The Development and Testing of a Wave-Activated Navigation Buoy With a Wells Turbine

This paper presents and discusses the results of the first stage of an ongoing research program to improve the design of wave powered navigation aids using the oscillating water column principle. Wave tank testing has shown that the heave motion of current tail tube buoys is the predominant feature of the hydrodynamic response. A Wells self rectifying air turbine, coupled to a 100-W generator which produces an optimum level of damping to the water column for peak performance, has been designed and tested. It has been concluded from preliminary sea trails that a simple, efficient, reliable, turbine-generator has been developed to meet the requirements of the current design of navigation buoy. However there is considerable scope for improving the hydrodynamic design of wave activated buoys.