Development of a Novel 1:7 Scale Wave Energy Converter Available to Purchase

This paper presents a novel 1:7 scale point absorber wave energy converter (WEC), developed by Columbia Power Technologies (COLUMBIA POWER). Four hydrodynamic modeling tools were employed in the scaled development and the optimization process of the WEC, including WAMIT, Garrad Hassan’s GH WaveFarmer, OrcaFlex and ANSYS AQWA. The numerical analysis development is discussed, and the performance and mooring estimates at 1:7 scale and full scale are evaluated and optimized. The paper includes the development of the 1:7 scale physical model and the associated WEC field testing in Puget Sound, WA.