Wave power is an under-utilized, abundant power resource that is still in realitely early stages with recent work on buoy-type devices.
Might the air core/low drag design of the axial flux be incorporated into a wave-motion generator?
One problem is the non-unidirectional motion of a wave. Up and down, from the east some days and the west on others etc.
One might utilize the bobbing motion is other ways than up and down, but rather side-to-side, or front-to-back.
Question: How might the output of an axial flux alternator be affected by a bi-directional rotation? A cycle being 1/2 clockwise, and the other anti-clockwise?
Would the output look like one operating normaly EXCEPT for a 'flat spot' at the moment of directional change?
Would you see power output drop by 25%, 50%, x%?
Would you have to overcome additional BEMF because of the change of rotation?
(or does BEMF not an issue because it's AC? I don't know how it applies)
One solution to converting bi-directional rotation into uni-directional rotation is to use 3-shaft gearing.
http://www.ljsite.com/unigear.htm
However, it is complicated, expensive and lossy.
Would the axial flux underperform in this scenerio to the point that this might become a better option?
How will bi-directional - 1/2 cycle clockwise, 1/2 cycle anti-clockwise - operation of an axial flux alternator affect it's performance/output?