Harnessing the kinetic and potential wave energy: design and development of a new wave energy converter

Abstract

A new wave energy converter was designed to absorb simultaneously both the kinetic and thepotential wave energy, and it is being developed at the Hydraulics Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering ofthe University of Porto. The paper presents results obtained in the first and second phase of the experimentalstudy and compares them taking into account the improvements introduced in the model and the techniques usedto evaluate the absorbed power. Test conditions included different sea states and power-take-off damping levels.The analysis is based on CECO response, mean absorbed power and corresponding relative capture widths. Twodifferent techniques were used to evaluate the power absorbed (direct and indirect methods). The potential ofthis new concept was confirmed as relative capture widths of up to 30% were obtained in the second phase ofthe study with a physical model not yet fully optimized.