摘要 |
Wave energy converter efficiency is improved by dynamic tuning over periods from 5 to 15 seconds. Tuning methods are: for heaving, mass is varied by locking and unlocking neutrally buoyant masses or by trapping and releasing seawater; for surging, water-plane area is varied by force; for rotational variants of heaving and surging and for pitching, the radius of gyration is varied. Fixed mass is reduced by using materials and structures with high ratios of strength to weight. Fixed added mass is reduced by streamlining, by constant radius body profiles and by keeping moving structures out of the water. Added mass is varied continuously by using variable angle fins: effectiveness is enhanced by enclosure. In pitching, wave-bridging is addressed by limiting length, using locking and unlocking segments of the floating body or by using gravity as the restoring force. Solutions are described for heaving, surging, pitching and wave-following. |