Harnessing wave power in open seas II: very large arrays of wave-energy converters for 2D sea states

Abstract

Recently Stiassnie et al (2016) studied the potential for capturing wave-energy over a large ocean basin via a toy model of a wave-farm attacked by unidirectional wave fields. In the present work, we develop an approach to model macroscopically the behaviour of sparse arrays consisting of infinite rows of floating, axisymmetric wave energy converters in deep water. This approximate framework allows for such arrays to be characterized by frequency and direction dependent transfer functions. The example of a self-reacting converter consisting of vertically floating, coaxial cylinders moving in three modes of motion is discussed in detail, and the performance of large arrays of such devices, attacked by directional JONSWAP spectra and taking into account wave-growth by the wind is investigated. This allows for fast and flexible estimates of power absorption by arrays as well as of their effects on the wave field.

A second-order theory for an array of curved wave energy converters in open sea

“…The hydrodynamics of a single flap and of arrays of flap-type WECs has been investigated theoretically, numerically and experimentally by several authors in different configurations. In particular, Renzi and Dias (2012) and Sammarco et al (2013) analysed the behaviour of Oscillating Wave Surge Converters (OWSCs) in a long-infinite channel, while Renzi and Dias (2013), Renzi et al (2014), Michele et al (2015), Noad and Porter (2015), Michele et al (2016b) and Xu et al (2017) investigated the case of a single flap and of arrays of oscillating flaps in open sea. The effects of a perfectly reflecting straight wall on the OWSC's performance have been analysed by Sarkar et al (2015) and Michele et al (2016a), while investigations on viscous dissipations have been carried out by Wei et al (2015) and Feng et al (2018).…”

WEC Design Based on Refined Mean Annual Energy Production for the Israeli Mediterranean Coast

“…Each design is tuned to perform optimally for a design period T as given in Table 2. The design procedure -choosing the buoy size such that its resonance frequency coincides with this design period -has been detailed elsewhere Xu et al (2017); Garnaud and Mei (2010 Table 3: Characteristics of WECs designed for operation in Class 1, 2, or 3. Given are radius (equal to draft) and damping coefficient for the floating vertical cylinder (see Figure 1).…”

“…However, just as the spectrum describes the distribution of wave energy among different frequencies, and allows for statistical inferences, such as a definition of the significant wave-height, so analogously we may consider a displacement spectrum (see Xu et al (2017)…”

A laboratory study on paddle type wave energy converter for transferring seawater using wave energy

“…Wave Energy Convertor (WEC) devices are used to convert wave energy to other types specially electricity, which is widely reported in literature (Hollm et al 2022, Choupin et al 2022, Xu et al 2017, Korde et al 2016). Although there are lots of Wave Energy Converter techniques around the world (more than 1000), they fall into three main types including: Attenuator, Point Absorber and Terminator (Drew et al 2009) which some are common methods in desalination are discussed brie y here.…”