Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations

Abstract Extracting energy from ocean waves has become a heated topic since the energy crisis of the 2000s. Among all the different concepts and designs of Wave Energy Converter (WEC), point absorber is a widely adopted type with great potential, and various configurations and constraints are applic...

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Main Authors: Xiaofan Li, Dillon Martin, Boxi Jiang, Shuo Chen, Krish Thiagarajan, Robert G. Parker, Lei Zuo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-10-01
Series:IET Renewable Power Generation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.12253
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author Xiaofan Li
Dillon Martin
Boxi Jiang
Shuo Chen
Krish Thiagarajan
Robert G. Parker
Lei Zuo
author_facet Xiaofan Li
Dillon Martin
Boxi Jiang
Shuo Chen
Krish Thiagarajan
Robert G. Parker
Lei Zuo
author_sort Xiaofan Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Extracting energy from ocean waves has become a heated topic since the energy crisis of the 2000s. Among all the different concepts and designs of Wave Energy Converter (WEC), point absorber is a widely adopted type with great potential, and various configurations and constraints are applicable to it. Here, the point absorber WECs with four different set‐up configurations are explored: single body heaving WEC, two‐body heaving WEC, two‐body WEC with a flat plate (Reference Model 3), and a two‐body WEC with a cylinder‐shaped second body. Dynamic models are established for each case and wave tank tests are conducted for verification. The results show that the power capture of a point absorber can benefit from several aspects: the two‐body WEC with a streamlined shape can double the wave capture width ratio (up to 66.5%) over the single‐body WEC or Reference Model 3, while coupling other motion or mooring dynamics can further improve the capture width ratio by 12% by increasing the relative motion stroke.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1752-1416
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language English
publishDate 2021-10-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series IET Renewable Power Generation
spelling doaj-art-d5df650d03be4d4a85956241af6e62d42025-08-20T03:29:45ZengWileyIET Renewable Power Generation1752-14161752-14242021-10-0115143309331810.1049/rpg2.12253Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurationsXiaofan Li0Dillon Martin1Boxi Jiang2Shuo Chen3Krish Thiagarajan4Robert G. Parker5Lei Zuo6Department of Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USAAdvanced Structures and Composites Center University of Maine Orono Maine 04469 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah 84112 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USAAbstract Extracting energy from ocean waves has become a heated topic since the energy crisis of the 2000s. Among all the different concepts and designs of Wave Energy Converter (WEC), point absorber is a widely adopted type with great potential, and various configurations and constraints are applicable to it. Here, the point absorber WECs with four different set‐up configurations are explored: single body heaving WEC, two‐body heaving WEC, two‐body WEC with a flat plate (Reference Model 3), and a two‐body WEC with a cylinder‐shaped second body. Dynamic models are established for each case and wave tank tests are conducted for verification. The results show that the power capture of a point absorber can benefit from several aspects: the two‐body WEC with a streamlined shape can double the wave capture width ratio (up to 66.5%) over the single‐body WEC or Reference Model 3, while coupling other motion or mooring dynamics can further improve the capture width ratio by 12% by increasing the relative motion stroke.https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.12253Surface waves, tides, and sea levelWave powerControl of electric power systemsPower convertors and power supplies to apparatus
spellingShingle Xiaofan Li
Dillon Martin
Boxi Jiang
Shuo Chen
Krish Thiagarajan
Robert G. Parker
Lei Zuo
Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations
IET Renewable Power Generation
Surface waves, tides, and sea level
Wave power
Control of electric power systems
Power convertors and power supplies to apparatus
title Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations
title_full Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations
title_fullStr Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations
title_full_unstemmed Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations
title_short Analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber WECs with different configurations
title_sort analysis and wave tank verification of the performance of point absorber wecs with different configurations
topic Surface waves, tides, and sea level
Wave power
Control of electric power systems
Power convertors and power supplies to apparatus
url https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.12253
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AT boxijiang analysisandwavetankverificationoftheperformanceofpointabsorberwecswithdifferentconfigurations
AT shuochen analysisandwavetankverificationoftheperformanceofpointabsorberwecswithdifferentconfigurations
AT krishthiagarajan analysisandwavetankverificationoftheperformanceofpointabsorberwecswithdifferentconfigurations
AT robertgparker analysisandwavetankverificationoftheperformanceofpointabsorberwecswithdifferentconfigurations
AT leizuo analysisandwavetankverificationoftheperformanceofpointabsorberwecswithdifferentconfigurations