Conceptual Study of a Fluid-Based Transportation Mode Using the Principle of a Reversed Wave Energy Converter

A wave energy converter is a common device that converts wave energy into mechanical energy. A typical wave energy converter system consists of the following: wave energy as input, air column as a transfer medium, and turbine energy as output. The current research reveals a new theory for the transportation purpose using the basic components of the wave energy conversion system. The proposed research work is to investigate the wave energy phenomenon of an air-water-assisted boat-type vehicle towed on a rectangular open channel. A principle of reversed wave energy converter is introduced to bind the conceptual design with a reasonable theoretical background. The hovering tendency is observed under static and dynamic conditions in an open-bottomed air vessel-assisted boat-type vehicle. The standing waves can be developed by the pressurized air vessels at dynamic conditions. The design parameters that affect the hovering tendency of the boat-type vehicle are discussed under different loading conditions. The load applied on the boat-type vehicle increases the air pressure inside the air vessels. This helps to improve the characteristics of forwarding dynamics by advancing the surge motion of the boat-type vehicle. A laboratory test is conducted to study the energy levels of the various streams across the rectangular open channel at dynamic conditions according to the continuity equations. Using the Froude model approach, the model and prototype parameters are estimated. The overall study shows the limited use of water for this kind of transportation according to the principle of the reversed wave energy converter. Hence, this result emerges a new theory for sustainable transportation for further developments in the future.