Comprehensive Modelling of A Slotess Halbach Linear Generator Based Wave Energy Converter

Over the past decades, harnessing the ocean wave energy has attracted tremendous attentions. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analytical model of slotless Halbach linear generator, which includes hydrodynamic effect and intrinsic magnetic distribution model, for generating electrical power from wave motion. The potential theory has been applied to model the 6-DOF wave-structural interaction while assuming the fluid is inviscid, irrotational, and incompressible. The magnetic vector potential method has been employed to derive the expressions for describing the performance of the generator. A good match between analytical result and the FEM result was achieved. Treating the whole structure as a mass-spring-damper system, a comprehensive model has been obtained. With the developed model, we have paid a special attention to the response regarding the real ocean waves spectrum for evaluating the potential of using the model as a design tool. The additional frequency domain response shows that it is preferred to maintain a low spring stiffness of the power take-off system for achieving the maximum power output.