Title:
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Computer model of the Archmimedes wave swing
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
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1996
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-I--95-049
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Other
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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11
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Download PDF
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Abstract:
The Archimedes Wave Swing is a new method for converting wave energy intoelectrical power. Its principle is explained in a separate report: 'The
Archimedes Wave Swing, a new way of utilising wave energy' (ECN-I--95-030).
An AWS system consists of a number of air filled vessels floating at neutral
buoyancy some fifteen meters below the surface of the sea. Depending whether
the top or the trough of a wave is present above the floater it sinks or
rises. The oncoming waves cause in this way an oscillating movement of the
floater. Some of the energy extracted from the waves is stored in the
rotational movement of the floater that is mechanically coupled to the
vertical movement. This energy storage smooths the movement of the floater
and helps it to reverse its direction from going down into rising again and
vice versa. This makes a larger stroke possible and thus increases the amount
of energy extracted from the waves. To assess the dynamical effects on its
performance fairly early in the evaluation process, a simple dynamic model
was made, describing the behavior of one floater acting against a source of
constant air pressure. The model is briefly described. 2 figs.
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