• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.282-290
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• 2015

In this study, a latching control technology, proposed by Sheng et al.(2015), was applied in order to maximize the extraction efficiency of WEC (Wave Energy Converter), which is the heaving buoy coupled with linear electric generator. The latching control is the phase-control technique for improving the wave energy conversion with appropriate latching duration of keeping the buoy fixed. From the time-domain analysis in regular waves, the latching control technology can significantly improve the heave velocity and extracted power, even though the resonance condition is not satisfied. By using the latching control technology, the draft of buoy as well as the required PTO damping force can be significantly reduced along with increased extracted power, which is a big advantage in manufacturing the WEC.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

This paper presents a novel concept of wave energy converter for electric generation from the ocean wave energy. In this paper, a Multi-Point Absorbing Wave Energy Converter, shortened as MPAWEC by using Secondary Control Hydrostatic Transmission (SCHST) was proposed. The power take-off (PTO) system in the proposed MPAWEC includes multi heaving buoys to drive hydraulic pumps placed at different points. The application of SCHST in MPAWEC gives some advantages, such as longevity of hydraulic components; more energy is harvested; the variation of the pressure in the accumulator limited; therefore the accumulator volume is reduced and the output speed is more stable, etc. A PID controller was designed for speed control of the hydraulic motor. The simulation results indicated that the speed of the generator was ensured with the relative error as 0.67%; the efficiency of the proposed system was 71.4%.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2021

A numerical hydrodynamic performance analysis of the pitch-type multibody wave energy converter (WEC) is carried out based on both linear potential flow theory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in the unidirectional wave condition. In the present study, Salter's duck (rotor) is chosen for the analysis. The basic concept of the WEC rotor, which nods when the pressure-induced motions are in phase, is that it converts the kinetic and potential energies of the wave into rotational mechanical energy with the proper power-take-off system. This energy is converted to useful electric energy. The analysis is carried out using three WEC rotors. A multibody analysis using linear potential flow theory is performed using WAMIT (three-dimensional diffraction/radiation potential analysis program), and a CFD analysis is performed by placing three WEC rotors in a numerical wave tank. In particular, the spacing between the three rotors is set to 0.8, 1, and 1.2 times the rotor width, and the hydrodynamic interaction between adjacent rotors is checked. Finally, it is confirmed that the dynamic performance of the rotors slightly changes, but the difference due to the spacing is not noticeable. In addition, the CFD analysis shows a lateral flow phenomenon that cannot be confirmed by linear potential theory, and it is confirmed that the CFD analysis is necessary for the motion analysis of the rotor.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2016

This study concentrates on the design of floater for 15kW-class wave energy converter that extracts the ocean energy by oscillating vertically along the wave motion. The floater connects to a arm structure that connects to a hydraulic cylinder, which drives a hydraulic generator. The study mainly focuses on the structural analysis of the floater. Previous studies have been conducted using a miniature model; however, this study focuses on the size selection of the floater for a full scale model. Static structural analysis is conducted using fine numerical grids. Due to the complexity of the whole model, it is analyzed as a separate component. There are several load cases for each floater size, and they are analyzed thoroughly for stress (von-mises, shear, and normal) and deformation. The initial design was conducted by scaling up from the miniature model of the previous study, and the final design has been redesigned by changing the thickness and internal support structure shape.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.821-827
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• 2015

This study concentrates on a wave energy converter with floaters that extracts the ocean's energy by moving up and down with the wave motion. The floater is connected to an arm structure, including a hydraulic cylinder that drives a hydraulic generator. This study focuses on a structural analysis of the floater unit, including arm and cylinder components, platform and jack-up system, along with spud columns. Previous studies have been conducted for miniature models for experimentation, but this study focuses on the full-scale model structural analysis. Static structural analysis is conducted using fine numerical grids. Due to the complexity of the whole model, it is analyzed in separate pieces. The floater unit, with arm and cylinder, are combined into one system. The platform is analyzed separately as a single system. There are four jack-up systems for each spud column; only one jack-up system is analyzed, as uniform loads are assumed on each system. There are several load cases for each system, all of which are analyzed thoroughly for stress (von Mises, shear, and normal) and deformation. Acceptable results were obtained for most of the components; unsafe components were redesigned.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.513-528
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• 2013

