effort on the last decade [Falcao, 2010, 2013; Lopez et al, 2013; Guney, 2015]
The high frequency of waves is favorable to the use of inertial devices, where the forces used to generate power are proportional to the incoming excitation frequency [Bracco et al, 2010]
Working Principle PeWEC is a pendulum-based floating Wave Energy Converter. This device is mainly composed of a floating hull moored on the seabed and a pendulum connected to the shaft of an electrical generator, which is integral with the hull structure
Summary
Modern research on Wave Energy started in the 70’s in Europe and with a particular effort on the last decade [Falcao, 2010, 2013; Lopez et al, 2013; Guney, 2015]. The research activities dealt with the ISWEC system (Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter), a WEC able to extract power from a rocking hull by means of gyroscopic effects. Working Principle PeWEC is a pendulum-based floating Wave Energy Converter This device is mainly composed of a floating hull moored on the seabed and a pendulum connected to the shaft of an electrical generator, which is integral with the hull structure. Arms connected to the left and right side of the hull: if the device is not aligned with respect to the wave direction, a difference in the tensions on the arms is induced, determining a reaction that contributes to the alignment of the device Under this assumption, the motion of the hull takes place in O-xz plane and it can be described by the surge motion xG, the heave motion zG and the pitch motion δ around y-axis. Angular coordinate ε describes the relative motion between the hull and the inner pendulum
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