Effect of Motion Reduction Structures on Motion of Floating Wave Energy Converter

摘要

The goal of this study was to optimize the design of motion reductionstructures for a floating pendulum-type wave energy converter (WEC)used to harness energy from the ocean. The purpose of these structureswas to improve the performance of the WEC by reducing its motionunder operating wave conditions and by helping the device absorbwave energy efficiently. Moreover, the motion reduction structurescause wave motion that protects the WEC against direct excitation ofwave loads under extreme wave conditions. In this study, motionreduction structures were installed on a floating pendulum WEC thathas been the subject of previous studies. The effects of the structureswere then analyzed under different incident wave conditions. Thedesign parameters for the motion reduction structures were size, shape,and installed position. The wave-induced motion characteristics andperformance of the floating pendulum WEC were investigatednumerically. Based on the simulation results, we were able to optimizethe motion reduction structure design of the WEC, thus improving itsefficiency and durability.