Design, dynamic modeling and wave basin verification of a Hybrid Wave–Current Energy Converter
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
Massive and high-density Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) energy is contained in the ocean, including waves, tidal streams, and ocean currents. Traditional MHK energy converters harvest energy from only a single MHK energy source, which does not fully exploit the energy potential that co-exists in multiple forms of MHK energy in the ocean. This paper presents the design and dynamics of a Hybrid Wave–Current Energy Converter (HWCEC) that can simultaneously convert both wave and current energy to electricity with a single Power Take-off (PTO) through the engagement and disengagement of the three one-way clutches. The critical design parameters are analyzed through modeling and simulation, including the transmission ratios, the electrical impedance, and the turbine-heave plate distance. Water basin tests in a wave–current tank were conducted, which shows the prototyped HWCEC can improve the electric power output by 38%–71% for regular waves and 79% for irregular waves, while providing a 70% reduction of the Peak to Average Ratio (PAR) of power compared to the baseline Wave Energy Converter (WEC). Here we further analyze the occurring percentages of the instant power of both WEC and HWCEC in irregular wave tests, shedding new insight on how HWCEC reduces the PAR.
- Research Organization:
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); European Union Horizon 2020
- Grant/Contract Number:
- EE0007174; 731084
- OSTI ID:
- 1976854
- Journal Information:
- Applied Energy, Vol. 321, Issue C; ISSN 0306-2619
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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