Consistent ocean wave energy harvesting using electroactive polymer (dielectric elastomer) artificial muscle generators
An energy transduction technology that operates efficiently over a range of frequencies is important for practical energy harvesting devices such as ocean wave power generators. Dielectric elastomer is based on the change in capacitive energy of a deformable dielectric and is a candidate for such applications. A simple scale model of EPAM based wave energy harvesting system was tested in a wave tank over a range of wave periods from 0.7 to 3s and wave heights from 2cm to 6cm. The energy output was found to be largely independent of wave period.