Performance Evaluation and Optimization of a Slack-moored Two-floating WEC using CFD

摘要

In deep water, a bottom slack-moored two-floating body wave energyconverter (WEC) should be employed in wave energy absorption. Thefloating buoy circles and moves along the cylinder associated with alinear damper which is activated by the relative movement in heave.Considering the viscous effect, the CFD method is employed which isinvolved in the establishment of the numerical wave tank (NWT),setting up of the domain size, mesh generation and boundaries. Thelinear damping coefficients and the elastic coefficients of the floater areconsidered in the corresponding system. A time-sequence forces andmovements of the buoys and the vortex around which are obtaineddirectly. Further, the energy dissipation mechanism can be clarified. Aset of capture width ratios for various key factors are obtained throughthe power take-off mechanism. The numerical results show that thecapture width ratio appears a maximum value with the increase of thelinear damping coefficient, and has a linear increase with the enlargingof the elastic coefficient.