Modern society is highly dependent on electric power for its daily activities and overall modern lifestyle. While fossil fuels remain a major source of electricity generation, they are rapidly depleting, and their use is associated with high costs, significant carbon emissions, and numerous environmental concerns. In contrast, ocean waves offer a clean, renewable, and naturally abundant source of energy that presents a promising alternative. To harness this potential, a chambered ocean wave energy converter cum breakwater has been developed. This system features a durable, mechanically strong, and weather-resistant oblong structure installed along the coastal line. It includes a wave energy extraction system housed within an oblong chamber that has a vertical outer wall facing the sea and a vertical inner wall adjacent to the shoreline. The outer wall is designed with multiple water flow passages, allowing seawater to enter and interact with energy extraction units placed within the chamber. These units effectively convert wave energy into usable electric power while the structure itself serves the dual purpose of shoreline protection and energy generation.
Figure (1) Image of chambered ocean wave energy converter integrated into a coastal breakwater structure.
Modern society relies heavily on electric power for everyday activities and maintaining its contemporary lifestyle, with fossil fuels serving as a primary but rapidly depleting energy source for power generation. Among the alternative energy sources, ocean waves present a clean, renewable, and cost-effective option that is abundantly available. Moreover, wave forces contribute to coastal erosion and the receding of shorelines, making it essential for countries with extensive coastlines—such as India, with over 7,500 km of shoreline—to both harness wave energy and protect their coasts. However, existing ocean wave energy converters typically fail to address coastal erosion and lack the adaptability to operate efficiently under varying wave conditions. These systems are often complex, expensive, and deliver relatively low power output. Consequently, there is a pressing need for ocean wave converter cum breakwater systems that are simple in design, cost-effective, and efficient, while also capable of withstanding extreme marine conditions and serving the dual purpose of energy generation and coastal protection.
- Dual Purpose: Converts ocean wave energy into electricity while acting as a barrier against wave forces, thereby protecting the shoreline from erosion and damage.
- In-situ Power Generation: Built closer to the shoreline, it eliminates energy transmission losses by generating power at the source.
- Low Maintenance: Protected from harsh sea conditions, leading to reduced wear and lower maintenance costs.
- Variable Efficiency: Operates efficiently across different seasons, adapting to the availability and intensity of wave energy.
- Additional Utility: Can serve as a road or walkway, adding infrastructure value beyond energy generation.
The prototype is a chambered ocean wave energy converter integrated into a coastal breakwater structure, designed to provide both shoreline protection and renewable energy generation. It features a durable, reinforced concrete oblong structure with a series of internal chambers, including a wave energy receiving chamber, energy conversion chamber, and service chamber. Seawater enters the structure through water flow passages in the outer wall and interacts with multiple wave energy extraction units. Each unit includes a swiveling rod suspended from the roof, connected to a buoyant body at its base, and a magnet-stator assembly in the conversion chamber. As wave motion moves the buoyant body, it induces electricity through electromagnetic induction. The system has been successfully tested in a controlled lab environment, demonstrating its mechanical functionality and energy-generating potential.
The patented technology is currently at TRL 4, having been validated in the lab environment.
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Modern society is heavily dependent on electric power for various day to day activities and for its modern lifestyle. Fossil fuels are a major source of energy for electric power generation but it is getting depleted day by day. Among the various alternative sources of energy for electric power generation, ocean waves are a clean, renewable and cheap source of energy available in abundance.
- Wave energy generation.
- Shoreline protection
Geography of IP
Type of IP
201721021992
472544