Open AccessStructural optimisation based on a snake‐like wave energy convertor with magnetoelectric transducer
Author(s) -
Zhang Yuxiang,
Chen Renwen,
Liu Chuan,
Wang Liping,
Qin Jinchang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iet renewable power generation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1752-1424
pISSN - 1752-1416
DOI - 10.1049/iet-rpg.2020.0577
Subject(s) - transducer , acoustics , magnet , power (physics) , magnetoelectric effect , materials science , physics , electrical engineering , engineering , quantum mechanics , multiferroics , dielectric , ferroelectricity
Snake‐like wave energy conversion (WEC) is a new type of WEC that combines raft WEC and magnetoelectric transducer. This type of WEC uses the magnetoelectric transducer, which is designed based on the permanent magnet linear generator and Halbach permanent magnet array, as its power take‐off unit. The purpose of this study is to design a matching magnetoelectric transducer for WEC in common wave conditions and test its performance. The hydrodynamic model of the snake‐like WEC is established to study the motion of WEC in regular waves. The equivalent magnetic circuit model of the magnetoelectric transducer is set up to optimise its ability to harvest wave energy in the ocean. Taking the maximum damping coefficient ( c m ·max ) as the optimisation goal of the magnetoelectric transducer, the induced voltage and output power of the magnetoelectric transducer in relatively uniform and sinusoidal motion can be calculated by simulation software. Finally, a prototype of the magnetoelectric transducer was made and its performance was tested. The experiment shows that the magnetoelectric transducer has a good ability to harvest wave energy, and snake‐like WEC has wide applicability.