Navatek is developing a novel Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) device that uses simple, robust, low-tech industrial parts, captures energy over a larger range of wave heights, is scalable, and can efficiently operate in the marine environment with no external servicing for prolonged periods.
The Navatek WEC was developed using in-house expertise gained through a decade of research into the design, construction and at-sea testing of advanced ship hull prototypes for the Office of Naval Research and other customers.
The same sophisticated hydrodynamics/motions tools used to design ship hulls with reduced motions were applied in reverse to develop a WEC with enhanced motions for greater energy capture. In March 2007, Navatek tank-tested at Offshore Model Basin, Escondido, CA a small-scale, 8-foot model of its WEC device equipped with a Navatek-designed power take-off device. Design goals were achieved. In December, 2008 Navatek received a U.S Patent on its invention. Navatek is currently looking at system aspects of proposed energy farms using this WEC device, together with novel concepts for associated energy storage.
