Wave power extraction by a train of rafts: hydrodynamic theory and optimum design

A theory is given for a two-dimensional wave power device which consists of a train of floating rafts whose wave-induced rotation about the hinges is used to generate energy. Ideal efficiency, wave forces and raft movements are studied by a linearized shallow water theory which is sufficiently simple to enable an investigation for optimum designs under a variety of criteria of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. For a sample raft train, a numerical theory for arbitrary wavelength is also applied, yielding results which are not essentially different from those by the long wave approximation.