A wave/current flume for research on offshore renewable energy devices: with the first application on multiple heavy point wave absorbers

Abstract:

<p>This document is a project report for the project titled 'A wave/current flume for research on offshore renewable energy devices: with the first application on multiple heavy point wave absorbers.' </p> <p>This project is concerned with marine energy in the form of waves and tidal streams which may in principle supply more energy than the UK needs. The main consideration when developing devices which utilise wave and tidal power in order to generate electricity is economic viability. In order to assess whether potential devices will be economically viable to produce and run, as well as to maximise their performance, it is crucial to rigorously test physical prototypes.</p> <p>The aim of this project is provide a wave/current facility (flume) in which marine power devices can be properly tested because the influence of currents on wave devices and waves is often overlooked. For this project a wave maker was added to an existing 5m wide and 20m long environmental flume. The wave maker can generate regular, random and directional seas which is vital because the power generated is much reduced by random directional waves which occur in reality.</p>

Author(s):

Stansby, P.K.