Wave Height / Energy per wave

WavePrizm runs tests with a number of wave displacement systems including wall piston, pneumatic chambers and WavePrizms diagonal displacement modules for the discovery of methods to increase wave height and maximize energy efficiency.

Modular Wave Systems

A modular wave system has a number of modules/chambers, for example twenty modules, that can be actuated in a sequence. One 10’x10’x10’ chamber module displaces 1000 cubic feet of water (62,400 lbs/31.2 tons). In our attempts to increase wave height, we are faced with a wave height/energy dilemma that confounds wave machine designers’ ability to make a bigger wave.

For analogy, a 1960s automobile with a 300 hp V8 engine could manage 10-13 mpg. More power required a bigger V8 engine, more displacement and more gas. With wave machines, we’ve been in a similar situation. More displacement for a bigger wave requires a bigger module and more power to drive it. The module gets taller and deeper, and the water depth in front of it increases. We can generally expect wave height to reach about one half the water depth. For example, a 5’ wave requires 10’ depth. Presently, a 10’ wave would require 20’ water depth and module displacement that measures 20’ tall by 20’ front to back and 10’ across (4,000 CuFt/249,600 lbs/125 tons displacement).

We might expect 2x energy input to make a wave that’s twice as big, but it looks like we need 4x displacement. However, the energy dilemma is that there is an exponential energy requirement of about 8X. Fortunately, today’s V6 and V8 engines can deliver at least as much horsepower as yesterday’s V8 and deliver 2x the range at around 20-26 mpg. With wave machines, we are evolving similarly where we can manage the same displacement with reduced power input, in the ball park of 25 – 30% savings, and targeting as much as 50% reduction. Alternatively, we can deliver 2X displacement for a bigger wave with reduced energy input in defiance of the expected exponential energy increase.

Turbulence / Energy Lost

If we displace 2x or even 3x as much water (2000 – 3000 cubic feet per module, times twenty!), will the pool become a large swirling whirlpool? A drone’s eye view shows that at least 50% of a wave pool’s area is dedicated to energy dispersion. Do we have to employ more concrete floored acreage to dissipate the additional moving mass? WavePrizm studies have inspired a highly efficient means to generate larger waves and a smart way to address energy input and dispersion. WavePrizm proposes displacing 2x and 3x present water volume while maintaining a 2.5 acre/1 hectare footprint and delivering well overhead waves continuously, free of calming intervals.

Join WavePrizm

WavePrizm would love to show you how it’s done. Organic level wave machine/wave pool investment related inquiries are welcome. Toward our Research & Experimentation goals, we will build bigger, more complex models and progress to a larger scale demo system.