Wave Power Generation by Piezoelectric Sensor Attached to a Coastal Structure

• Main Authors: Kyu-Han Kim, Si-Bum Cho, Hyun-Dong Kim, Kyu-Tae Shim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Sensors
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7986438

The characteristics of a new wave power generating system have been proposed by installing a piezoelectric sensor to the seaward position of an existing coastal structure. By installing the sensor to the structure, waves will hit the piezoelectric sensor to generate wave energy; at the same time, the structure acts as a wave breaker. This technique can be applied to various coastal structures to converge the functions of renewable energy generator and the wave reducing structure. This technique of using piezoelectric sensor is relatively inexpensive that can be used for economic purposes as well. Throughout the study, usability of the existing coastal structure and characteristics of current research trend in the ocean wave energy retrieval of the wave power generators have been analyzed. Hydrographic analysis of this technique has been conducted by hydraulic model experiment using 2D wave flume and confirmed that the wave pressure and voltages maximize when higher wave with longer period of wave induces. Throughout the experiment, correlations of generation volume and wave conditions have been found.