Open AccessPerformance analysis of a point-absorber wave energy converter with a single buoy composed of three rigidly coupled structures
Author(s) -
Aldo Ruezga,
M C José Cañedo,
Manuel Gerardo Verduzco-Zapata,
Francisco J. Ocampo–Torres
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international marine energy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2631-5548
DOI - 10.36688/imej.4.37-45
Subject(s) - buoy , wave energy converter , power (physics) , hydrostatic equilibrium , linear congruential generator , acoustics , energy (signal processing) , frequency domain , time domain , engineering , marine engineering , physics , computer science , quantum mechanics , computer vision
A single-body point absorber system is analysed to improve its power absorption at a finite water depth. The proposed wave energy converter consists of a single floating body coupled to a direct-drive power take-off system placed on the seabed. The structure of a cylindrical buoy with large draft is changed by a single body composed of three structures rigidly coupled, reducing its volume and improving its frequency-dependent hydrostatic parameters that are obtained through a numerical analysis tool called NEMOH. The undamped natural frequency of the oscillating system is tuned to a specified wave period and the performance of the WEC system is obtained assuming a linear Power Take-Off system. In time domain, the performance of the WEC device is carried-out under a regular (sinusoidal) and irregular incident wave profile. Comparing the performance of the WEC system using the cylindrical and the proposed buoy outcomes that the system with the proposed buoy is able to absorb more energy from incident waves with a wider frequency range, whereas the oscillating system is kept as simple as possible.