Capture width of the three-float multi-mode multi-resonance broadband wave energy line absorber M4 from laboratory studies with irregular waves of different spectral shape and directional spread (original) (raw)

Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy, 2015

Abstract

ABSTRACT A moored multi-body line absorber is an attractive option for offshore wave energy conversion. Laboratory studies have been undertaken to determine capture width with multi-mode excitation and heave resonance for the three-float system M4 where the adjacent float spacing is about half a typical wavelength giving anti-phase forcing. The floats increase in diameter and draft from bow to stern and the bow and mid float are rigidly connected by a beam. A hinge with a damper above the mid float absorbs power from the relative rotation between the bow/mid float and the stern float. The resonant heave frequency for each float is different. Anti-phase surge forcing between mid and stern floats is substantial, while there is no hydrostatic stiffness producing resonance. This represents a hydrodynamically complex system and the laboratory experiments indicate high overall capture widths in irregular waves across a range of peak periods without damping optimisation. With different spectral peakedness and directional spread, the capture width is greater than 20 % of a wavelength (based on the energy period) across a range of peak periods typical of an offshore site for floats with a rounded base. The maximum capture width was about 37 % of a wavelength with rounded base floats; having rounded rather than flat bases increased energy capture by up to 60 % by reducing energy losses due to drag. For floats with flat bases comparisons with a geometrically scaled device five times larger and with similar magnitudes of equivalent damping showed similar capture widths as a proportion of wavelength.

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