Mechanical EngineeringME217 Energy, Environment & Society

ME 217: Energy, Environment & Society Fall 2017

Wave power

Mechanical EngineeringME217 Energy, Environment & Society

Wave formation

Mechanical EngineeringME217 Energy, Environment & Society

How much energy in a wave?

Mechanical EngineeringME217 Energy, Environment & Society

Potential Energy

Mechanical EngineeringME217 Energy, Environment & Society

Potential Energy ctd.

Mechanical EngineeringME217 Energy, Environment & Society

Kinetic Energy

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Scale of the resource

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Example: powering Portugal

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EPRI 2011 assessment for U.S.

EPRI report 1024637: Mapping and Assessment of the United States Ocean WaveEnergy Resource (2011)

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Energy consumption in U.S.

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Types of wave power device

Oscillating column Floats / pitching devices Wave focusing devices

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Oscillating colunmn

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Issues with OWC

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Point converters

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They don't have to float!

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Pelamis devices

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Wave energy converter farm

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Wave focusing devices

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Wave Dragon prototype

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Why is wave power behind?

Ocean waves can be much more complex than wind (height & period of wave vs. wind speed)

There is no “best device” yet, but lots of different competing designs

Operating in ocean is tough!

Resource is not as big as solar & wind

Still more expensive than competitors

Good news: lots of room for innovation and research by MEs