Wavebob
Wave energy converter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wavebob was a wave energy converter which was in development between 1999 and 2013 when the company was closed owing to funding difficulties.[1]
| Company type | Privately Held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wave Energy |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Ireland, USA |
Key people | Andrew Parish -CEO Göran Dandanell -Chairman William Dick -Inventor Dr. Jochem Weber -Research Manager Dr. Ronan Costello -Hydraulics Team Leader |
| Products | [WECs] Wave Energy Conversion Buoys |
The device was an axisymetric self-reacting heaving buoy point absorber. It consisted of two oscillating structures, a floating collar or torus which followed the motion of the waves, and a central section containing the power-take-off at the top and a buoyancy-controlling tank below the water.
Wavebob Ltd. commenced the first of a number of sea trials in Galway Bay in Ireland during which it was tested as a 1/4 scale device for short periods at the SEAI 1/4 Scale Wave Power Testing facility[2] which is located in the inner bay inside the natural Aran Islands breakwater and where devices under test are exposed to around 1/3 of the expected energy of the 'Full Atlantic Ocean'.[3][4]
Technology
Wavebob used the lift and fall of ocean waves to drive generators [5]
The Wavebob consisted of two oscillating structures. These structures must be able to absorb in a variety of conditions and be robust to survive in the harsh marine environment. The structures are controlled by a damping system that can respond to predicted wave height, wave power and frequency. The tank structure (a semi-submerged body) uses captured sea water mass as the majority of its inertial mass. This significantly reduces the cost associated with structural materials.
The technology was developed over a decade, including tank testing at 1:100, 1:75, and 1:25 scale, benign sea conditions at 1:17 scale, and finally two sets of advanced development model (ADM) tests at 1:4 scale in Galway Bay. The first (ADM1) in 2006 produced power at sea for the first time, and the second (ADM2) in 2007 confirming the capability in a range of sea conditions.[6]
Wavebob developed its business through an Open Innovation Model and was partnered with leading energy companies such as Chevron and Vattenfall. It briefly established a joint venture company with Vattenfall called Tonn Energy to develop commercial wave farms off the west coast of Ireland; tonn is the Irish language word for wave.[7]
Company milestones
1999: Original patents filed
2007: CEO appointed; head office in Maynooth established
2013: Company Closed Down.