Performance of a Direct-Driven Wave Energy Point Absorber with High Inertia Rotatory Power Take-off

Simon Thomas, Marianna Giassi, Malin Göteman, Martyn Hann, Edward Ransley, Jan Isberg and Jens Engström
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Simon Thomas: Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Division of Electricity, Angströmlaboratoriet, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
Marianna Giassi: Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Division of Electricity, Angströmlaboratoriet, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
Malin Göteman: Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Division of Electricity, Angströmlaboratoriet, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
Martyn Hann: School of Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circuit, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Edward Ransley: School of Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circuit, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Jan Isberg: Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Division of Electricity, Angströmlaboratoriet, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
Jens Engström: Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Division of Electricity, Angströmlaboratoriet, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: An alternating rotatory generator using an eddy current break is developed as a physical scale model of a direct-driven floating point absorber power take-off (PTO) for wave tank tests. It is shown that this design is a simple and cost-effective way to get an accurate linear damping PTO. The device shows some beneficial characteristics, making it an interesting option for full scale devices: For similar weights the inertia can be significantly higher than for linear generators, allowing it to operate with natural frequencies close to typical wave frequencies. The influence of the higher inertia on the power absorption is tested using both a numerical simulation and physical wave tank tests. With the increased inertia the PTO is able to absorb more than double the energy of a comparable direct-driven linear generator in some sea states. Moreover, the alternating rotatory generator allows the absorption characteristic to be tuned by changing the inertia and the generator damping.

Keywords: wave energy; power take-off; direct-driven; wave tank test; physical scale model; natural frequency tuning; floating point absorber (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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