Power Absorption Measures and Comparisons of Selected Wave Energy Converters

Author(s):  
Aure´lien Babarit ◽  
Jorgen Hals ◽  
Adi Kurniawan ◽  
Torgeir Moan ◽  
Jorgen Krokstad

In this study, a selection of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) with different working principle is considered. It comprises a heaving device reacting against the seabed, a heaving self-reacting two-bodies device, a pitching device, and a floating OWC device. They are inspired by concepts which are currently under development. For each of these concepts, a numerical Wave To Wire (W2W) model is derived. Numerical estimates of the energy delivery which one can expect are derived using these numerical models on a selection of wave site along the European coast. This selection of wave site is thought to be representative with levels of mean annual wave power from 15 to 88 kW/m. Using these results, the performance of each WEC is assessed not only in terms of yearly energy output, but also in terms of yearly absorbed energy/displacement, yearly absorbed energy/wetted surface, and yearly absorbed energy per unit significant Power Take Off force. By comparing these criteria, one gets a better idea of the advantages and drawbacks of each of the studied concepts.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2070
Author(s):  
Ana Basañez ◽  
Vicente Pérez-Muñuzuri

Wave energy resource assessment is crucial for the development of the marine renewable industry. High-frequency radars (HF radars) have been demonstrated to be a useful wave measuring tool. Therefore, in this work, we evaluated the accuracy of two CODAR Seasonde HF radars for describing the wave energy resource of two offshore areas in the west Galician coast, Spain (Vilán and Silleiro capes). The resulting wave characterization was used to estimate the electricity production of two wave energy converters. Results were validated against wave data from two buoys and two numerical models (SIMAR, (Marine Simulation) and WaveWatch III). The statistical validation revealed that the radar of Silleiro cape significantly overestimates the wave power, mainly due to a large overestimation of the wave energy period. The effect of the radars’ data loss during low wave energy periods on the mean wave energy is partially compensated with the overestimation of wave height and energy period. The theoretical electrical energy production of the wave energy converters was also affected by these differences. Energy period estimation was found to be highly conditioned to the unimodal interpretation of the wave spectrum, and it is expected that new releases of the radar software will be able to characterize different sea states independently.


2013 ◽  
Vol 569-570 ◽  
pp. 595-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Finnegan ◽  
Jamie Goggins

A vital aspect of ensuring the cost effectiveness of wave energy converters (WECs) is being able to monitor their performance remotely through structural health monitoring, as these devices are deployed in very harsh environments in terms of both accessibility and potential damage to the devices. The WECs are monitored through the use of measuring equipment, which is strategically placed on the device. This measured data is then compared to the output from a numerical model of the WEC under the same ocean wave conditions. Any deviations would suggest that there are problems or issues with the WEC. The development of accurate and effective numerical models is necessary to minimise the number of times the visual, or physical, inspection of a deployed WEC is required. In this paper, a numerical wave tank model is, first, validated by comparing the waves generated to those generated experimentally using the wave flume located at the National University of Ireland, Galway. This model is then extended so it is suitable for generating real ocean waves. A wave record observed at the Atlantic marine energy test site has been replicated in the model to a high level of accuracy. A rectangular floating prism is then introduced into the model in order to explore wave-structure interaction. The dynamic response of the structure is compared to a simple analytical solution and found to be in good agreement.


Author(s):  
Raúl Cascajo ◽  
Emilio García ◽  
Eduardo Quiles ◽  
Francisco Morant ◽  
Antonio Correcher

Seaports’ energy strategy should rely on the use of renewable energy. Presently, the share of renewable energy used by many of the ports worldwide is negligible. Some initiatives are in the process of implementation to produce some of the energy used by the Port of Valencia, one the largest ports in the Mediterranean Basin. Among these initiatives, a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 5.5 MW is under a tendering process and the assessment studies for the deployment of three to five windmills are close to being finished. However, this is not enough to make it a “zero emissions port” as some of the energy demand would still be covered by fossil fuels. Therefore, we should consider clean alternative energy sources. This article analyses the wave energy resources in the surroundings of the Port of Valencia using a 7-year series of data obtained from numerical modelling (forecast). The spatial distribution of wave power is analysed using data from 3 SIMAR points at Valencia Bay and is compared to the data obtained by the Valencia Buoy I (removed in 2005). The obtained results are used to estimate the power matrices and the average energy output of two wave energy converters suitable to be integrated into the port’s infrastructure. Finally, the wave energy converters’ production is compared to the average amount of energy that is forecast to be obtained from other renewable sources such as solar and wind. Due to the nature of the Gulf’s wave climate (mostly low waves), the main conclusion is that the energy obtainable from the waves in the Valencia Gulf will be in correlation with such climate. However, when dealing with great energy consumers every source of production is worthwhile and further research is needed to optimize the production of energy from renewable sources and its use in an industrial environment such as ports.


