A Preliminary Study on Identifying Biomimetic Entities for Generating Novel Wave Energy Converters

Hui Zhang, Wanan Sheng, Zhimin Zha and George Aggidis
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Hui Zhang: Marine Engineering Equipment College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Wanan Sheng: Renewable Energy and Fluid Machinery Group, Engineering Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK
Zhimin Zha: Marine Engineering Equipment College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
George Aggidis: Renewable Energy and Fluid Machinery Group, Engineering Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Biomimetics and creatures could contribute to novel design inspiration for wave energy converters, as we have seen numerous examples in applications of other branches of engineering. However, the issue of how to obtain valuable biological entities, or bionic design cases, that could produce inspiration for novel designs, may be challenging for the designers of wave energy converters (WECs). This study carries out preliminary research on the acquisition of biological entities for designers, to obtain innovative bio-inspired ideas for designing novel WECs. In the proposed method, the first step is to draw out engineering terminologies based on the function, structure, and energy extraction principles of existing WECs. Then, by applying WordNet, candidate biological terminologies can be obtained. Next, using AskNature, along with manual selection and filtering, biological terminologies can be acquired. The last step is to use the biological terminologies to establish the reference biological entities, and to use the information and knowledge of these entities in the design of an innovative WEC. Using the proposed methodology, a novel WEC was conceived and verified.

Keywords: design inspiration; biological entities; innovative designs; wave energy converters (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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