scholarly journals OPTIMIZATION OF THE WAVECAT WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan Fernandez ◽  
Gregorio Iglesias ◽  
Rodrigo Carballo ◽  
Alberte Castro ◽  
Marcos Sánchez ◽  
...  

The development of efficient, reliable Wave Energy Converters (WECs) is a prerequisite for wave energy to become a commercially viable energy source. Intensive research is currently under way on a number of WECs, among which WaveCat©—a new WEC recently patented by the University of Santiago de Compostela. In this sense, this paper describes the WaveCat concept and its ongoing development and optimization. WaveCat is a floating WEC intended for operation in intermediate water depths (50–100 m). Like a catamaran, it consists of two hulls—from which it derives its name. The difference with a conventional catamaran is that the hulls are not parallel but convergent; they are joined at the stern, forming a wedge in plan view. Physical model tests of a 1:30 model were conducted in a wave tank using both regular and irregular waves. In addition to the waves and overtopping rates, the model displacements were monitored using a non-intrusive system. The results of the physical model tests will be used to validate the 3D numerical model, which in turn will be used to optimize the design of WaveCat for best performance under a given set of wave conditions.

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (32) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan Fernandez ◽  
Gregorio Iglesias ◽  
Rodrigo Carballo ◽  
Alberte Castro ◽  
Pedro Bartolomé

Wave energy presents a great potential in many coastal regions. This paper deals with WaveCat©, a new Wave Energy Converter (WEC) recently patented by the University of Santiago de Compostela. First, the WaveCat© concept and its main design elements. It is a floating WEC intended for intermediate water depths (50–75 m), whose principle of energy capture is wave overtopping. WaveCat© consists of two hulls, like a catamaran (hence its name); however, unlike a catamaran, the hulls are convergent so as to leave a wedge between them. Waves propagate into this wedge and, eventually, overtop the inner hull sides. Overtopping water is collected in onboard tanks and, subsequently, drained back to sea, propelling ultra-low head turbines in the process. The wave flume tests carried out on a 3D, fixed model at a 1:67 scale are presented. Development work is ongoing, including a numerical model—which is currently being validated based on the results from the physical model—and a 3D, floating physical model at a larger scale (1:30).


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 492
Author(s):  
Jorge Luengo Frades ◽  
Vicente Negro ◽  
Javier García Barba ◽  
Mario Martín-Antón ◽  
José López-Gutiérrez ◽  
...  

Estimation of wave run-up has been of increasing concern for offshore wind structures and a critical aspect for designers. The highly nonlinear phenomenon makes the study difficult. That is the reason for the very few design rules and experimental data available to estimate it. Actual wave run-up is greater than commonly predicted. The goal of this research is to benchmark the theoretical formulations with the results of the physical model tests performed by Deltares in the field of crest elevation, run-up, forces and pressures. The laboratory reproduced in a wave tank (75 m length; 8.7 m width; 1 m depth; and a 1:60 scale, with Froude similarity) an offshore power converter platform located at intermediate water depths (25–43.80 m) in the Southern North Sea, designed by the Norwegian company Aibel. The purpose of this research is to offer a preliminary design guide for wave run–up using theoretical expressions both for cylinders and gravity based structures (GBS), leaning on the cited laboratory tests to validate the results obtained by such theoretical models.


Author(s):  
Jose A. GONZALEZ-ESCRIVA ◽  
Josep R. MEDINA ◽  
Joaquin M. GARRIDO

ARJ-R caissons are based on the "long-circuit" concept (Medina et al, 2016) that allows the extension of the destructive wave interference mechanism to mitigate low frequency oscillations without enlarging the width of the caisson. The performance of the ARJ-R caissons is referred to its reflection coefficient (Cr) which was obtained through large-scale physical model tests (Gonzalez-Escriva et al, 2018). In this paper, the effectiveness of Anti-Reflective Jarlan-type structures for Port Resonance mitigation (ARJ-R) has been assessed numerically for the port of Denia (Spain). ARJ-R structures are constructible, with similar dimensions as conventional vertical quay caissons and with a similar cost (15percent more than conventional vertical caisson).Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/LomQEVpvjik


Author(s):  
Wouter Ockeloen ◽  
Coen Kuiper ◽  
Sjoerd van den Steen

The 'Afsluitdijk' is a 32 km enclosure dam which separates the Wadden sea and the Lake IJssel. The dam currently undergoes a major rehabilitation to meet the requirements with regard to water safety. The Dutch Ministry of infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat division) has commissioned Levvel, a consortium of BAM, Van Oord and Rebel, to prepare the design and carry out the reconstruction of the dam including sluices and highway. The project includes reinforcement of the armour layers and wave overtopping reduction. As part of the contract Rijkswaterstaat prescribed the contractor (Levvel) to verify the design with large scale physical model tests (min. 1:3 scale). These tests were carried out in the Delta Flume of Deltares. Prior to the large scale tests, smaller scale tests (1:20) have been carried out to optimize the design with regard to armour stability and wave overtopping. The research described here focuses on the wave overtopping.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/kPga0wVCCIE


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Zhiguo Cao ◽  
Xiaomeng Shi

The cement-plaster bonded rock-like material is one of the most commonly used materials to simulate different rocks in physical model tests. However, the applicability of this material in solid-fluid coupling model tests is not clear because there are few research studies on the water-physical properties of this material and its similarity to the actual rock is uncertain. This paper presents a systemic experimental study on the water-physical properties of the cement-plaster bonded rock-like materials. The parameters of rock-like materials, including water absorption, softening coefficient, and permeability coefficient, were compared with those of actual rocks to analyse the applicability of such material. Then, the influence of proportion on the water-physical properties of this material was discussed. By multiple regression analysis of the test results, empirical equations between the water-physical parameters and proportions were proposed. The equations can be used to estimate the water-physical properties of cement-plaster bonded rock-like materials with specific proportion and thus to select suitable materials in the solid-fluid coupling physical model tests.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Lorke ◽  
Babette Scheres ◽  
Holger Schüttrumpf ◽  
Antje Bornschein ◽  
Reinhard Pohl

Flow processes like flow depths and flow velocities give important information about erosion and infiltration processes, which can lead to an unstable dike structure and consequently to dike failure. Up to now several physical model tests on wave run-up and wave overtopping are available to adjust and improve design formula for different dike structures. This kind of physical model tests have been performed in the here presented project FlowDike. Its main purpose is to consider two new aspects that could influence the assessment of wave run-up and wave overtopping as well as the flow processes on dikes which have not been investigated yet: longshore current and wind. Especially in estuaries and along coasts, the effect of tidal and storm induced currents combined with local wind fields can influence the incoming wave parameters at the dike toe as well as the wave run-up height, the wave overtopping rate and the flow processes on dikes. This paper will focus on these flow processes on dike slopes and dike crests on an 1:6 sloped dike influenced by oblique wave attack and longshore current.


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