IMPROVEMENT OF A ROTARY VANE PUMP FOR AN OCEAN WAVE POWER CONVERTER: PENDULOR

Since the former vane pump had been far below a target (efficiency was 27-37% only) as reported at the 3rd JHPS Yokohama, a revised pump was made to solve the problem and it proved 52% higher efficiency than the former one at indoor tests.Prior to the revised pump, wear of the former pump parts were investigated after a 32 months sea operation. Adding the field test, the other data were taken through a half size model pump test.Applying the data, the revised pump design was done. The Pendulor attached with the revised pump has proved so excellent power conversion that the plant efficiency was about 40-60% at sea operation.