Performance of a submerged piezoelectric wave energy converter device floating over an undulated seabed

Abstract

In this study, the power absorption of a submerged piezoelectric wave energy converter (PWEC) device floating over a rippled seabed is investigated under the linear water wave theory. The boundary element method (BEM) is used to solve the physical problem analogs to the hydrodynamics of the PWEC device. The effect of different structural parameters such as the length of the piezoelectric plate, submergence depth, amplitude, and the number of ripples of the sinusoidal seabed on the power generation of the PWEC device is examined. The study demonstrates that the PWEC plate having moderate length can produce the highest power in the shortwave regime. Further, positioning the PWEC near the free surface can generate more power from ocean wave energy.

Keywords

• Piezoelectricity
• Wave energy
• Hydroelasticity
• Water waves
• Sinusoidal bottom