Geometrical Evaluation on the Viscous Effect of Point-Absorber Wave-Energy Converters

The fluid viscosity is known to have a significant effect on the hydrodynamic characteristics which are linked to the power conversion ability of the wave energy converter (WEC). To overcome the disadvantages of case-by-case study through the experiments and numerical computations employed by the former researches, the viscous effect is studied comprehensively for multiple geometries in the present paper. The viscous effect is expressed as the viscous added mass and damping solved by the free-decay method. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is employed for the calculation of the motion and flow field around the floater. The diameter to draft ratio and bottom shape are considered for the geometrical evaluation on the viscous effect. The results show that a slenderer floater presents a stronger viscous effect. Through the comparisons of the floaters with four different bottom shapes, the conical bottom is recommended in terms of low viscous effect and simple geometry for manufacture. A viscous correction formula for a series of cylindrical floaters is put forward, for the first time, to help the engineering design of outer-floaters of point-absorber WECs.