Bombora Wave Power System: Flexible Membrane Performance Modelling

Curtin University project leader Dr. Andrew King

The Bombora wave power system is an innovative system that efficiently converts the ocean’s wave energy directly into electricity more effectively and reliably than current alternatives.

Located near to shore and fully submerged on the seabed, the system utilises a large, low cost membrane energy harvester to collect, concentrate and modulate the wave energy through the use of an air circuit. The system has an onboard 1.5MWe rated air turbine generator located within the apex of its Vee-shaped structure. As a wave passes over the system it moves air around the circuit and drives it through the turbine, which in turn spins a generator, creating electricity. This electricity is then delivered onshore via an electrical cable and connected to the distribution network.

iVEC’s supercomputing resources are used to run highly advanced Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations to predict the pressures acting on the membrane, and effects on the wave field. Through the power of supercomputing the output of the device is now able to be predicted accurately and efficiently.