Technique Design of Model Tests for a Typical Wave Energy Converter

摘要

As a kind of powerful renewable energy, wave energy has been paid much attention by researchers and engineers.Nowadays, the wave energy converters (WECs) can be mainly classified into three types (Oscillating Water Column ,Oscillating Float and Overtopping).The Oscillating Float Converter is a popular one over the world for its higher efficiency and simplicity.In this paper, authors will focus on designing model test schemes and critical techniques, finally, establishing fundamental experiment procedures to evaluate output power generated by Oscillating Float Converter.The essential part of the test model is a heaving buoy generating elecwicity with a low frequency generator.It can explain the basic converting mechanism of the WEC, for instance, the motion of the buoy, energy transformation and electricity generation.Referring to model test of WEC, two important respects, including the buoy's motion in waves and the wave energy conversion efficiency, should be considered.For this purpose, the basic steps of WEC model test had been established and model tests with different wave parameters had been completed in CSSRC's wave basin.According to the research above, the test steps and measurement technologies are feasible.