Improving the Amount of Captured Energy of a Point-Absorber WEC on the Mexican Coast

Alejandro Martinez Flores, Ayrton Alfonso Medina Rodríguez, Edgar Mendoza () and Rodolfo Silva
Additional contact information
Alejandro Martinez Flores: Institute of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Escolar, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Ayrton Alfonso Medina Rodríguez: Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 402, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Edgar Mendoza: Institute of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Escolar, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Rodolfo Silva: Institute of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Escolar, Mexico City 04510, Mexico

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Although there are constant improvements in wave energy converter (WEC) technology, it is crucial to investigate site-specific sea conditions for optimal power absorption and efficiency. This study compares the efficiency of a floating buoy-type WEC device, with three differently shaped floats: a semi-sphere, a cylinder considered suitable for a location near Ensenada, on the Baja California peninsula, and a novel, rounded, semi-rectangular float. A statistical analysis of the wave climate of the last 42 years was performed to define the conditions to which the device is subjected. The WEC location was chosen for shallow waters, using a computational model that solves the modified mild slope equation. The hydrodynamic response of the three float designs was then analyzed in the frequency and time domains, using the software ANSYS AQWA 19.2, to assess the dynamics of the floating body, the forces exerted, and the power absorbed, as well as the suitability of the proposed power take-off (PTO) system. The findings show that the proposed float design absorbs the most energy, with an annual power of 135.11 MW, and that the PTO mechanism is appropriate.

Keywords: wave energy converter; floating buoy; mild slope equation; hydrodynamic response; energy absorption; WEC efficiency; captured energy (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1755/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1755/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:7:p:1755-:d:1371000

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().