Analytical and computational modelling for wave energy systems: the example of oscillating wave surge converters

Abstract

The development of new wave energy converters has shed light on a number of unanswered questions in fluid mechanics, but has also identified a number of new issues of importance for their future deployment. The main concerns relevant to the practical use of wave energy converters are sustainability, survivability, and maintainability. Of course, it is also necessary to maximize the capture per unit area of the structure as well as to minimize the cost. In this review, we consider some of the questions related to the topics of sustainability, survivability, and maintenance access, with respect to sea conditions, for generic wave energy converters with an emphasis on the oscillating wave surge converter. New analytical models that have been developed are a topic of particular discussion. It is also shown how existing numerical models have been pushed to their limits to provide answers to open questions relating to the operation and characteristics of wave energy converters.

Ocean Wave Energy Converters: Status and Challenges

“…With the increase in the number of test sites around the world, larger scale prototypes can be tested now [112]. To reduce the uncertainties associated with small scale tests and cost with large scale tests, it is possible to first used numerical and analytical tools to analyze the survivability, structural reliability, stability, and efficiency of a laboratory scaled model [113]. They compared the results with experimental studies, and then tested a larger scale using real ocean wave conditions in which they also analyzed the maintainability of an oscillating surging WEC [113].…”

The pressure impulse of wave slamming on an oscillating wave energy converter

“…CFD programs are very successful in modelling OWSCs under normal operating conditions (Wei et al, 2013(Wei et al, , 2015Schmitt & Elsaesser, 2015;Abadie & Dias, 2016;Wei at al., 2016b;Dias et al, 2017). However, they can hardly be used to assess extreme slamming pressures.…”

On the Development of an Offshore Version of the CECO Wave Energy Converter

“…For instance, earth-reacting WECs are the Edinburgh Duck [5] and the Ceto point absorber [6]. Earth-reacting WECs, functioning as surging oscillating wave energy converters, are between the most efficient offshore designs, presenting high capture width ratios (CWR) [7], an example of a fixed type can be found in [8,9]. Nevertheless, worthy efficiency can also be obtained with self-reacting devices.…”