scholarly journals Near Trapping Effect on Wave-Power Extraction by Linear Periodic Arrays

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Dezhi Ning ◽  
Zechen He ◽  
Ying Gou ◽  
Malin Göteman

Near trapping is a kind of strong hydrodynamic interaction phenomenon in a regular array under specific incident wave conditions, which causes the excitation force on the structures in the array to change suddenly. In this paper, based on linear potential flow theory, the effects of near trapping on the hydrodynamic interaction and wave-power extraction characteristics of linear periodic arrays composed of the oscillating float type wave energy converters are studied by using the higher-order boundary element method in a frequency domain. The parameters considered include the separation spacing, number of devices, and incident wave direction. It is found that the near trapping significantly reduces the overall wave-power extraction, especially for the cases with a large number of devices, and changes the trend of the power distribution. The occurrence of the near trapping phenomenon depends on the ratio of the separation spacing to the wavelength and the incident wave direction. The results highlight the effective layout of linear arrays under the influence of near trapping, which not only ensures the total production power, but also reduces the power difference among wave energy converters.

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3668
Author(s):  
Anders H. Hansen ◽  
Magnus F. Asmussen ◽  
Michael M. Bech

Model predictive control based wave power extraction algorithms have been developed and found promising for wave energy converters. Although mostly proven by simulation studies, model predictive control based algorithms have shown to outperform classical wave power extraction algorithms such as linear damping and reactive control. Prediction models and objective functions have, however, often been simplified a lot by for example, excluding power take-off system losses. Furthermore, discrete fluid power forces systems has never been validated experimentally in published research. In this paper a model predictive control based wave power extraction algorithm is designed for a discrete fluid power power take-off system. The loss models included in the objective function are based on physical models of the losses associated with discrete force shifts and throttling. The developed wave power extraction algorithm directly includes the quantized force output and the losses models of the discrete fluid power system. The experimental validation of the wave power extraction algorithm developed in the paper shown an increase of 14.6% in yearly harvested energy when compared to a reactive control algorithm.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Constantine Michailides

During the past years, researchers have studied both numerically and experimentally multibody wave-wind combined energy structures supporting wind turbines and different types of Wave Energy Converters (WECs); rigid body hydrodynamic assumptions have been adopted so far for the development of their numerical models and the assessment of their produced power. In the present paper a numerical model that is based on the use of generalized modes addressing wave-structure interaction effects for the case of a multibody wave-wind combined structure is developed and presented. Afterwards, the developed numerical model is used for the assessment of the hydrodynamic response and the prediction of the produced power of different possible configurations of the updated WindWEC concept which consists of a spar supporting a wind turbine and one, two, three or four heaving type WEC buoys. The combined effects of the center-to-center distance of the WEC and spar platform, the number of the WECs and the grid configuration of spar and WECs on the hydrodynamic interaction between the different floating bodies, spar and WEC buoys, and consequently on their response and wave power production are examined for regular and irregular waves. Strong hydrodynamic interaction effects exist for small distance between spar and WECs that result to the decrease of the produced power. Power matrices of the updated WindWEC concept are presented for all examined configurations with different number of WECs. Moreover, the annual produced power of the updated WindWEC in two sites is estimated and presented. The generalized modes analysis presented in this paper is generic and can be used for the early stage assessment of wave-wind combined energy structures with low computational cost. The updated WindWEC can be used in sea sites with different environmental characteristics while extracting valuable amount of wave power.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (13) ◽  
pp. 1950168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianlong Xu ◽  
Ye Li ◽  
Yingkai Xia ◽  
Weixing Chen ◽  
Feng Gao

Fully submerged sphere and cylinder point absorber (PA), wave energy converters (WECs) are analyzed numerically based on linearized potential flow theory. A boundary element method (BEM) (a radiation–diffraction panel program for wave-body interactions) is used for the basic wave-structure interaction analysis. In the present numerical model, the viscous damping is modeled by an equivalent linearized damping which extracts the same amount of wave energy over one cycle as the conventional quadratic damping term. The wave power capture width in each case is predicted. Comparisons are also made between the sphere and cylinder PAs which have identical geometrical scales and submerged depths. The results show that: (i) viscous damping has a greater influence on wave power performance of the cylinder PA than that of the sphere PA; (ii) the increasing wave height reduces wave power performance of PAs; (iii) the cylinder PA has a better wave power performance compared to the sphere PA in larger wave height scenarios, which indicates that fully submerged cylinder PA is a preferable prototype of WEC.


