Hydrodynamic Performance of a Dual-Pontoon WEC-Breakwater System: An analysis of wave energy content and converter efficiency

Haoyu Ding

doi:10.3390/en17164046

Hydrodynamic Performance of a Dual-Pontoon WEC-Breakwater System: An analysis of wave energy content and converter efficiency

Haoyu Ding

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

A dual-pontoon WEC-breakwater system is proposed to optimise space utilisation and reduce construction costs by integrating wave energy converters (WECs) with breakwaters. Previous parametric studies on the dimensions and layout of WECs have primarily used potential flow theories, often neglecting the viscous effects in wave–pontoon interactions. In this research, I employ a fully nonlinear viscous model, OpenFOAM®, to address these limitations. I examine multiple parameters, including the gap width between the pontoons, the draft, and the structure breadth, to assess their impact on the functional performance of this hybrid system. Furthermore, I discuss the accurate hydrodynamic performance of waves interacting with multiple floating structures and explore how various parameters influence the dual-pontoon WEC-breakwater integrated system’s functionality. I discuss a novel analysis of the effective frequency bandwidth, considering both wave energy conversion efficiency and wave attenuation efficiency, to reflect the overall performance of the integrated system. This paper investigates wave–structure interactions and suggests optimisation strategies for the WEC-breakwater integrated system.

Original language	English
Article number	4046
Journal	Energies
Volume	17
Issue number	16
Early online date	15 Aug 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/en17164046
Publication status	Published - 15 Aug 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the author.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author due to the author’s ongoing work and further analysis.

Acknowledgements

This manuscript is an extension of one chapter from the author’s PhD thesis, which was supervised by Jun Zang and Chris Blenkinsopp from the University of Bath, UK. The author also extends gratitude to Dezhi Ning from Dalian University of Technology, China, and Xuanlie Zhao from Harbin Engineering University, China, for sharing their published experimental results.

Keywords

breakwater
hybrid system
wave energy converter
wave-structure interaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Engineering (miscellaneous)
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Energy (miscellaneous)
Control and Optimization
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/en17164046Licence: CC BY

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/16/4046Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "A dual-pontoon WEC-breakwater system is proposed to optimise space utilisation and reduce construction costs by integrating wave energy converters (WECs) with breakwaters. Previous parametric studies on the dimensions and layout of WECs have primarily used potential flow theories, often neglecting the viscous effects in wave–pontoon interactions. In this research, I employ a fully nonlinear viscous model, OpenFOAM{\textregistered}, to address these limitations. I examine multiple parameters, including the gap width between the pontoons, the draft, and the structure breadth, to assess their impact on the functional performance of this hybrid system. Furthermore, I discuss the accurate hydrodynamic performance of waves interacting with multiple floating structures and explore how various parameters influence the dual-pontoon WEC-breakwater integrated system{\textquoteright}s functionality. I discuss a novel analysis of the effective frequency bandwidth, considering both wave energy conversion efficiency and wave attenuation efficiency, to reflect the overall performance of the integrated system. This paper investigates wave–structure interactions and suggests optimisation strategies for the WEC-breakwater integrated system.",

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Hydrodynamic Performance of a Dual-Pontoon WEC-Breakwater System: An analysis of wave energy content and converter efficiency

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Acknowledgements

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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