Wave energy converter

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.10 × C.24 · Bulk fluid flow × Turbomachineryfamily: TurbomachineryD.10 × C.14 · Bulk fluid flow × Electromagnetic inductionfamily: Electromagnetic induction

Measured or reported performance

Summary figures only; no datum-level record yet. Each figure below is a reviewed summary, not a single measurement.

notes

point absorbers and oscillating water columns of 100 kW–1 MW have run at sea for years; no converged design

Steps

1. 01
   Bulk fluid flow —drives→ Ocean wave motionestablishedclaim record

   kinetic → mechanical · loss to thermal

   • wind fetch over open water

   liquid

   refs [1] [2]
2. 02
   Ocean wave motion —produces→ Mechanical motiondemonstratedclaim record

   mechanical → mechanical

   • a buoy, flap or water column following the wave

   refs [1]
3. 03
   Mechanical motion —drives→ Rotating-machine generator actionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • a shaft turning a rotor inside a stator, or a magnet moved past a coil

   conductor required · magnetic field required

   refs [3] [4]
4. 04
   Rotating-machine generator action —produces→ Charge carriersestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   refs [3] [5]
5. 05
   Charge carriers —converts into→ Electrical workestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • carriers driven through an external load at the potential difference the source maintains

   refs [6]

Evidence for the complete composition · 1

1. [1]
   S. H. Salter. Wave power (1974)

   Nature 249, 720–724 · doi:10.1038/249720a0 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Evidence for the constituent relations · 6

1. [1]
   S. H. Salter. Wave power (1974)

   Nature 249, 720–724 · doi:10.1038/249720a0 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   J. Falnes. Ocean Waves and Oscillating Systems: Linear Interactions Including Wave-Energy Extraction (2002)

   Cambridge University Press · doi:10.1017/CBO9780511754630 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
3. [3]
   M. Faraday. Experimental researches in electricity (1832)

   Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 122, 125–162 · doi:10.1098/rstl.1832.0006 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
4. [4]
   S. L. Dixon, C. A. Hall. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery (7th ed.) (2014)

   Butterworth-Heinemann · doi:10.1016/C2011-0-05059-7 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
5. [5]
   L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, L. P. Pitaevskii. Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Course of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 8, 2nd ed.) (1984)

   Pergamon · book, no DOI · record
6. [6]
   N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin. Solid State Physics (1976)

   Holt, Rinehart and Winston · book, no DOI · record