Hydrodynamic principles of wave power extraction
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Updated: May 26, 2026

Measurements of Waves in a Wind-wave Tank Under Steady and Time-varying Wind Forcing
Published on: February 13, 2018
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. ccmei@mit.edu
Abstract:
The hydrodynamic principles common to many wave power converters are reviewed via two representative systems. The first involves one or more floating bodies, and the second water oscillating in a fixed enclosure. It is shown that the prevailing basis is impedance matching and resonance, for which the typical analysis can be illustrated for a single buoy and for an oscillating water column. We then examine the mechanics of a more recent design involving a compact array of small buoys that are not resonated. Its theoretical potential is compared with that of a large buoy of equal volume. A simple theory is also given for a two-dimensional array of small buoys in well-separated rows parallel to a coast. The effects of coastline on a land-based oscillating water column are examined analytically. Possible benefits of moderate to large column sizes are explored. Strategies for broadening the frequency bandwidth of high efficiency by controlling the power-takeoff system are discussed.
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