Analysing the Near-Field Effects and the Power Production of Near-Shore WEC Array Using a New Wave-to-Wire Model
oleh: Philip Balitsky, Nicolas Quartier, Vasiliki Stratigaki, Gael Verao Fernandez, Panagiotis Vasarmidis, Peter Troch
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2019-05-01 |
Deskripsi
In this study, a series of modules is integrated into a wave-to-wire (W2W) model that links a Boundary Element Method (BEM) solver to a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) motion solver which are in turn coupled to a wave propagation model. The hydrodynamics of the WECs are resolved in the wave structure interaction solver NEMOH, the Power Take-off (PTO) is simulated in the WEC simulation tool WEC-Sim, and the resulting perturbed wave field is coupled to the mild-slope propagation model MILDwave. The W2W model is run for verified for a realistic wave energy project consisting of a WEC farm composed of 10 5-WEC arrays of Oscillating Surging Wave Energy Converters (OSWECs). The investigated WEC farm is modelled for a real wave climate and a sloping bathymetry based on a proposed OSWEC array project off the coast of Bretagne, France. Each WEC array is arranged in a power-maximizing 2-row configuration that also minimizes the inter-array separation distance <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msub> <mi>d</mi> <mi>x</mi> </msub> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msub> <mi>d</mi> <mi>y</mi> </msub> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and the arrays are located in a staggered energy maximizing configuration that also decreases the along-shore WEC farm extent. The WEC farm power output and the near and far-field effects are simulated for irregular waves with various significant wave heights wave peak periods and mean wave incidence directions <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mi>β</mi> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> based on the modelled site wave climatology. The PTO system of each WEC in each farm is modelled as a closed-circuit hydraulic PTO system optimized for each set of incident wave conditions, mimicking the proposed site technology, namely the WaveRoller<sup>®</sup> OSWEC developed by AW Energy Ltd. The investigation in this study provides a proof of concept of the proposed W2W model in investigating potential commercial WEC projects.