Structural design and analysis of a wave energy-based navigational buoy

Abstract

Ocean has a huge potential to produce electricity from various resources, such as waves, tides, ocean thermal gradient and ocean salinity gradient. Out of these energy sources, wave energy is said to have a higher energy density and smaller fluctuations in power over longer durations compared to other ocean renewables. India has a moderate wave energy potential, but with a long coastline, it can be a potential energy source for the coastal and island communities. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has been working on harnessing this wave energy and has developed many devices for it. Recently, the NIOT team successfully demonstrated an all-weather floating buoy in the waters of Kamarajar Port, Chennai, for powering a beacon lamp on top of the buoy and oceanographic-related components using energy extracted from the ocean waves. While powering the beacon, this navigational buoy will be subjected to various waves, currents, winds and mooring loads. All the buoy parts should be strong enough to withstand the loads. The buoy was designed and analysed in ANSYS APDL for extreme load conditions and was found to be structurally sound. The inertia relief feature available in the software was explored, and the results were compared with those obtained using the standard method for solving similar problems. This paper provides an overview of the wave energy landscape in India. It details the development of this indigenous wave-powered navigational buoy, highlighting its design, testing, and applications in supporting maritime navigation and oceanographic research.