A study on the Wave Response and Efficiency of a Pendulum Wave Energy Converter

Abstract

A pendulum wave energy converter induces incident waves in a water chamber and forms standing waves as incident waves and the reflected waves are superposed. A pendular plate is installed at the standing wave node and drives an electric generator connected to the power system. In this study, 2-dimensional model tests are conducted to evaluate the basic shape design and the wave responses of a water chamber and pendulum system. Wave responses of the fixed model water chamber and the motions of a floating model are presented by changing wave periods and wave heights. To assess the wave energy conversion efficiency, an electric motor, acting as a load system of the generator with torque control, is connected to the pendulum shaft. From the perspective of wave energy conversion efficiency, the influence of variations of load and incident wave conditions (period and height) are compared and analyzed. These results give a more optimal design of a pendulum wave energy converter (WEC) with improved energy conversion efficiency. generator connected to the power system. In this study, 2-dimensional model tests are conducted to evaluate the basic shape design and the wave responses of a water chamber and pendulum system. Wave responses of the fixed model water chamber and the motions of a floating model are presented by changing wave periods and wave heights. To assess the wave energy conversion efficiency, an electric motor, acting as a load system of the generator with torque control, is connected to the pendulum shaft. From the perspective of wave energy conversion efficiency, the influence of variations of load and incident wave conditions (period and height) are compared and analyzed. These results give a more optimal design of a pendulum wave energy converter (WEC) with improved energy conversion efficiency.