Wave energy transducer
WAVE – ELECTRICAL ENERGY TRANSDUCER OF SMALL POWER
We propose a project of organisation of the industrial release of wave – electrical transducers of energy of small power (WETP) of original construction. WETP has been used for more than 30 years, for the power supply of navigation buoys, scientific, radio-remote control equipment of low power (to 1 kW). Such converters “Masuda” are produced by Japan in quantities of several thousand units per year. Japanese WETP contain metallic details of high-precision production (air-driven turbine and valves); therefore their service period does not exceed 3 years, and production is very expensive. In spite of high costs, there is constant demand for Japanese WETP, since they are irreplaceable as sources of autonomous electric power supply at sea.
We developed and tested under real sea conditions a fundamentally new type of WETP. Our WETP does not contain expensive and complex production parts, which rapidly go out of order. Cheapness and ease of production of our WETP is ensured by the production of plastic details on standard highly productive equipment. Plastic parts ensure the prolonged period of service in sea water without need for repairs, and if necessary can easily be substituted on the spot.
Expert’s Opinion of Experimental Department of Maritime Hydrophysical Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, on serviceability of experimental wave energy transducer by results of natural tests say:
The Experimental Wave Energy Transducer is a rectangular construction made of steel pipes with dimensions of 8 x 2 x 1 meters and weighs approximately 1.5 tons. As load for the electical generator incandescent lamps, with total power of 600W, were selected. There wes an alkaline accumulator charging from generator and feeding clearance lamps and electrochemical anticorrosive protection system installed.
The Experimental Wave Energy Transducer was anchored at Black Sea Experimental Ground of Experimental Department of Maritime Hydrophysical Institute in Blue Gulf at the distance of 200 m from the shore and at depth of approximately 7m. The anchor system with its chain being about 25 m long was holding the Experimental Wave Energy Plant from one end and at the same time, the Experimental Wave Energy Plant was oriented by general wind direction towards prevailing surface waves practically all the time. The first Natural Tests of Experimental Wave Energy Plant were being carried out from 1st of September to the end December 2006 in that time there were traces of neither corrosion nor failure.
The experiments showed that the WETP can be used as a power transducer for autonomous stations based at sea. With length from 8 to 14 meters the experimental transducer can produce electrical power for autonomous oceanographic platforms and such.
