Wave Energy Converters and Design Considerations for Gulf of Mexico

Authors

  • Kelly L. Guiberteau University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Jim Lee University of Louisiana Lafayette
  • Yucheng Liu University of Louisville
  • Yangqing Dou University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Theodore A. Kozman University of Louisiana Lafayette

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/dgaej2156-3306.3044

Keywords:

Wave energy converter, Gulf of Mexico, design consid - erations, investigational study

Abstract

This article presents an investigational study on wave energy con-
verters (WECs) and the design considerations for possible implementa -
tion in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The types of WEC available from the
market are studied first. The design considerations for implementing
a WEC in GOM are then evaluated. There are several different types
of devices that can be used in the system design. Each device type has
different attributes that may be helpful or hurtful for the area and wave
activity in the GOM. From the evaluation there is a recommendation of
the optimal device design conditions, and three device types are recom-
mended for further pursuit as design candidates. Six different WEC
projects that are currently being developed and most are ready for com-
mercial testing are examined. Our study evaluates the usefulness of the
WECs for the GOM, and provides design factors of both physical and
economic scaling. The result of this investigation reveals that while none
of the devices can be installed “as is” in the GOM because of wave power
or geometry requirements, there are some that have the potential to be
modified and scaled down to fit the GOM climate.

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Author Biographies

Kelly L. Guiberteau, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Kelly L. Guiberteau received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechan-
ical engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and was
the lead student for the Industrial Assessment Center at the University
of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant
at Texas A&M University. Her research interests include energy manage-
ment, integrated product and process design, and wave energy.

Jim Lee, University of Louisiana Lafayette

Jim Lee is Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Program Coor-
dinator of Systems Engineering at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.
He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial and Management
Engineering from the University of Iowa. His research areas include
simulation, statistical analysis, decision support systems, and computer-
integrated production systems.
Email: jlee@louisiana.edu

Yucheng Liu, University of Louisville

Yucheng Liu is Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering. His
research interests include computer modeling and simulation, structural
mechanics, and alternative energy. He received his Ph.D. in Mechani -
cal Engineering from the University of Louisville and he is a registered
Professional Engineer and holds active membership in ASME, SAE, and
ASEE.
Email: yxl5763@louisiana.edu

Yangqing Dou, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Yangqing Dou is a Ph. D. student in Mechanical Engineering at
University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She received her B.S. and M.S. de -
grees in Aeronautical and astronautically engineering from Northwest-
ern Polytechnical University. Her research interests include engineering
mathematics, numerical methods, computational mechanics and fluid
dynamics.
Email: dxy3509@louisiana.edu

Theodore A. Kozman, University of Louisiana Lafayette

Theodore A. Kozman is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering,
University of Louisiana Lafayette and Director of Louisiana Industrial
Assessment Center. His research areas include project management, en-
ergy management and productivity improvement. He received his Ph.D.
in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the University of Tennessee.
Email: kozman@louisiana.edu

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Published

2015-10-16

How to Cite

Guiberteau, K. L. ., Lee, J. ., Liu, Y. ., Dou, Y. ., & Kozman, T. A. . (2015). Wave Energy Converters and Design Considerations for Gulf of Mexico. Distributed Generation &Amp; Alternative Energy Journal, 30(04), 55–76. https://doi.org/10.13052/dgaej2156-3306.3044

Issue

2015: Vol 30 Iss 4

Section

Articles