Wave energy harvesting: Extraction of maximum energy from the oceanic wave by design optimization of a linear electrical generator

Abstract

Due to the intermittent nature of oceanic waves, extraction of maximum wave energy is challenging by only improving the efficiency of direct drive linear electrical generators (LEGs). Site specific wave characteristics further complicate performance optimization. The existing design optimization of LEGs for wave energy conversion involves improvement of a single or double performance parameter, such as output power, dynamics, power density, or efficiency. Improvement in one parameter often impacts others, posing a significant challenge to achieving balanced and efficient wave energy conversion. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a hill-climbing–based optimization methodology. To test the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method, the generator’s operating speed is first determined by analyzing energy distribution of a reported high potential site in the Bay of Bengal. Finite element analyses are then performed by ANSYS/Maxwell on the LEG to refine the design. As a result, simultaneous enhancement of output power, dynamics, power density, and efficiency is achieved through multistage design optimization of the LEG. The optimized generator demonstrates excellent performance in efficient wave energy conversion.