The provided diagrams illustrate the mechanism of a wave power system designed to generate electricity. The structure consists of a chamber built into a cliff or sea wall, connected to a vertical column containing a turbine, which is linked to an electrical output.
Overall, the process is cyclical, relying on the movement of waves to force air through a column. Crucially, the turbine is designed to rotate in the same direction whether air is being pushed upwards or pulled downwards, ensuring a continuous generation of electricity.
In the first stage, labeled A, an incoming wave enters the chamber. As the water level rises, it displaces the air inside, forcing it upwards through the column. This upward airflow drives the turbine, which then produces electricity. In the second stage, labeled B, the wave recedes from the chamber. This action creates a vacuum effect, drawing air downwards from the top of the column. Despite the reversal of the airflow direction, the turbine continues to spin in the same direction, thereby maintaining the generation of electricity as the cycle repeats.