In 2021, I interned at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Marine Energy group, where I contributed to the mechanical and electrical design of a point-absorber style wave energy converter called HERO WEC.
HERO WEC, the Hydraulic and Electric Reverse Osmosis Wave Energy Converter, is a test device designed to mitigate risk in deployment and interfaces in the Waves To Water competition. Waves to Water is a contest for small-scale wave-powered desalination systems for disaster relief scenarios.
I worked on the design of both the electrical and hydraulic powertrain systems. I created a Simulink Simscape model of the generator and power electronics, and helped spec the generator, submersible power cable, and other electrical components. For the hydraulic system, I performed structural calculations and helped evaluate different mechanisms including a ball screw, chain drive, and hydraulic circuit.
See here for a March 2021 press release about the project.
Update February 2022: the device was successfully deployed in the ocean, off the coast of Jennette's Pier in North Carolina.
