Experimental Results for a Novel Wave Energy Converter

Proceedings of 2011 NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference, Atlanta, Georgia Grant #1000906 Preliminary Experimental Results for a Novel Wave Energy Converter Oliver M. O’Reilly and Ömer Savaş Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of... More

Proceedings of 2011 NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference, Atlanta, Georgia Grant #1000906
Preliminary Experimental Results for a Novel Wave Energy Converter
Oliver M.
O’Reilly and Ömer Savaş
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley
Carolyn Q.
Judge
Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, United States Naval Academy
N.
Sri Namachchivaya
Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Abstract: This research proposal is concerned with the
design and analysis of an ocean wave energy converter
(WEC) which uses a novel water intake system to vary
the mass of the converter.
With the help of a simple
model for a hybrid system, the variation of mass is
shown to increase the energy harvesting capabilities of
the converter.
The present paper presents a summary of
the analysis of the hybrid system along with
preliminary experimental results.

1.
Introduction: Ocean waves contain the highest
energ Less