Examining the Oyster Wave Energy Converter
Our WEC
Our WEC is a lab-scale model that will be used by the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory at UW to characterize the hydrodynamics of flap style WECs. It has a 1 meter wide, buoyant, bottom-hinged flap that is driven by surge motion in a wave tank. It has a servo motor, gearbox, and load cells that can simulate a generator and can drive the flap in still water to characterize the hydrodynamic properties of the flap.
I designed the housing and sealing system that includes the bearings and dynamic seals at the hinge of the flap. I was responsible for making sure that the seals do not leak water into the motor cavity and flood the motor.
This design work feels like especially good practice for me because I have not worked with many moving parts since high school robotics--my internship working with sonars at the Applied Physics Lab is mostly intricate, static parts and transducers that vibrate.
I designed the housing and sealing system that includes the bearings and dynamic seals at the hinge of the flap. I was responsible for making sure that the seals do not leak water into the motor cavity and flood the motor.
This design work feels like especially good practice for me because I have not worked with many moving parts since high school robotics--my internship working with sonars at the Applied Physics Lab is mostly intricate, static parts and transducers that vibrate.