Dynamic Force Response Analysis of Buoy Geometries for Point-Absorber Wave Energy Converters

The rapid growth of the human population and the increasing demand for energy have accelerated the depletion of fossil fuel supplies in recent years. One potential solution to this issue is the utilisation of wave energy. Ocean waves possess a capacity sufficient to meet at least half of the global electricity demand. It is estimated that sea waves generate between 8000 and 80,000 TWh/year, while the world’s electrical energy consumption is approximately 140,000 TWh/year. This research employs the experimental methode to find and compare the effect of buoy geometry on the thrust and lifting forces generated. Various buoy shapes, including hemispherical, conical, cylindrical, and box-shaped, were tested. The buoys were mounted on a swing arm to measure the lifting and thrust forces under load variations of 0 kg, 0.250 kg, 0.500 kg, and 0.750 kg. The experiment utilised cameras and digital scales to measure speed and force. The results indicated that the highest lifting force recorded was 0.162 N with a hemispherical buoy at a load of 0.500 kg, while the highest thrust force was 0.475 N with an unloaded hemispherical buoy. This indicate that the shape of the buoy plays a significant role in maximising the absorption of wave energy.