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Assessment of the Power Output of a Two-Array Clustered WEC Farm Using a BEM Solver Coupling and a Wave-Propagation Model

Author

Listed:
  • Philip Balitsky

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Gael Verao Fernandez

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Vasiliki Stratigaki

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Peter Troch

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium)

Abstract

One of the key challenges in designing a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) farm is geometrical layout, as WECs hydrodynamically interact with one another. WEC positioning impacts both the power output of a given wave-energy project and any potential effects on the surrounding areas. The WEC farm developer must seek to optimize WEC positioning to maximize power output while minimizing capital cost and any potential deleterious effects on the surrounding area. A number of recent studies have shown that a potential solution is placing WECs in dense arrays of several WECs with space between individual arrays for navigation. This innovative arrangement can also be used to reduce mooring and cabling costs. In this paper, we apply a novel one-way coupling method between the NEMOH BEM model and the MILDwave wave-propagation model to investigate the influence of WEC array separation distance on the power output and the surrounding wave field between two densely packed WEC arrays in a farm. An iterative method of applying the presented one-way coupling to interacting WEC arrays is used to compute the wave field in a complete WEC farm and to calculate its power output. The notion of WEC array ‘independence’ in a farm from a hydrodynamic point of view is discussed. The farm is modeled for regular and irregular waves for a number of wave periods, wave incidence angles, and various WEC array separation distances. We found strong dependency of the power output on the wave period and the wave incidence angle for regular waves at short WEC array–array separation distances. For irregular wave operational conditions, a large majority of WEC array configurations within a WEC farm were found to be hydrodynamically ‘independent’.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Balitsky & Gael Verao Fernandez & Vasiliki Stratigaki & Peter Troch, 2018. "Assessment of the Power Output of a Two-Array Clustered WEC Farm Using a BEM Solver Coupling and a Wave-Propagation Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:11:p:2907-:d:178330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vasiliki Stratigaki & Peter Troch & Tim Stallard & David Forehand & Jens Peter Kofoed & Matt Folley & Michel Benoit & Aurélien Babarit & Jens Kirkegaard, 2014. "Wave Basin Experiments with Large Wave Energy Converter Arrays to Study Interactions between the Converters and Effects on Other Users in the Sea and the Coastal Area," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-34, February.
    2. Pau Mercadé Ruiz & Vincenzo Nava & Mathew B. R. Topper & Pablo Ruiz Minguela & Francesco Ferri & Jens Peter Kofoed, 2017. "Layout Optimisation of Wave Energy Converter Arrays," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Tim Verbrugghe & Vicky Stratigaki & Peter Troch & Raphael Rabussier & Andreas Kortenhaus, 2017. "A Comparison Study of a Generic Coupling Methodology for Modeling Wake Effects of Wave Energy Converter Arrays," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Babarit, A., 2013. "On the park effect in arrays of oscillating wave energy converters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 68-78.
    5. Pau Mercadé Ruiz & Francesco Ferri & Jens Peter Kofoed, 2017. "Experimental Validation of a Wave Energy Converter Array Hydrodynamics Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, January.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Philip Balitsky & Nicolas Quartier & Gael Verao Fernandez & Vasiliki Stratigaki & Peter Troch, 2018. "Analyzing the Near-Field Effects and the Power Production of an Array of Heaving Cylindrical WECs and OSWECs Using a Coupled Hydrodynamic-PTO Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-32, December.
    2. Hong-Wei Fang & Yu-Zhu Feng & Guo-Ping Li, 2018. "Optimization of Wave Energy Converter Arrays by an Improved Differential Evolution Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Panagiotis Vasarmidis & Vasiliki Stratigaki & Peter Troch, 2019. "Accurate and Fast Generation of Irregular Short Crested Waves by Using Periodic Boundaries in a Mild-Slope Wave Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Gael Verao Fernández & Vasiliki Stratigaki & Peter Troch, 2019. "Irregular Wave Validation of a Coupling Methodology for Numerical Modelling of Near and Far Field Effects of Wave Energy Converter Arrays," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Loukogeorgaki, Eva & Michailides, Constantine & Lavidas, George & Chatjigeorgiou, Ioannis K., 2021. "Layout optimization of heaving Wave Energy Converters linear arrays in front of a vertical wall," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 189-203.
    6. Han, Meng & Cao, Feifei & Shi, Hongda & Zhu, Kai & Dong, Xiaochen & Li, Demin, 2023. "Layout optimisation of the two-body heaving wave energy converter array," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 410-431.
    7. Hong-wei Fang & Ru-nan Song & Zhao-xia Xiao, 2018. "Optimal Design of Permanent Magnet Linear Generator and Its Application in a Wave Energy Conversion System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-12, November.

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