Performance of a Multibody Point Absorber With a Damper Plate in Irregular Waves

Abstract

Wave energy converters (WECs) behave differently when operating in irregular waves than regular ones. Although numerous studies describe WEC dynamics in regular waves, the ocean experiences irregular waves, making it essential to evaluate performance under such conditions. A multibody WEC has mixed motion, adding complexity to the system dynamics. In this study, a multibody floating-point absorber WEC equipped with a damper plate was designed and tested for irregular wave conditions in the wave basin at IIT Madras. The wave conditions varied, with significant wave heights ranging from 0.15 to 0.23 m and peak periods from 1 to 2.5 s. Hydrodynamic coefficients, such as the Response Amplitude Operator (RAO), excitation force, radiation damping, and added mass, were computed using the panel method. Additionally, a multibody dynamics solver was used to calculate power absorption. The point absorber, with a damper plate, achieved a maximum power output of 14.05 W at \(\:{H}_{s}\)= 0.23 m and \(\:{T}_{P}\:\)= 2.5 s. The highest absorption efficiency was 48.2% at \(\:{H}_{s}\)=0.20 m and \(\:{T}_{P}\)=2.5 s.