Author(s):  
Vasiliki Stratigaki ◽  
Peter Troch ◽  
Leen Baelus ◽  
Yannick Keppens

The increasing energy demand, the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the shrinking reserves of fossil fuels have all enhanced the interest in sustainable and renewable energy sources, including wave energy. Many concepts for wave power conversion have been invented. In order to extract a considerable amount of wave power, single Wave Energy Converters (abbreviated as WECs) will have to be arranged in arrays or ‘farms’ using a particular geometrical layout, comprising large numbers of devices. As a result of the interaction between the WECs within a farm, the overall power absorption is affected. In general, the incident waves are partly reflected, transmitted and absorbed by a single WEC. Also, the wave height behind a large farm of WECs is reduced and this reduction may influence neighbouring farms, other users in the sea or even the coastline (wake effects of a WEC farm). The numerical wave propagation model MILDwave has been recently used to study wake effects and energy absorption of farms of WECs, though without taking into account wave regeneration by wind in the lee of the WEC-farm which can be significant in large distances downwave the WECs. In this paper, the implementation of wave growth due to wind in the hyperbolic mild-slope equations of the wave propagation model, MILDwave is described. Several formulations for the energy input from wind found in literature are considered and implemented. The performance of these formulations in MILDwave is investigated and validated. The modified model MILDwave is then applied for the investigation of the influence of the wind on the wakes in the lee of a farm of wave energy converters.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rickard Ekström ◽  
Mats Leijon

An N-level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter is proposed for grid connection of large wave power farms. The point-absorber wave energy converters are individually rectified and used as isolated DC-sources. The variable power characteristics of the wave energy converters are discussed, and a method of mitigating this issue is demonstrated. The complete power control system is given in detail and has been experimentally verified for a single-phase setup of the 9-level inverter. Theoretical expressions of the power sharing between multilevel cells are derived and show good correspondence with the experimental results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 8251
Author(s):  
Dongsheng Qiao ◽  
Rizwan Haider ◽  
Jun Yan ◽  
Dezhi Ning ◽  
Binbin Li

In recent decades, the emphasis on renewable resources has grown considerably, leading to significant advances in the sector of wave energy. Nevertheless, the market cannot still be considered as commercialized, as there are still other obstacles in the mooring system for wave energy converters (WECs). The mooring system must be designed to not negatively impact the WEC’s efficiency and reduce the mooring loads. Firstly, the overview of the types of wave energy converters (WECs) are classified through operational principle, absorbing wave direction, location, and power take-off, respectively, and the power production analysis and design challenges of WECs are summarized. Then, the mooring materials, configurations, requirements, and the modeling approaches for WECs are introduced. Finally, the design of mooring systems, including the design considerations and standards, analysis models, software, current research focus, and challenges are discussed.


Author(s):  
Heather Peng ◽  
Wei Qiu ◽  
Don Spencer

Wave energy converters use the motion of floating or submerged bodies to extract energy from the waves. Power absorption can be simulated using a simple linear damper with a resistance to motion which is proportional to velocity. Because of the interaction between energy production and motion, there will be an optimum rate of energy production for each wave frequency. Too much damping or too little damping can cause little energy produced. The wave absorption range also depends on the tuned frequency. In this paper, the maximum rates of energy absorption for submerged and floating wave energy converters are evaluated by employing the panel-free method for the motions of the converters in the frequency domain. A general expression for the wave power absorption is described. Numerical studies show that the optimal energy efficiencies of wave energy converters can be well predicted by employing the panel-free method for motion computations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document