Optimization of the geometry of axisymmetric point-absorber wave energy converters

Wave energy represents an abundant source of renewable energy, but as yet the potential is not fully utilized. Aiming to exploit this vast potential, many theoretical, experimental and pilot-scale studies have been conducted on wave energy converters (WECs), however as yet there has been no convergence on the optimal shape of a WEC. Furthermore, there is no agreed-upon definition of what it means for a WEC to be 'optimal' and no established framework to find optimal shapes. This thesis establishes a novel, scientifically rigorous framework to find practically realistic optimal shapes of WECs. Through a general, efficient and efficacious procedure, we systematically investigate groups of shapes to reveal powerful new results for the optimal shapes of axisymmetric WECs. Finally, we analyze these results to develop insights and gain physical intuition about the best WEC shapes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Edwards, Emma(Emma Chute)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dick K. P. Yue.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/128999

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/128999