Mini Wave Energy Harvesting Test Rig Using Multiple Solenoid Magnets

Lee, Voon Hui (2020) Mini Wave Energy Harvesting Test Rig Using Multiple Solenoid Magnets. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

Text Mini Wave Energy Harvesting Test Rig Using Multiple Solenoid Magnets.pdf Download (424kB)

Abstract

The usage of a conventional source power plant to generate electricity gives a big impact to environment due to its pollutions. The development of conventional source of power plant is crucial, however the common conventional sources use in Malaysia are gas, steam and hydro power plants. In Malaysia the wave power plant is not widely use, but there is a potential to build the wave power plant in Malaysia. In Malaysia the most suitable area to develop a wave power plant is Terengganu, because the potential energy that can be generated is between 2.8kW/m to 8.6kW/m. In this study, the potential of electric generation system based on wave energy was investigated. The objectives of this project are to improve the previous mini wave harvesting test rig and study different wave pattern effect that obtained from a mini wave simulator in producing electricity for different configuration of multiple solenoid magnets. In this study, wave generator and linear generator were modified and improved. The wave generator that moves in linear motion (reciprocating motion) was used to produce artificial wave. From the fluctuation movement of the artificial wave, the linear generators will convert the kinetic energy to electrical energy through the magnetic flux cutting between copper coil and magnet. The induced current produced will light up the LED as an indicator of electric production. A multimeter was used to measure the voltage and current produced. The experiments were conducted with 3 different wave generator speed and location of linear generator to determine the highest voltage and current produced as preliminary results. The highest voltage and current produced at a distance of 40cm from wave generator with speed no.3. The next experiment for multiple linear generators was conducted with the first linear generator located at 40cm from wave generator and the second linear generator was set at 20cm and 60cm from wave generator. The experiment was repeated as preliminary experiment. Performance of this test rig is determined based on the capability of producing high induced current and voltage. The findings of this study showed direct relationship between number of linear generator and induced current and voltage produced. The number of linear generator increased this lead to more induced current and voltage produced. The motor speed increased this lead to high amplitude of wave. Motor speed is directly proportional water wave amplitude. Wave amplitude also affects the number of magnetic flux cutting on linear generator. The higher the amplitude, the more number of magnetic flux cutting on linear generator, the more induced current and voltage produced. Based on the preliminary experiment the best location to fixed the first linear generator is 40cm from wave generator, which produced the highest electricity. Based on the actual experiment result obtained, the highest value of induced current and voltage produce at a distance of 20 cm and 40cm from the wave generator with speed 3 and time taken 25 minutes are 4.72mA and 6.41V respectively.

Actions (login required)

View Item