Monday, April 26, 2010

What are Floating and Hinged Devices?

One of the most common types of floating devices are Point Absorbers or Buoys, which float on top of the ocean and therefore use the propelling motion of the wave generate energy.

(Aquaret, http://www.aquaret.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137&Itemid=280&lang=en)

The most common buoys have magnetic generators, which involves a magnet that is anchored to the bottom of the ocean and surrounded by a coil. As the motion of the waves propels the buoy up and down, the magnet also moves, creating an electric current through the coil.

There are also hinged devices or attenuators that consist of multiple floating buoys that are connected to each other by hinges. As the waves move through each of the buoys, the hinges, which are connected to hydraulic pumps or other converters, are forced to move, harnessing the energy of the wave.

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