Numerical modelling of complex wave energy converter using DualSPHysics
-
C. Crego-Loureiro [1] ; I. Martínez-Estévez ; B. Tagliafierro ; J. M. Domínguez ; A. J. C. Crespo ; M. Gómez-Gesteira
-
[1] Universidade de Vigo
Universidade de Vigo
Vigo, España
-
- Localización: Avances en ciencias de la tierra, ISSN-e 2172-9328, Nº. 11, 2021, págs. 48-63
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
-
Resumen
Wave energy has been introduced as a feasible alternative to fossil fuels in the near future and presents zero emissions of greenhouse effect gases. However, a dominant technology for capturing wave energy with clearly superior efficiency among others has not been established yet. When this happens, this type of energy will be considered profitable and, hence, worthy of being developed for big industries.
Throughout this article, the usefulness of numerical modelling in helping in the design of efficient wave energy converters will be analysed. The study is focused on the FOSWEC (Floating Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter) developed by SANDIA National Laboratories, United States. This device is extremely complex since it has different floating parts, mooring lines which attach the structure to the bottom of the ocean (or pool in the tests) and the power take-off (PTO) system in the flaps used to gather energy. This complexity sets as a significant challenge for the validation of the FOSWEC using a unitary numerical tool.
Thanks to the validation of the R5C experiment by SANDIA using the SPH solver DualSPHysics, it is proved that this model is capable of reproducing the behaviour of the FOSWEC interacting with regular waves. Once the numerical tool has been validated, an efficiency study is carried out in order to obtain optimal configurations of wave conditions and PTO configurations, obtaining results in significantly less time than the required one on fabrication process and experimental tests
