Annular Electromagnetic Generator for Harvesting Ocean Wave Energy

Abstract

To sustainably power ocean sensors by harvesting ocean wave energy, an annular electromagnetic generator (A-EMG) based on the principle of Faraday electromagnetic induction is proposed in this paper. The specific structure and working principle of the generator are introduced. The distribution of the magnetic field in the coil, the variation in the induced voltage and the influence of the coil parameters on the output were simulated by the COMSOL Multiphysics software version 6.0. At the same time, an experimental platform was built to test the output characteristics of the generator. Through a comparative study of the capacitor’s charging characteristics, the optimal connection mode between the multiple groups of coils of the generator was preliminarily verified. Finally, the six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) platform was used to simulate various wave motion parameters, and the feasibility of the generator for supplying power to ocean sensors was verified.