Perpustakaan Digital ITB

This research project aimed to develop a mechanism to effectively harness ocean waves to generate usable electric energy to power the equipment on small aquatic vehicles. The product was intended to aid the operators of these vehicles in lessening their dependence on fossil fuels. The design and prototyping process began with conducting foundational research. This is composed of analyzing preexisting designs as well as coming up with the design requirements and objectives based on the potential users. The product consists of four main parts: the floating buoy mechanism, the frame and mechanical system, the electric generator system, and the power inverter. Overall, the product weighs 16.35 kg. In its compact form, the machine has a width of 30 cm, a length of 80 cm, and a height of 80 cm. The testing of this product was done by using the wave simulator in the Ocean Engineering Laboratory of Institut Teknologi Bandung with nine variations of simulated waves, consisting of wave heights of 10, 15, and 20 centimeters as well as wave periods of 1, 2, and 3 seconds. It was found that the highest average wattage produced by the prototype was 2.63 mW, which was generated when the machine was in contact with waves with a height of 20 cm and a period of 2 seconds. Comparing test data with theoretical values, the highest percent error was 1.013 × 104 %. Potential factors of this include the theoretical assumptions made during calculations, limitations of the voltage sensing equipment, as well as energy losses from vibrations and suboptimal gear interaction.