Development of a numerical modelling tool for combined near field and far field wave transformations using a coupling of potential flow solvers

摘要

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) need to be deployed in large numbers in an array layout in order to have a significant power production. Each WEC has an impact on the incoming wave field, diffracting, reflecting and radiating waves. Simulating the wave transformations within and around a WEC farm is complex; it is difficult to simulate both near field and far field effects with a single numerical model, with relatively fast computing times. Within this research a numerical tool is developed to model both near-field and far-field wave transformations caused by WECs. The tool is based on the coupling of a wave-structure interaction solver and a wave propagation model, both based on the potential flow theory. This paper presents the coupling methodology between the two solvers and illustrates the functionality with a proof-of-concept. Additionally, a projection of the further developments of the numerical tool is given. The coupling of the two solvers is a computationally efficient and promising numerical tool to perform simulations on near-and far field surface elevations and kinematics nearby WEC farms.