Performance characterization and modeling of an oscillating surge wave energy converter

Alaa Ahmed, Lisheng Yang, Jianuo Huang, Ahmed Shalaby, Raju Datla, Lei Zuo, Muhammad Hajj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Testing wave energy converters in the ocean could be expensive and complex, which necessitates the use of numerical modeling. However, accurately modeling the response of wave energy converters with high-fidelity simulations can be computationally intensive in the design stage where different configurations must be considered. Reduced-order models based on simplified equations of motion can be very useful in the design, optimization, or control of wave energy converters. Given the complex dynamics of wave energy converters, accurate representation, and evaluation of relative contributions by different forces are required. This effort is concerned with a performance characterization of the hydrodynamic response of an oscillating surge wave energy converter that is based on a reduced-order model. A state-space model is used to represent the radiation damping term. Morison’s representation of unsteady forces is used to account for the nonlinear damping. Wave tank tests are performed to validate simulations. A free response simulation is used to determine the coefficients of the state-space model. Torque-forced simulations are used to identify the coefficients of the nonlinear damping term for different amplitudes and wave frequencies. The impact of varying these coefficients on the response is investigated. An assessment of the capability of the model in predicting the hydrodynamic response under irregular forcing is performed. The results show that the maximum error is 3% when compared with high-fidelity simulations. It is determined that the nonlinear damping is proportional to the torque amplitude and its effects are more pronounced as the amplitude of the flap oscillations increases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4007-4025
Number of pages19
JournalNonlinear Dynamics
Volume112
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Keywords

  • Nonlinear damping
  • Reduced-order model
  • State-space model
  • Tank tests
  • Wave energy

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