Numerical Performance of a Buoy-Type Wave Energy Converter with Regular Short Waves
Source abstract
Abstract
The numerical performance of a buoy-type wave energy converter (WEC) under regular wave conditions is described in this paper. The open-source computational fluid dynamics software OpenFOAM® was used to couple a grid for the solid body motion of the WEC, with the grid designed for wave propagation, in order to calculate buoy movement parameters. The buoy has a horizontal, cylindrical structure, with a pivot point for semi-axis rotation. Five buoy-radiuses were analyzed, as this parameter considerably increases the efficiency of the WEC point absorber. To better understand the interaction of the WEC with the waves, the transmission and reflection coefficients were calculated, along with two non-linear parameters: skewness and asymmetry. The results indicate that, with this system, more power can be extracted from shorter waves, T = 4 s, compared to T = 8 s of the same wave height. This implies that a small buoy could be employed at sites with this prevailing wave regime, without a decrease in efficiency and with considerable cost reductions. Finally, this WEC increases the values of wave skewness, which is linked to onshore sediment transport; therefore, if appropriately designed, WEC arrays installed near the coast could also promote onshore sediment transport.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Wave and Wind Energy Systems · Coastal and Marine Dynamics · Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Cinvestav Unidad Mérida, Km. 6 Carretera Antigua a Progreso, Merida 97310, Mexico
Departamento de Matemáticas Aplicadas y Computación, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tablaje Catastral N°6998, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Merida 97357, Mexico
Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad No. 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Funding
CONACYT-Mexico
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