Anaconda Novel Wave Energy Converter

Overview

Anaconda is a radical approach to wave energy conversion. In essence, it is a long water-filled flexible rubber tube floating just beneath the sea surface, aligned in the direction of wave travel, with a power generating turbine at the stern. As waves pass, the tube flexes due to varying external pressure causing a "bulge" to travel along the tube’s length.

Anaconda embodies a complex hydro-elastic problem directly coupling performance and survivability, with distensibility being the key governing parameter. Through numerical modelling activities and a series of physical model testing campaigns, an understanding of its influence on performance and survivability was acquired. Careful selection of the tube’s elastic properties matches a resonance between the bulge wave and the incident waves to produce continuous energy gathering as the bulge travels along the tube’s length.

Two forms of power take-off were investigated: initially a closed loop hydro-elastic turbine sub-system; and latterly, a controllable linear piston. The linear piston PTO allowed greater control of the bulge tube interface improving understanding of Anaconda’s absorption potential, targeting improved economic potential.