Record Details

Evaluation of the performance of a taut-moored dual-body direct-drive wave energy converter through numerical modeling and physical testing

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Evaluation of the performance of a taut-moored dual-body direct-drive wave
energy converter through numerical modeling and physical testing
Names Elwood, David E. (creator)
Yim, Solomon (advisor)
von Jouanne, Annette (advisor)
Date Issued 2008-07-14 (iso8601)
Note Graduation date: 2009
Abstract With energy prices rising and increasing concern about the influence of
fossil fuels on climate change, wave energy systems are on the verge of
commercial implementation. These first generation wave energy converters utilize
either pneumatics or hydraulics to convert the mechanical energy of waves into
electricity. For the last several years, the wave energy research group at Oregon
State University has focused on increasing the efficiency of wave energy
conversion systems by developing direct drive power take-off systems.
Beginning in the fall of 2006 an interdisciplinary team was tasked with
designing and building a 1kW direct drive wave energy converter to be tested in
the open ocean. Their device, the SeaBeavI, provided a proof of concept for a
taught moored, dual body, wave energy conversion system using a linear generator
for power take-off. To evaluate the performance of the SeBeavI system a method
was developed to incorporate measured forces from the linear generator into a
coupled model of the system. This thesis is comprised of one conference paper and
two journal papers. The conference paper provides an overview of the design and
construction of the SeaBeavI. The first journal paper presents an in-depth
description of the physical testing and numerical modeling of the system. The
second journal paper provides performance predictions for the device based on the
combined numerical and experimental results.
Genre Thesis
Topic Wave Energy
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/9161

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