Feasibility study of the three-tether axisymmetric wave energy converter. (15th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sergiienko, N.Y.; Rafiee, A.; Cazzolato, B.S.; Ding, B.; Arjomandi, M.
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 150(2018)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2018-02-15
• Subjects: Wave energy converter -- Three-tether mooring -- Techno-economic assessment -- Cost-related metrics -- Power absorption; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.12.055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: There are numerous designs and concepts that have been offered to extract energy from ocean waves. A heaving buoy is distinguished as the most popular device which predominantly harnesses energy from the vertical motion in waves. One such device is the bottom-referenced submerged heaving buoy represented by the Carnegie Clean Energy CETO system. The total power absorption of this converter can be increased by replacing the single-tether power take-off system by a three-tether mooring configuration thereby making motion controllable in heave and surge. The current paper provides a comparative performance analysis of the generic submerged heaving buoy connected to one tether and the three-tether converter in terms of the buoy motion, and design of the power take-off and mooring systems. This is accompanied by a techno-economic analysis of two converters. Highlights: The three-tether wave energy converter can absorb twice as much power as the same buoy connected to one tether. The three-tether WEC can share mooring points with adjacent devices in the array. The three-tether WEC experiences much less motion in all degrees of freedom while reducing load on the mooring system. Surge is effectively coupled to the power take-off and contributes the same amount of power as heave. The three-tether WEC can produce cheaper electricity than its single-tether counterpart.