A floating Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converter, a Backward Bent Duct Buoy (BBDB), was simulated using a state-of-the-art, two-dimensional, fully-nonlinear Numerical Wave Tank (NWT) technique. The hydrodynamic performance of the floating OWC device was evaluated in the time domain. The acceleration potential method, with a full-updated kernel matrix calculation associated with a mode decomposition scheme, was implemented to obtain accurate estimates of the hydrodynamic force and displacement of a freely floating BBDB. The developed NWT was based on the potential theory and the boundary element method with constant panels on the boundaries. The mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian (MEL) approach was employed to capture the nonlinear free surfaces inside the chamber that interacted with a pneumatic pressure, induced by the time-varying airflow velocity at the air duct. A special viscous damping was applied to the chamber free surface to represent the viscous energy loss due to the BBDB's shape and motions. The viscous damping coefficient was properly selected using a comparison of the experimental data. The calculated surface elevation, inside and outside the chamber, with a tuned viscous damping correlated reasonably well with the experimental data for various incident wave conditions. The conservation of the total wave energy in the computational domain was confirmed over the entire range of wave frequencies.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2010

An efficient wave energy converter with new overtopping flow device on which spiral reefs are attached is proposed by Maritime and Ocean Engineering Research Institute in Korea and its candidate substructures such as monopile, tripod and jacket are designed. This study investigates modal characteristics of the substructures by analyzing natural frequencies and mode shapes. Based on the modal analysis results, relative strength, governing modes and some complementary design strategies of each candidate substructure are compared and discussed considering water depth conditions.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.777-780
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• 2003

In this paper, an improved full wave mode ZVT-PWM DC-DC Converter is presented to maximize the regeneration ratio of resonant energy by only putting an additional diode in series with auxiliary switch. The operation of auxiliary switch in a half wave mode makes possible the soft switching condition of all switches. Furthermore, the increase of the regeneration ratio to resonant energy results in low conduction losses and minimum voltage and current stresses. The operation principles of the proposed converters are analyzed using the PWM boost converter topology as an example. Theoretically analysis and experimental results verify the validity of the boost converter topology with the proposed full wave mode ZVT-PWM converters

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2013

This paper describes an electrical linear generator (IntELG) based on permanent magnets, containing heaving buoy, and its applications for the floating wave energy converters riding in parallel waves. The permanent magnets are integrated with the heaving buoy as a component and the integrated component is configured within the cylindrical IntELG to be filled with fluid. Thus, the IntELG can effectively be applied for the power-take-off of the floating wave energy converter riding in parallel waves. Typical applications are exampled with the Pelamis and Anaconda and they are investigated for the diversely redundant power source of nuclear power plant and the cooperation with submerged tunnel(s).

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

The authors are developing a motion of floater body type wave energy converter of the float-counterweight system. This consists of the driving pulley, wire, float and counterweight suspended from idler pulleys and rachet mechanism. Though it has succeeded in solving the major structural strength problem in which the floats would slam against adjacent structure(s) by wave load acting horizontally. In order to overcome this problem. We propose a new system in which the wire transmitting the power is wound around the pulleys and the float receiving the wave power is pulled by the wire from both its upper and lower ends to avoid the occurrence of slackening during the wave cycle. In the paper, we developed the dynamics model for the proposed system. Energy gain has been calculated for realistic wave conditions and compared with the original float-counterweight device. The important differences from the float-counterweight system are that (1) both upward and downward motions of water surface can be utilized without problem. (2) slackening of energy gain and wire tension are effectively suppressed, and (4) for the same time averaged energy gain, the maximum wire tension is fairly lowered.