Fast time-domain model for the preliminary design of a wave power farm

This study presents a novel, fast time-domain model developed for an array of interacting point-absorber wave energy converters. The model is validated using experimental wave tank data. The point-absorbers, based on Uppsala University’s design, are arranged in a symmetric grid and interact with scattered and radiated waves while constrained to the heave motion. The model employs linear potential flow theory to solve the hydrodynamic coefficients in the frequency domain and employs Cummins’ formulation to solve the equations of motion in the time domain. Modeling an array of wave energy converters in the time domain yields a system of integro-differential equations, featuring convolution terms in the excitation and radiation forces. This implies that past waves radiated by the body continue to impact future dynamics. Irregular long-crested waves, generated from the Bretschneider spectrum, serve as the incident waves for the study. The model’s accuracy in capturing the dynamics and power absorption of the farm is demonstrated through validation against experimental data from a 1:10 scaled prototype of a six-point-absorber array. Despite inherent differences between the experimental and numerical set-ups, the model accurately represents the farm’s behavior. Furthermore, an efficiency test reveals that the numerical scheme approximates the performance of wave power farms comprising 6, 12, 24, 48, and 96 interacting devices within a maximum computational time of 20 s. Overall, this research presents a novel and accurate time-domain model for analyzing an array of point-absorber wave energy converters. The model’s ability to capture the dynamics and power absorption, along with its efficiency in simulating larger wave power farms, make it a valuable tool for the preliminary design stage.