Numerical modeling of the effects of wave energy converter characteristics on nearshore wave conditions

Abstract

Modeled nearshore wave propagation was investigated downstream of simulated wave energy converters (WECs) to evaluate overall near-and far-field effects of WEC arrays. Model sensitivity to WEC characteristics and WEC array deployment scenarios was evaluated using a modified version of an industry standard wave model, Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN), which allows the incorporation of device-specific WEC characteristics to specify obstacle transmission. The sensitivity study illustrated that WEC device type and subsequently its size directly resulted in wave height variations in the lee of the WEC array. Wave heights decreased up to 30% between modeled scenarios with and without WECs for large arrays (100 devices) of relatively sizable devices (26 m in diameter) with peak power generation near to the modeled 2 incident wave height. Other WEC types resulted in less than 15% differences in modeled wave height with and without WECs, with lesser influence for WECs less than 10 m in diameter. Wave directions and periods were largely insensitive to changes in parameters. However, additional model parameterization and analysis are required to fully explore the model sensitivity of peak wave period and mean wave direction to the varying of the parameters.

Spatial Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT): A Modeling Tool to Evaluate Potential Environmental Risks Associated with Wave Energy Converter Deployments

“…Waves were modeled using a modified version of Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) [24,25], named SNL-SWAN (Sandia National Laboratories-SWAN), which is a module developed by SNL and incorporated into the open-source Delft3D framework. SNL-SWAN incorporates a WEC module that accounts for device-specific WEC power take-off characteristics to more accurately evaluate each device's effects on wave propagation and ultimately nearshore hydrodynamics [26][27][28][29]. Delft3D-FLOW is a multidimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model that is capable of quantifying circulation (non-steady), waves, and sediment transport phenomena as a result of forcing by tides and meteorological processes [30,31].…”

Marine Renewable Energy

“…This is achieved by using a nested-domain approach. Chang et al (2016) have incorporated the methodology we used here into the SWAN source code, which eliminates the need for nesting and external modification of the spectra. SWAN is then used to propagate waves from the offshore boundary through the first sub-domain to the first row of WECs.…”

Extended Elliptic Mild Slope Equation Incorporating the Nonlinear Shoaling Effect

“…Wave energy equation is the foundation of wave transformation calculation [4]. In the process of monochromatic wave propagation, one dimension steady energy equation could be given by [1] Where, E is the wave energy per unit area of the water body, f is the coefficient of combined energy dissipation, and x is the horizontal axis of the Cartesian coordinate perpendicular to the coastline.…”