Ocean Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Iuppa ◽  
L. Cavallaro ◽  
D. Vicinanza ◽  
E. Foti

Abstract. An analysis of wave energy along the coasts of Sicily (Italy) is presented with the aim of selecting possible sites for the implementation of wave energy converters (WECs). The analysis focuses on the selection of hotspot areas of energy concentration. A third-generation model was adopted to reconstruct the wave data along the coast over a period of 14 years. The reconstruction was performed using the wave and wind data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The analysis of wave energy allowed us to characterise the most energetic zones, which are located on the western side of Sicily and on the Strait of Sicily. Moreover, the estimate of the annual wave power on the entire computational domain identified eight interesting sites. The main features of the sites include relatively high wave energy and proximity to the coast, which makes them possible sites for the implementation of WEC farms.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Windt

Abstract. Numerical modelling tools are commonly applied during the development and optimisation of ocean wave energy converters (WECs). Models are available for the hydrodynamic wave structure interaction, as well as the WEC sub–systems, such as the power take–off (PTO) model. Based on the implemented equations, different levels of fidelity are available for the numerical models. Specifically under controlled conditions, with enhance WEC motion, it is assumed that non-linearities are more prominent, re- quiring the use of high–fidelity modelling tools. Based on two different test cases for two different WECs, this paper highlights the importance of high–fidelity numerical modelling of WECs under controlled conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 955-957 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Babarit ◽  
J. Hals ◽  
M.J. Muliawan ◽  
A. Kurniawan ◽  
T. Moan ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 3124-3132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Martinelli ◽  
Barbara Zanuttigh ◽  
Jens Peter Kofoed

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 1286-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dolores Esteban ◽  
José-Santos López-Gutiérrez ◽  
Vicente Negro ◽  
Marcelo Laviña ◽  
Pedro Muñoz-Sánchez

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendt ◽  
Nielsen ◽  
Yu ◽  
Bingham ◽  
Eskilsson ◽  
...  

The International Energy Agency Technology Collaboration Programme for Ocean Energy Systems (OES) initiated the OES Wave Energy Conversion Modelling Task, which focused on the verification and validation of numerical models for simulating wave energy converters (WECs). The long-term goal is to assess the accuracy of and establish confidence in the use of numerical models used in design as well as power performance assessment of WECs. To establish this confidence, the authors used different existing computational modelling tools to simulate given tasks to identify uncertainties related to simulation methodologies: (i) linear potential flow methods; (ii) weakly nonlinear Froude–Krylov methods; and (iii) fully nonlinear methods (fully nonlinear potential flow and Navier–Stokes models). This article summarizes the code-to-code task and code-to-experiment task that have been performed so far in this project, with a focus on investigating the impact of different levels of nonlinearities in the numerical models. Two different WECs were studied and simulated. The first was a heaving semi-submerged sphere, where free-decay tests and both regular and irregular wave cases were investigated in a code-to-code comparison. The second case was a heaving float corresponding to a physical model tested in a wave tank. We considered radiation, diffraction, and regular wave cases and compared quantities, such as the WEC motion, power output and hydrodynamic loading.


Author(s):  
Dripta Sarkar ◽  
Emile Contal ◽  
Nicolas Vayatis ◽  
Frederic Dias

The hydrodynamic analysis and estimation of the performance of wave energy converters (WECs) is generally performed using semi-analytical/numerical models. Commercial boundary element codes are widely used in analyzing the interactions in arrays comprising of wave energy conversion devices. However, the analysis of an array of such converters becomes computationally expensive, and the computational time increases as the number of devices in the system is increased. As such determination of optimal layouts of WECs in arrays becomes extremely difficult. In this study, an innovative active experimental approach is presented to predict the behaviour of theWECs in arrays. The input variables are the coordinates of the center of the wave energy converters. Simulations for training examples and validation are performed for an array of OscillatingWave Surge Converters, using the mathematical model of Sarkar et. al. (Proc. R. Soc. A, 2014). As a part of the initial findings, results will be presented on the performance of wave energy converters located well inside an array. The broader scope/aim of this research would be to predict the behaviour of the individual devices and overall performance of the array for arbitrary layouts of the system and then identify optimal layouts subject to various constraints.


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