title: Hydrodynamic principles of wave power extraction.
abstract: The hydrodynamic principles common to many wave power converters are reviewed via two representative systems. The first involves one or more floating bodies, and the second water oscillating in a fixed enclosure. It is shown that the prevailing basis is impedance matching and resonance, for which the typical analysis can be illustrated for a single buoy and for an oscillating water column. We then examine the mechanics of a more recent design involving a compact array of small buoys that are not resonated. Its theoretical potential is compared with that of a large buoy of equal volume. A simple theory is also given for a two-dimensional array of small buoys in well-separated rows parallel to a coast. The effects of coastline on a land-based oscillating water column are examined analytically. Possible benefits of moderate to large column sizes are explored. Strategies for broadening the frequency bandwidth of high efficiency by controlling the power-takeoff system are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. ccmei@mit.edu
authors.forename: Chiang C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mei