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Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting Off-Shore Overtopping Design

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Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting Off-Shore Overtopping Design WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting Off-Shore Overtopping Design Steven Como, Passe Meas, Kelsey Stergiou, and Jessica Williams With the Assistance of Jan Keleher 4/30/2015 This report represents the work of WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review. For more information about the projects program at WPI, please see http://www.wpi.edu/academics/ugradstudies/project-learning.html Abstract Renewable energy is a constantly discussed topic in the scientific world, for many of the energy sources used daily are in short supply. As the ocean makes up 70% of the Earth, wave energy is an option that could potentially produce a large amount of power. Various wave- capturing mechanisms were researched and analyzed. A new device was designed and manufactured, while a wave tank was constructed to test the power output of the device. By simulating deep water waves, it was found that the power produced by the prototype yielded approximately 0.010W. Using Froude scaling ratios, a scaled up model would produce about 254 W/ft of wave front. This power production compares to similar devices at about 133 W/ft; however the overall size of the new device is much smaller than the massive scale of competing products. The proposed design defines a space-efficient model for producing sustainable energy from wave power. i Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................. iii Table of Tables .............................................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 – Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 – Background ................................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Why Renewable Ocean Energy? ........................................................................................... 2 2.2 Why Waves? ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Types of Wave Energy Harvesting ....................................................................................... 6 2.4 Overtopping Design Combination ........................................................................................ 8 Chapter 3 - Methodology .............................................................................................................. 11 3.1 Existing Designs .................................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Scaling Factors .................................................................................................................... 11 3.2.1. Assumptions ................................................................................................................ 12 3.2.2. Froude Scaling Factor .................................................................................................. 13 3.2.3. Power Calculations ...................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Development of Wave Generation System ......................................................................... 18 3.3.1. Wave Height Calculations ........................................................................................... 19 3.3.2. Geometry of Four Bar Mechanism .............................................................................. 22 3.3.3. Power Requirements & Motor Preparation ................................................................. 23 3.3.4. Stresses Exerted at the Joints ....................................................................................... 30 3.3.5. Other Considerations ................................................................................................... 32 3.4 Design of Overtopping Device ............................................................................................ 33 3.5 Construction of Test Tank and Device ................................................................................ 36 3.5.1. Test Tank Construction ............................................................................................... 36 3.5.2. Device Construction .................................................................................................... 37 3.5.3. Assembly of Testing Unit ............................................................................................ 38 Chapter 4 – Testing & Data Collection......................................................................................... 42 Chapter 5 – Results & Analysis .................................................................................................... 45 Chapter 6 – Conclusions & Future Improvements ....................................................................... 51 References ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................... 54 ii Table of Figures Figure 1: Map of Wave Power Potential throughout the World ..................................................... 2 Figure 2: Schematic Deriving Potential Energy and Power of a Wave .......................................... 5 Figure 3: Point Absorber Device .................................................................................................... 6 Figure 4: Wave Attenuator Device ................................................................................................. 7 Figure 5: Oscillating Water Column ............................................................................................... 8 Figure 6: Overtopping Device ........................................................................................................ 8 Figure 7: Schematic of Device ...................................................................................................... 16 Figure 8: Wave Capture Schematic .............................................................................................. 17 Figure 9: Wave Generation Mechanism ....................................................................................... 19 Figure 10: Diagram for Wave Height Determination ................................................................... 21 Figure 11: Wave Generator Geometry .......................................................................................... 23 Figure 12: FBD of Board .............................................................................................................. 24 Figure 13: FBD of Rod ................................................................................................................. 25 Figure 14: FBD of Cam ................................................................................................................ 26 Figure 15: Variety of Duty Cycle Outputs Generated by PWM ................................................... 27 Figure 16: Circuit Diagram of Pulse Width Modulator ................................................................ 28 Figure 17: Motor Cam .................................................................................................................. 29 Figure 18: Cam Attached to Motor ............................................................................................... 29 Figure 19: Hinges Connecting Board to Test Tank ...................................................................... 30 Figure 20: Pin Connecting Rod to Board ...................................................................................... 31 Figure 21: Pin Connecting Cam to Rod ........................................................................................ 32 Figure 22: Overtopping Prototype ................................................................................................ 33 Figure 23: Ramp Design ............................................................................................................... 34 Figure 24: Tier Section Design ..................................................................................................... 35 Figure 25: Tier Drain System ....................................................................................................... 35 Figure 26: SolidWorks Drawing and Model of Wave Tank ......................................................... 36 Figure 27: Exploded View and Final Construction of the Wave Tank......................................... 36 Figure 28: Biscuit Joint Exploded View ....................................................................................... 37 Figure 29: Clamped Tier 1 to Allow Proper Setting Of Biscuit Joints ......................................... 37 Figure 30: Cross-Section of the Sideboards.................................................................................. 38 Figure 31: SolidWorks Drawing of the Backboard .....................................................................
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