A serpent-type wave energy converter

The problem of the interaction of waves with a serpent-type wave energy converter was investigated, and a novel 3D analytical solution was derived. The optimal parameters of the energy converter were derived for the first time from wave energy principles. The results show that the wave power captured by the device increases with increasing wave lengths until a maximum and then decreases. The efficiency increases with decreasing stiffness of the device in shallow and intermediate waters. In deep water, the efficiency increases with increasing stiffness until a local maximum and then decreases. Moreover, the efficiency increases with the increasing mass of the device in shallow and intermediate waters. In deep water, the efficiency of a converter decreases with the increasing mass of the device. An original approach to determine the optimal parameters of a device for given wave conditions was derived. The derived analytical formula shows that the top efficiency level of power capturing cannot exceed 50%. This is the theoretical maximum for this type of converter. The power take-off optimization analysis also identifies the spectrum of wave conditions for which the efficiency of the generator is close to the maximum. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted in a hydraulic laboratory to verify the model. The comparisons of the recorded data with the analytical solution show a very good agreement.