Abstract
Many of the existing wave energy converters (WEC) are of oscillating water column (OWC) and point absorber (PA) types. Fewer references have been published in public on the pendulum type WEC. A series of experimental tests on a bottom-hinged pendulum WEC model are carried out and some results are revealed in the present study. The purpose of this paper is to present a detailed description of the tests. It is found that wave energy conversion efficiency varies with the applied damping and wave conditions. In addition, special attention is given to the effect of the water ballast on the efficiency of the wave energy converter. It is demonstrated that the ballast plays an important role in energy extraction. Better understanding on how the performance of the device is influenced by damping, wave height, wave period and ballast is shown.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Budal, K., Falnes, J., Iversen, L. C., Lillebekken, P. M., Oltedal, G., Hals, T., Onshus, T. and Høy, A.S., 1982. The Norwegian wave-power buoy project, Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wave Energy Utilization, Trondheim, Norway, 323–344
Caska, A. J. and Finnigan, T. D., 2008. Hydrodynamic characteristics of a cylindrical bottom-pivoted wave energy absorber, Ocean Eng., 35(1): 6–16.
Falnes, J. and Budal, K., 1978. Wave-power conversion by power absorbers, Norwegian Maritime Res., 6(4): 2–11.
Flocard, F. and Finnigan, T. D., 2012. Increasing power capture of a wave energy device by inertia adjustment, Appl. Ocean Res., 34, 126–134.
Henriques, J. C. C., Lopes, M. F. P., Lopes, M. C., Gato, L. M. C. and Dente, A., 2011. Design and testing of a non-linear power take-off simulator for a bottom-hinged plate wave energy converter, Ocean Eng., 38(11–12): 1331–1337.
Kondo, H., Watabe, T. and Yano, K., 1984. Wave power extraction at coastal structure by means of moving body in the chamber, Proc. 19th Conf. on Coast. Eng., 3, 2875–2891.
Lye, J. L., Brown, D. T. and Johnson, F., 2009. An investigation into the non-linear effects resulting from air cushions in the Orecon oscillating water column (OWC) device, Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Ocean Offshore Arctic Engineering, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Masuda, Y. and McCormick, M. E., 1987. Experiences in pneumatic wave energy conversion in Japan, Utilization of Ocean Waves-Wave to Energy Conversion, ASCE, New York, 1–33.
Masuda, Y., 1971. Wave-activated generator, Int. Colloq Exposition Oceans. France: Bordeaux.
McCormick, M. E., 1981. Ocean Wave Energy Conversion, New York: Wiley.
Ogai, S., Umeda, S. and Ishida, H., 2010. An experimental study of compressed air generation using a pendulum wave energy converter, Journal of Hydrodynamics, Ser. B, 22(5-Supp1): 290–295.
Qiu, S. Q., Ye, J. W., Wang, D. J. and Liang, F. L., 2011a. Capture width study on a pendulum wave energy converter, Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2011 Asia-Pacific, 1–4.
Qiu, S. Q., Ye, J. W., Wang, D. J. and Liang, F. L., 2011b. Investigation on the efficiency of a pendulum energy converter in regular waves, Proc. 21st Int. Offshore Polar Eng. Conf. (ISOPE), Maui, Hawaii, USA, 650–654.
Salter, S. H., 1974. Wave power, Nature, 249, 720–724.
Toyota, K., Nagata, S., Imai, Y., Ono, K. and Setoguchi, T., 2011. Energy conversion characteristics on floating type pendulum wave energy converter in regular waves, Proc. 21st Int. Offshore Polar Eng. Conf. (ISOPE), Maui, Hawaii, USA, 675–679.
Tseng, R. S., Wu, R. H. and Huang, C. C., 2000. Model study of a shoreline wave-power system, Ocean Eng., 27(8): 801–821.
Wang, Y. X., Peng, J. P. Sun, H. Q. and Li, G. W., 2003. Separation of composite waves by an analytical method, The Ocean Engineering, 21(1): 42–46. (in Chinese)
Wells, A. A., 1976. Fluid Driven Rotary Transducer, British Patent Spec No. 1595700.
Whittaker, T., Collier, D., Folley, M., Osrterried, M., Henry, A. and Crowley, M., 2007. The development of Oyster — A shallow water surging wave energy converter, Proceedings of the 7th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, Aporto, Portugal, pp.1–1.
Zhang, D. H., Li, W. and Lin, Y. G., 2009. Wave energy in China: Current status and perspectives, Renewable Energy, 34(10): 2089–2092.
Zuo, R., Shi, M. H. and Wang, X. L., 2001. Renewable Energy, Beijing: China Machine Press. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This research was financially supported by the Special Fund for Marine Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Finance of China (Grant No. GD2010ZC02).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Qiu, Sq., Ye, Jw., Wang, Dj. et al. Experimental study on a pendulum wave energy converter. China Ocean Eng 27, 359–368 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-013-0031-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-013-0031-y