Impact of Steep Seabed Terrains on Oscillating Buoy-Wave Energy-Converter Performance

Abstract

This paper employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods to develop a numerical model of an oscillating buoy-wave energy converter and investigates the impact of steep seabed topography near islands and reefs on its performance. The model’s accuracy is validated by comparison with experimental results from the published literature. Subsequently, the influence of deployment location, reef-front slope gradient, and reef-flat water depth on the device’s performance is analyzed. The results indicate that the strategic utilization of steep seabed topography can significantly enhance the energy capture efficiency of the device in long-wave regions. This study provides valuable references for the design and deployment of oscillating buoy-wave energy converters in near-reef areas.