Abstract
Large-scale commercial exploitation of wave energy is certain to require the deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) in arrays, creating 'WEC farms'. An understanding of the hydrodynamic interactions in such arrays is essential for determining optimum layouts of WECs, as well as calculating the area of ocean that the farms will require. It is equally important to consider the potential impact of wave farms on the local and distal wave climates and coastal processes; a poor understanding of the resulting environmental impact may hamper progress, as it would make planning consents more difficult to obtain. It is therefore clear that an understanding the interactions between WECs within a farm is vital for the continued development of the wave energy industry. To support WEC farm design, a range of different numerical models have been developed, with both wave phase-resolving and wave phase-averaging models now available. Phase-resolving methods are primarily based on potential flow models and include semi-analytical techniques, boundary element methods and methods involving the mild-slope equations. Phase-averaging methods are all based around spectral wave models, with supra-grid and sub-grid wave farm models available as alternative implementations. The aims, underlying principles, strengths, weaknesses and obtained results of the main numerical methods currently used for modelling wave energy converter arrays are described in this paper, using a common framework. This allows a qualitative comparative analysis of the different methods to be performed at the end of the paper. This includes consideration of the conditions under which the models may be applied, the output of the models and the relationship between array size and computational effort. Guidance for developers is also presented on the most suitable numerical method to use for given aspects of WEC farm design. For instance, certain models are more suitable for studying near-field effects, whilst others are preferable for investigating far-field effects of the WEC farms. Furthermore, the analysis presented in this paper identifies areas in which the numerical modelling of WEC arrays is relatively weak and thus highlights those in which future developments are required.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering - OMAE |
| Pages | 535-546 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Volume | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | ASME 2012 31st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, OMAE 2012 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Duration: Jul 1 2012 → Jul 6 2012 |
Other
| Other | ASME 2012 31st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, OMAE 2012 |
|---|---|
| Country | Brazil |
| City | Rio de Janeiro |
| Period | 7/1/12 → 7/6/12 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ocean Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Cite this
A review of numerical modelling of wave energy converter arrays. / Folley, Matt; Babarit, Aurélien; Child, Ben; Forehand, David; O'Boyle, Louise; Silverthorne, Katie; Spinneken, Johannes; Stratigaki, Vasiliki; Troch, Peter A.
Proceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering - OMAE. Vol. 7 2012. p. 535-546.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - A review of numerical modelling of wave energy converter arrays
AU - Folley, Matt
AU - Babarit, Aurélien
AU - Child, Ben
AU - Forehand, David
AU - O'Boyle, Louise
AU - Silverthorne, Katie
AU - Spinneken, Johannes
AU - Stratigaki, Vasiliki
AU - Troch, Peter A
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Large-scale commercial exploitation of wave energy is certain to require the deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) in arrays, creating 'WEC farms'. An understanding of the hydrodynamic interactions in such arrays is essential for determining optimum layouts of WECs, as well as calculating the area of ocean that the farms will require. It is equally important to consider the potential impact of wave farms on the local and distal wave climates and coastal processes; a poor understanding of the resulting environmental impact may hamper progress, as it would make planning consents more difficult to obtain. It is therefore clear that an understanding the interactions between WECs within a farm is vital for the continued development of the wave energy industry. To support WEC farm design, a range of different numerical models have been developed, with both wave phase-resolving and wave phase-averaging models now available. Phase-resolving methods are primarily based on potential flow models and include semi-analytical techniques, boundary element methods and methods involving the mild-slope equations. Phase-averaging methods are all based around spectral wave models, with supra-grid and sub-grid wave farm models available as alternative implementations. The aims, underlying principles, strengths, weaknesses and obtained results of the main numerical methods currently used for modelling wave energy converter arrays are described in this paper, using a common framework. This allows a qualitative comparative analysis of the different methods to be performed at the end of the paper. This includes consideration of the conditions under which the models may be applied, the output of the models and the relationship between array size and computational effort. Guidance for developers is also presented on the most suitable numerical method to use for given aspects of WEC farm design. For instance, certain models are more suitable for studying near-field effects, whilst others are preferable for investigating far-field effects of the WEC farms. Furthermore, the analysis presented in this paper identifies areas in which the numerical modelling of WEC arrays is relatively weak and thus highlights those in which future developments are required.
AB - Large-scale commercial exploitation of wave energy is certain to require the deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) in arrays, creating 'WEC farms'. An understanding of the hydrodynamic interactions in such arrays is essential for determining optimum layouts of WECs, as well as calculating the area of ocean that the farms will require. It is equally important to consider the potential impact of wave farms on the local and distal wave climates and coastal processes; a poor understanding of the resulting environmental impact may hamper progress, as it would make planning consents more difficult to obtain. It is therefore clear that an understanding the interactions between WECs within a farm is vital for the continued development of the wave energy industry. To support WEC farm design, a range of different numerical models have been developed, with both wave phase-resolving and wave phase-averaging models now available. Phase-resolving methods are primarily based on potential flow models and include semi-analytical techniques, boundary element methods and methods involving the mild-slope equations. Phase-averaging methods are all based around spectral wave models, with supra-grid and sub-grid wave farm models available as alternative implementations. The aims, underlying principles, strengths, weaknesses and obtained results of the main numerical methods currently used for modelling wave energy converter arrays are described in this paper, using a common framework. This allows a qualitative comparative analysis of the different methods to be performed at the end of the paper. This includes consideration of the conditions under which the models may be applied, the output of the models and the relationship between array size and computational effort. Guidance for developers is also presented on the most suitable numerical method to use for given aspects of WEC farm design. For instance, certain models are more suitable for studying near-field effects, whilst others are preferable for investigating far-field effects of the WEC farms. Furthermore, the analysis presented in this paper identifies areas in which the numerical modelling of WEC arrays is relatively weak and thus highlights those in which future developments are required.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884481413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884481413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1115/OMAE2012-83807
DO - 10.1115/OMAE2012-83807
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84884481413
SN - 9780791844946
VL - 7
SP - 535
EP - 546
BT - Proceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering - OMAE
ER -