Wave Energy Conversion: Salter Duck Wave Energy Converter with Direct Electrical Power Conversion

Abstract

This master thesis describes the design, calculation, simulation and construction of a buoy shape called the Salter Duck with an internal direct electrical wave energy conversion system. The internal system consists of two dual rotating weight systems connected to one radial permanent magnet generator each.Section 1 gives an introduction and describes the general design of a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) and the master thesis problem to be looked at.Section 2 is a recap of the history, principle behavior and basic calculation of the Salter Duck Wave Energy Converter (WEC), and choosing of a design wave. Section 3 goes on to describe the scaling of a buoy model to be constructed.Section 3.1 and 3.2 describes choosing of the design wave, the buoy model scaling and calculation. Section 3.3 describes the theory of the rotating weight system and calculation of a model of this to fit into the buoy calculated in section 3.1 and 3.2.A simulation of the rotating weight system is done in a mechanical simulation program called Newton in section 3.4.The calculation and simulation of the model generator is done in section 4, and also refers to the appendix A for design equations and calculations. An Excel calculation model was made to calculate the generator and the generated values at harmonic rotation and in latching mode, which is described in section 4.3 and 4.4.The construction of the test model was to be described in section 5, but it now explains why it was not done and refers to the construction drawings appended in appendix B.Ways of increasing efficiency of the system is looked at in section 6.All data files from Excel, Newton, COMSOL and others are in the appended zip-file for this project. There were more files than appended here, approx. 1 Gb total, but it has been cut down so that the zip-file is one fifth of this due to space requirements.