Abstract
This thesis describes ongoing research, driven by client specifications, to design a minimally sized, concealable, submerged wave energy converter (WEC), capable of generating 10 watts of power in ocean deployments. The chosen method is via a deformable cell type WEC, referred to as a bladder, filled with incompressible fluid, that utilizes the dynamic pressure field created by propagating ocean waves to induce cell deformation and drive interior fluid flow through a hydraulic circuit, where energy is extracted via a hydro turbine driving a generator. The development process is outlined, including background on the advantages of deformable material WECs, key findings from exploratory experiments, the design and construction of a prototype, and the experimental procedure and results from testing in an intermediate scale (9.75 m x 0.915 m x 1 m) wave flume at O.H. Hinsdale Wave Lab. Results reveal the device’s potential and identify a range of conditions that maximize performance. Non-dimensional relative depth and capture width ratio values, combined with PacWave data from off the coast of Newport, Oregon, are used to predict the WEC’s required dimensions to produce a target wattage at a given site. Issues with the device’s construction are identified and suggestions for improvement to both the WEC and the testing procedure are suggested. The author hopes this thesis can be used as a framework to improve and continue testing the prototype, to determine whether developing a full-scale device is a worthwhile pursuit for the client.