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Final Paper 473KB |
Project-Based Teaching: Wave To Water Technology
To connect theory and real-life application in the classroom, a team of students developed and optimized a simulation model for an oscillating surge wave energy converter (OSWEC) for seawater desalination. This project-based teaching approach enhances students’ learning in the classroom by linking critical concepts learned in the classroom to seawater desalination using renewable energy. Using simulation software in the development process of an ocean wave energy converter (WEC) can help maximize its efficiency by optimizing converter design parameters. This work presents and analyzes the hydrodynamic coefficients and design parameters of an OSWEC for direct water desalination. The waves and their interactions with the OSWEC geometry are simulated, followed by the simulation of the WEC’s response to the waves as a function of time. The goal of this research is to develop a design project that will introduce students to the topic of renewable energy and bridge the gap between theory learned in a class setting and real-life application.