Slingshot resonance for ocean wave energy conversion

Abstract

The slingshot effect and its application to converting ocean wave energy are discussed. It is shown that, owing to the large inertia transported by ocean waves and their periodicity, the slingshot effect can result in the transmission of significant kinetic energy to a puck colliding elastically with a pusher plate driven by ocean wave motion. A simplified geometrical model is used to demonstrate that, despite the stochastic nature of the collisions (whereby collisions occur at random times in the wave cycle), head-on collisions occur more frequently, yielding a net average gain of energy. However, the most promising configuration for applying the slingshot effect to ocean wave energy conversion is that which matches, through appropriate design, the travel time of the puck between collisions with the wave period. Then, only head-on collisions occur, resulting in a significant magnification of the puck kinetic energy. Further research will be required before this slingshot effect can be practically implemented for ocean wave energy conversion