Date of Award

Spring 2012

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Ocean Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

M Robinson Swift

Abstract

The design of a Submerged Ocean Wave Energy Converter (SOWEC) was developed and evaluated using physical models in the University of New Hampshire (UNH) wave tank. The SOWEC is a unique "pumping" device and was designed to capture both potential (heave) energy and the kinetic (surge) energy from waves. The testing was done with a 1:8 scale model in the Chase Laboratory wave tank where it was subjected to regular (single frequency) waves having the maximum wave heights available for each period. The SOWEC was deployed at different depths and angles, with and without flow control attachments to enhance performance. A piston water pump was used as the power take-off system in this testing. Scale model peak pressure mechanical efficiencies up to 40 % were achieved in the model depending on operating configuration.

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