Abstract
It is expected that several identical Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters (PAWECs) will be arranged in arrays to form a Wave Energy Farm. One of the key challenges in designing such a WEC array is their spatial configuration, as the WECs in the farm interact hydrodynamically with each other. This study focuses on different potential PAWEC deployments to identify the best relative position in order to maximise energy output. This is done by resolving the hydrodynamic interactions between a modelled WEC point absorber, with use of open-source Boundary Element Methods (BEM) and time domain WEC simulator. The results from the numerical model are also compared with wave tank testing, to verify
the accuracy of the analysis. The simulations show that the relative position can significantly increase a WEC’s individual power output. A spatial pattern of relative positions that result in higher potential power extraction was shown, with increases up to 20% compared to a single WEC on its own. However, the computational results showed realistic results for only a select number of configurations. As for the experiment, unexpected variations in test conditions occurred, inhibiting the possibility to isolate certain events. Therefore, when cross checking results from both simulations and experiments, the identified simulated trends only partially showed adherence with the experimental data. Henceforth, the knowledge gathered from the simulations can’t conclusively be validated by the experiments conducted in this study. This study shows that the spatial configuration of two WECs influences their individual power outputs.
the accuracy of the analysis. The simulations show that the relative position can significantly increase a WEC’s individual power output. A spatial pattern of relative positions that result in higher potential power extraction was shown, with increases up to 20% compared to a single WEC on its own. However, the computational results showed realistic results for only a select number of configurations. As for the experiment, unexpected variations in test conditions occurred, inhibiting the possibility to isolate certain events. Therefore, when cross checking results from both simulations and experiments, the identified simulated trends only partially showed adherence with the experimental data. Henceforth, the knowledge gathered from the simulations can’t conclusively be validated by the experiments conducted in this study. This study shows that the spatial configuration of two WECs influences their individual power outputs.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 13th European Wave Energy and Tidal Conference (EWTEC 2019) |
Publisher | EWTEC |
Number of pages | 9 |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Event | EWTEC 2019: 13th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference - Naples, Italy Duration: 1 Sept 2019 → 6 Sept 2019 https://ewtec.org/conferences/ewtec-2019/ |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference |
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Volume | 13 |
ISSN (Electronic) | 2309-1983 |
Conference
Conference | EWTEC 2019: 13th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference |
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Country/Territory | Italy |
City | Naples |
Period | 1/09/19 → 6/09/19 |
Internet address |
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-careOtherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
Keywords
- Wave Energy
- Point Absorber
- Hydrodynamic Interaction
- boundary element method solvers
- NEMOH
- WEC-Sim