Experimental Study on Wave Energy Conversion Performance of a Wave-Driven Profiler

Haolei Li, Yan Liu, Zhanfeng Qi (), Xuanyu Chen, Zhiyuan Shang, Liang Cheng and Ziwen Xing
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Haolei Li: School of Environment Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300382, China
Yan Liu: School of Environment Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300382, China
Zhanfeng Qi: College of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Xuanyu Chen: School of Environment Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300382, China
Zhiyuan Shang: School of Environment Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300382, China
Liang Cheng: School of Environment Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300382, China
Ziwen Xing: School of Environment Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300382, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-25

Abstract: Few experimental studies have analyzed the wave energy conversion performance and underlying mechanisms of wave-driven profilers in controlled environments. Therefore, building on linear wave theory, Newton–Euler equations, and the working mechanisms of wave-driven profilers, this study has designed a crank mechanism-driven experimental tank facility. A comprehensive dynamic model of a wave-driven profiler has been established, and the impacts of wave height, wave period, and net buoyancy on the wave energy conversion performance of the wave-driven profiler and their underlying mechanisms have been analyzed. The results show that increased wave height enhances the buoy’s heave velocity, improving the dynamic performance of the wave-driven profiler by 441%. However, increased hydrodynamic resistance and mechanical collisions decreased the wave energy conversion efficiency by 57%. Longer wave periods reduce the wave excitation frequency, decreasing the buoy’s heave velocity; this results in a 35% reduction in the dynamic performance of the wave-driven profiler and a 53% decrease in wave energy conversion efficiency. During the descent phase, increased net buoyancy offsets more propulsive force, causing a 26% decrease in the wave-driven profiler’s dynamic performance yet increasing its energy conversion efficiency by 136%. This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the performance of similar wave-driven profilers.

Keywords: wave-driven profiler; dynamic model; tank experiment; wave parameters; net buoyancy; wave energy conversion performance; mechanisms (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: 2025
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