Diseño de un convertidor de energía undimotriz para el Archipielago de las Galápagos : sintonización y prueba de concepto de un convertidor de energía undimotriz.

Abstract

Currently there are several device concepts that allow the conversion of waves into mechanical energy. However, none of these options proves to be efficient because their oscilation frequency does not coincide with that one of the waves. In fact, the natural period of the device is generally lower than that of waves, so that, it is not posible to reach a resonance state. As a solution to this problem, a wave energy conversion (WEC) device based on the roll motion is proposed. For this, two underwater structures, one on each side of a vessel, can increase the mass moment os inertia of the barge and thus, it's the natural period. Preliminary results show that the roll natural period for a scale model of a vessel (0.30 m long and 0.20 m wide)is 0.86 seconds, while adding the subsea conical structure (0.10 m radius and 0.12 m height) increases the natural period to 2.80 seconds. The analysis and proof of concept conduced in this work to better design and more efficient devices, which is necessary at a local and global scale.