This paper introduces a hybrid wave-current energy converter (HWCEC) that simultaneously harvests energy from current and waves. Wave energy is extracted through relative heaving motion between a floating buoy and a fully submerged second body. Current energy is extracted using a hydro turbine. A mechanical motion rectifier (MMR) based on one-way clutches merges the separate current and wave power inputs and converts bidirectional, up-and-down wave input motion into unidirectional rotation of the generator shaft through different engagement statuses of the set of one-way clutches. A time domain simulation is conducted with hydrodynamic coefficients obtained from computational fluid dynamics software and boundary element software. Simulation results show an improvement in output energy and peak to average ratio compared to both turbine and point absorber wave energy converters acting individually.

Date Published: 21 March 2019
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 10967, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XIII, 109670U (21 March 2019); doi: 10.1117/12.2514186

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10967:
Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XIII
Alper Erturk, Editor(s)