SBIR Phase I: A novel small-scale wave energy converter for marine equipment or emergency devices

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是为海洋中使用的技术提供动力：飓风猎人、智能浮标、气象站、海洋互联网枢纽和无人水下航行器该项目旨在创造一种低成本、小型的波能转换器(WEC)，可以从海浪中产生电能，并为附近的设备供电。不幸的是，太阳能电池板不能在光线较弱的环境下运行，而且会消耗大量的面积，而且风力涡轮机很难在海上安装和稳定。将进行一项研究，以确定如何在受控波浪水槽中最大限度地提高WEC在不同波浪条件下的能量输出，并与模拟结果进行比较。将构建准确的数学模型，并用于指导产品的开发。紧急救援队可以使用WEC产品为收音机或手机供电。它可以为收集天气数据和跟踪即将到来的飓风的海洋仪器提供动力，以及用于监测和保护我国海岸线的海上设备。拟议的项目旨在开发一种创新和紧凑的波能转换器(WEC)，可以为海洋仪器、应急设备或消费电子产品提供小规模电力。这项创新使用了一种定制的齿轮布置，将小波运动放大为旋转能量，用于为发电机提供动力。一种计算机算法和执行器将通过改变机器的机械性能来调整点吸收臂以适应海浪的频率和幅度。WEC具有对称间隔的点吸收臂，该吸收臂沿圆周放置，使机器能够捕获来自任何方向的波能。WEC的尺寸符合实验室波箱的限制，在实验室波箱中可以最大限度地提高机器的性能以实现功率输出。机器将使用实验设计(DoE)方法进行分析，该方法有效地解决了因素交互作用。这些因素包括点吸波体的数量、吸波体的长度、吸波体的浮力以及它们的质量。将创建设备的数学模型，进行调整以匹配实际性能，并用于进一步开发产品。技术挑战是将大约10瓦的功率封装成大约一个成年人的大小和重量。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to power technology used in the ocean: hurricane hunters, smart buoys, weather stations, ocean internet hubs, and unmanned underwater vehicles The project aims to create a low-cost, small-scale Wave Energy Converter (WEC) that can generate electrical energy from ocean wave motion and power nearby equipment. Unfortunately, solar panels don’t operate in low light and consume a lot of area, and wind turbines are difficult to install and stabilize on the sea. A study will be conducted to determine how to maximize the energy output of the WEC at varying wave conditions in a controlled wave tank and compared against simulation results. An accurate mathematical model will be constructed and used to guide the development of the product. The WEC product can be used by emergency relief teams to power radios or cell phones. It can power ocean instruments collecting weather data and tracking incoming hurricanes, as well as equipment at sea used to monitor and protect our nation’s coastlines. The proposed project aims to develop an innovative and compact Wave Energy Converter (WEC) that can offer small-scale power for oceanic instruments, emergency equipment or consumer electronics. The innovation uses a custom arrangement of gears to amplify small wave movements into rotational energy used to power an electrical generator. A computer algorithm and actuators will tune point absorbing arms to the frequencies and amplitudes of ocean waves by modifying mechanical properties of the machine. The WEC has symmetrically spaced point absorbing arms positioned circumferentially that allow the machine to capture wave energy from any direction. The size of the WEC fits within the limits of a laboratory wave tank where the performance of the machine can be maximized for power output. The machine will be analyzed with the Design of Experiments (DoE) approach which efficiently resolves factor interactions. The factors are the number of point absorbers, length of the absorbers, the buoyancy of the absorbers, and their masses. A mathematical model of the device will be created, adjusted to match actual performance, and used to further develop the product. The technical challenge is to produce roughly 10 watts of power in a package about the size and weight of an adult.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.