Optimal Design of Oscillating Buoy for Efficient Wave Energy Harvesting

In recent times, oscillating buoy wave energy conversion systems have garnered significant attention globally. These buoys facilitate wave energy conversion into mechanical motion, subsequently harnessed into electricity through Power Take-Off (PTO) systems. The effectiveness of energy capture by these oscillating buoys directly impacts their overall power generation efficiency. Consequently, this paper aims to enhance energy capture efficiency by optimizing the hydrodynamic attributes of the oscillating buoy. Employing a frequency domain analysis approach and utilizing AQW A software, hydrodynamic simulations were conducted to analyze the impact of distinct structural parameters and draft depths on Response Amplitude Operator (RAO), a measure of buoy motion. Concurrently, based on wave characteristics in the Yancheng coastal area in Jiangsu Province, optimal buoy diameter and draft depths were determined using response surface methodology. The findings reveal that increased draft depths elevate the buoy's natural period at which RAO reaches its peak, while the buoy diameter's influence on the same is relatively marginal. As both draft depth and diameter increase, RAO follows an ascending then descending trend, culminating in specific buoy dimensions that maximize energy conversion efficiency during a particular period. For the wave characteristics in the sea area near Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, the optimal diameter of the buoy is around 1.8 m, and the draft depth is approximately 3.1 m.