Electromechanical transduction system design for optimal energy harvesting from ocean waves.

While details of the currently most highly publicized devices for conversion of ocean wave energy to electrical energy are generally not disclosed in the open literature, the authors believe that, for devices not on the coastline, the common transduction mechanism involves electromagnetic induction with conducting wires moving relative to permanent magnets. A general discussion is given of how such a mechanism can be used in this application. The overall analysis of the mechanical system with lumped or distributed masses and elastic elements driven by buoyancy forces associated with incident ocean waves is facilitated, if the transduction system is modeled as linear mechanical dashpots, and the procedures for deriving effective dashpot constants are described. The mechanical analysis suggests that, for waves in a general frequency range, there is an optimal choice for the parameters of the mechanical system, so that the maximum electrical power can be harvested. The optimal energy extracted per wave cycle is invariably much less than the total mechanical energy of the oscillating components of the system. A distinction is made between freely floating systems and systems anchored to the ocean bottom and between systems which are driven near a resonant frequency and those driven substantially below resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]