Mathematical Modeling of a Wave Energy Converter Equipped with a Negative Spring Mechanism

Springer eBooks, pp. 371–387

Abstract

A renewable source of energy with great potential is wave energy, and Chile offers favorable conditions for its exploitation. To convert wave energy into a usable form of energy, wave energy converters are used. In this context, the University of Bío-Bío has designed and constructed a wave energy converter called Lafkenewen . Numerous wave energy converters have been developed over time; however, their efficiency remains low due to operation away from resonance. To address this issue, a spring mechanism with regions of negative stiffness has been proposed, which can enhance power output and broaden frequency bandwidth. This work presents a mathematical model of a scaled version of the Lafkenewen converter, developed using ANSYS software, under regular wave conditions. The results indicate that the integration of the negative stiffness mechanism leads to a 280% increase in the generated power.

Authors 5

1. Braulio Neira-Verdugo corresponding

   University of Bío-Bío

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile

2. Danilo Pastrana-Mendoza

   University of Bío-Bío

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile

3. Claudio Villegas-Ulloa

   University of Bío-Bío

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile

4. Fabián Pierart-Vásquez

   University of Bío-Bío

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile

5. Thomas Knobloch Aachen Institute for Gear Technology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Gear Technology, Machine Dynamics, and Robotics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany