Seminar - Andrew Caska - Ocean Wave Energy Conversion

Wednesday 9 August 2006, 1.10 - 1.50 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 3

Abstract
Most of us who have spent some time near the ocean eventually come to the realisation that ocean waves are a high energy dynamic phenomena, a relentless force that cannot be conquered or tamed. The more technical minded begin to wonder how one could extract some of this energy and convert it to a more useful form, in the most case, electrical power.

Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) begins at the ocean, the source, ending only at the final product, electricity. Between these two complex boundaries resides the problem of WEC, the subject of the speakers PhD research work.

The presentation will take this holistic view of the WEC problem and gradually refine it to the specific technology being developed. The current status of the speaker’s research will be highlighted and results to date will be shown. These preliminary results providing the impetus for forthcoming experimental champagnes utilising the new 30m wave tank in the Civil Engineering fluid mechanics laboratory.