Pitch Resonator Wave Energy Converter

A small wave energy converter (WEC) that absorbs the rotational motion of an oceanographic buoy or similar:  A flywheel reacts against the buoy via a restoring stiffness and electric motor/generator. The buoy is excited by a torque from the waves and the viscous and Coulumb friction between the buoy and flywheel are captured.  This causes both the buoy and flywheel to rotate thereby allowing power to be extracted by an electric generator.

Co-owned by Woods Hole Oceanographic, Evergreen Innovations, and Johns Hopkins