OrcaFlex - Engineering Department

OrcaFlex
(latest release v9.3, Aug-09)
Wave Power Formula
• In deep water where the water depth is larger than half the
wavelength, the wave energy flux is
• where
– P the wave energy flux per unit wave crest length (kW/m);
– H m0 is the significant wave height (meter), as measured by wave buoys and
predicted by wave forecast models. By definition, H m0 is four times the
standard deviation of the water surface elevation;
– T e is the energy period (second);
– ρ is the mass density of the water (kg/m 3 ), and
– g is the acceleration by gravity (m/s 2 ).
• The above formula states that wave power is proportional to the
wave period and to the square of the wave height. When the
significant wave height is given in meters, and the wave period
in seconds, the result is the wave power in kilowatts (kW) per
meter of wavefront length
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