The book chapter examines the various facets of wave energy, including resource quantification and wave measurement, the wide variety of onshore and offshore wave energy devices, the variety of power take-off (PTO) mechanisms which convert wave power into other useful forms and concluding with some insight to how wave energy devices are modelled and controlled.

Chapter Contents:

• 2.1 The wave resource
• 2.1.1 Wave resource assessment
• 2.1.1.1 Methods
• 2.1.1.2 Mediterranean wave assessment
• 2.1.1.3 Wave assessment at Pantelleria
• 2.1.1.4 Conclusions
• 2.1.2 Wave measurements
• 2.1.2.1 Wave characterization for energy applications
• 2.1.2.2 Instrumentation for wave measurement
• 2.1.2.3 Staff gauges
• 2.1.2.4 Laser range finder
• 2.1.2.5 Pressure sensors
• 2.1.2.6 Wave measurement buoys
• 2.1.2.7 Acoustic Doppler current profilers
• 2.1.2.8 X-band radar
• 2.1.2.9 HF-radar
• 2.1.2.10 Satellites
• 2.2 Wave energy devices
• 2.2.1 The ISWEC plant at Pantelleria
• 2.2.1.1 Introduction
• 2.2.1.2 The ISWEC
• 2.2.1.3 ISWEC evolution: from model to full-scale device
• 2.2.1.4 The ISWEC prototype plant at Pantelleria
• 2.2.1.5 Conclusions
• 2.2.2 Harbour breakwaters for wave energy conversion
• 2.2.2.1 Breakwater-integrated WECs
• 2.2.2.2 Site-specific design challenges
• 2.2.2.3 Breakwater-integrated oscillating water column
• 2.2.2.4 Breakwater-integrated overtopping device
• 2.2.2.5 Full-scale devices
• 2.2.2.6 Conclusions
• 2.2.3 Overview of the development of a pivoting buoy system
• 2.2.3.1 System configuration and operation
• 2.2.3.2 System modelling
• 2.2.3.3 Small-scale model test of the pivoting system
• 2.2.3.4 Optimization based on potential flow simulation
• 2.2.3.5 Large-scale prototype
• 2.3 PTO development
• 2.3.1 Introduction
• 2.3.2 Design and test methods
• 2.3.3 Innovative PTOs
• 2.3.4 Magnetic gears
• 2.3.5 Dielectric elastomer PTO
• 2.3.6 Electromechanical ballscrew-based PTO
• 2.3.7 Conclusions
• 2.4 Modelling and control8
• 2.4.1 WEC models
• 2.4.1.1 CFD-based models
• 2.4.1.2 Boundary element models
• 2.4.2 WEC control
• 2.4.2.1 WEC control basics
• 2.4.2.2 WEC control structures
• References

Inspec keywords: offshore installations; wave power generation; power generation control; wave power plants

Other keywords: onshore wave energy devices; power take-off; wave energy; resource quantification; wave measurement; offshore wave energy devices

Subjects: Energy extraction from the oceans; Wave power; Tidal and flow energy; Control of electric power systems