Simulation and review of a small-scale device for wave energy conversion

The exploration and analysis of wave energy potential in some Mexican coastal nodes is complemented by this work, which presents an electromagnetic analysis and simulation of the transducer device for converting wave energy into electricity. The device developed for this purpose is the permanent magnet linear electric generator (LEG). The wave energy potential obtained in a preliminary work at various points in Mexican coastal waters provides a precedent for the design of this device. The application of linear generators to obtain electrical energy from alternative sources of energy is a topic that is increasingly of interest for the progress of new distributed generation system. Therefore, in addition to determining the energy potential through electromagnetic simulation, this work also analyzes the performance and energy quality supplied by a linear generator. The simulation developed in this work is based on the displacement spectrum, and is a function of the significant wave height and its periodicity in the Mexican coastal points analyzed in the preliminary work. This study also contributes to both the design and development for micro-generation systems based on wave power, widening the range of electric power converters to assist in the energy control and quality of these linear generator devices.