How it works- CorPower Ocean Wave Energy Converters

Summary

Core Power's wave energy converters harness clean energy from ocean waves, an untapped resource with immense potential. Inspired by the human heart's pumping action, these converters use a lightweight, low-cost design developed from 40 years of hydrodynamic research. The technology maximizes energy capture by converting wave motion into electricity using an innovative phase control system, adjusting the response to varying sea conditions. With storm protection and amplification of energy capture, the converters are highly efficient. These units, each with a 300 kW capacity, can form large-scale wave energy farms, powering hundreds of thousands of homes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Core Power's wave energy converters harness clean energy from ocean waves, which is the world's largest untapped energy source.
• 😀 The technology uses a heaving buoy, inspired by the human heart's pumping principle, to absorb energy from ocean waves.
• 😀 The design of the wave energy converter is informed by 40 years of hydrodynamic research, focusing on lightweight and low-cost construction.
• 😀 The technology maximizes generation capacity and ensures robust operation in harsh ocean conditions.
• 😀 Wave energy is converted into electricity through rotational motion created by the buoy and captured by generators inside.
• 😀 A novel phase control technology allows the buoy to be tuned or detuned to respond to changing ocean conditions.
• 😀 In storm conditions, the detuned buoy creates transparency to incoming waves, similar to how wind turbines protect their blades.
• 😀 In regular sea states, the buoy is tuned to amplify the motion of incoming waves, improving energy capture efficiency.
• 😀 A 1-meter wave can be amplified to 3 meters, significantly increasing the efficiency of energy capture.
• 😀 The wave energy converter has a 300-kilowatt power rating and is 9 meters in diameter and 19 meters tall.
• 😀 Each unit is anchored to the seabed using a tensioned mooring system, and interconnected arrays of converters can create large-scale wave energy farms to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

Q & A

What is the primary function of Core Power's wave energy converters?

Core Power's wave energy converters harness clean energy from ocean waves, converting wave energy into electricity.

How is the energy from ocean waves captured by the technology?

Energy is captured through a heaving buoy that absorbs wave energy at the surface, inspired by the pumping principle of the human heart.

What research backs the design of the wave energy technology?

The wave energy technology is informed by 40 years of hydrodynamic research.

What are the benefits of Core Power's wave energy converters?

The converters are lightweight, low-cost, and designed to maximize energy generation capacity while providing robust operation in harsh ocean conditions.

How does the wave energy converter generate electricity?

The wave energy is used to create rotational motion, which is then converted into electricity by generators inside the buoy.

What is the role of the novel phase control technology in the system?

The phase control technology allows the buoy to be tuned or detuned, adjusting the system's response to varying ocean conditions.

How does the system handle storm conditions?

In storm conditions, the system detunes, allowing the buoy to create transparency to incoming waves, similar to how wind turbines pitch their blades to avoid over-spinning.

How does the system amplify energy capture during regular sea states?

In regular sea states, the buoy is tuned to optimize its timing with incoming waves, amplifying wave motion (e.g., a one-meter wave is amplified to three meters).

What is the power rating of each wave energy converter unit?

Each wave energy converter has a power rating of 300 kilowatts.

How are the wave energy converters anchored to the seabed?

The converters are anchored using a tensioned mooring system, which includes a tidal regulator.

What is the potential scale of Core Power's wave energy technology?

The converters can be used in large-scale interconnected arrays, forming wave energy farms that can generate hundreds of megawatts of energy, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.