Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEfrtAOMuvk
1) The pattern of movement of particles in water waves
2) Up and Down Simple Harmonic Motion resulting from the
sinusoidal / trochoidal nature of swell waves
3) The use of Parabolic shapes to capture waves and
concentrate their energy into a narrow region
4) A Variety of Buoy Shapes for positioning on and below the
water surface
5) Clever Geometry of Turbine Blades so that they can
generate power when going both forwards and backwards
6) A Variety of Geometrical Arrangements of Energy
Capturing blades, buoys, turbines, and paddles designed to
interact with ocean waves, and freshwater currents
Oscillating Water Column Technology
“OWC” is based on replicating what
happens in natural “Blow Holes”
Oceanlinx Australia “OWC” Units with
Parabolic capturing and Turbines that turn
as each wave comes in and as it recedes.
OWC Power Generation is also being
used in Scotland in a breakwater type
application which generates electricity.
Oscillating Buoys drive pistons which pump water to an
elevated storage tank. Water from the storage tank is
channeled to rotate a fluid motor or a turbine, which in
turn rotates a generator to produce electricity..
Two possible geometric
arrangements of Actuator
Bars to drive wave
powered Piston Pumps.
The resulting Water Flow
drives electricity turbines.
A wave energy
“farm” is created by
joining together
actuator arms and
buoys in a chained
arrangement.
Each link in the chain
has four pumps
driving a turbine to
pump water along
the system to the
Main Generator.
Ceto run by Carnegie Wave Energy in Western
Australia is in the first stage of a commercial
scale demonstration Wave Farm facility.
 Wave energy can be predicted several days in advance
 Supply of wave energy and demand for power are well
matched, with most of the world’s population living
near to the coast
 Power is provided by Blue Energy Wave Technology
night and day, with waves being a far more reliable
and regular source compared to Wind and Solar
Energy
 Wave energy converters can have less visual impact
on its environment during energy production or
recovery in comparison to wind and fossil fuels.
 Wave power, like other early energy sources, is
currently expensive.
 While coal might be priced at five to 10 cents per
kilowatt hour of energy, wave energy costs reach 20 to
30 cents.
 Wave energy companies need more time to develop
technologies that can withstand the harsh ocean
environment.
 Another tricky issue is property. Unlike building a
power plant on land a company owns, the ocean is
common space. Also how will Fishing and Shipping
be affected by the placement of structures.
Complete details of all material covered
in this presentation can be found in the
“Mathematics of Oceans” lesson on the
Passy’s World of Mathematics Website:
www.passyworldofmathematics.com