Author(s)

M. Vantorre, R. Banasiak & R. Verhoeven

Abstract

The feasibility of energy extraction from sea waves has been investigated, with special attention to potential applications in the Belgian coastal area of the North Sea. As a first step m this feasibility study, the performance of heaving point absorbers in wave conditions that are representative for the considered area is calculated by means of a linear theory. The shape and dimensions of t i e heaving buoy, the external damping and a supplementary inertia are considered as variable parameters; restrictions are formulated regarding the significant relative motion between the point absorber and the sea surface. Taking into consideration the frequency of occurrence of the wave spectra, optimal characteristics for the point absorber are determined preliminarily. It is concluded that optimal energy absorption requires operational adaptation of external characteristics such as supplementary mass and external damping.

Keywords