WEC-Sim Phase 1 Validation Testing: Experimental Setup and Initial Results

Abstract

In the wave energy industry, there is a need for open source numerical codes and publicly available experimental data, both of which are being addressed through the development of WEC-Sim by Sandia National Laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). WEC-Sim is an open source code used to model wave energy converters (WECs) when subject to incident waves. In order for the WEC-Sim code to be useful, code verification and physical model validation is necessary. This paper describes the wave tank testing for the 1:33 scale experiments of a Floating Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter (FOSWEC). The WEC-Sim experimental data set will help to advance the wave energy converter industry by providing a free, high-quality data set for researchers and developers. This paper describes the WEC-Sim open source wave energy converter simulation tool, experimental validation plan, and presents preliminary experimental results from the FOSWEC Phase 1 testing.

WEC-Sim Phase 1 Validation Testing: Numerical Modeling of Experiments

“…The FOSWEC was selected for experimental testing because it met the design requirements needed to provide a comprehensive validation data set, as described in the experimental OMAE2016 paper [6], [8]. The FOSWEC design consists of a floating platform with two hinged flaps that rotate in pitch.…”

“…The mechanical design and an overview of the instrumentation are shown in Figure 2. Based on results from swing tests performed at HWRL, the mass properties of the experimental FOSWEC were determined, as described in the Phase 1 experimental paper [6]. The results of this analysis are shown in Table 1.…”

“…A picture from the FOSWEC experimental testing in the OSU HWRL Directional Wave Basin is shown in Figure 5. For more information about the experimental setup and design of the FOSWEC Phase 1 testing, refer to [6].…”

“…For the heave decay tests, the motion constraint was locked in all DOFs except heave, so the FOSWEC response was isolated to heave motion. The FOSWEC heave decay motion when subject to different initial displacements was then measured with a tape extension position sensor, details of which are provided in [6].…”

“…This paper provides a follow-up to the OMAE2016 paper focused on the dedicated WEC-Sim validation experimental wave tank tests performed at the Oregon State University's Directional Wave Basin at Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory (HWRL) [6]. Phase 1 of experimental testing was focused on the FOSWEC device characterization, and completed in winter 2015.…”