A Validation of a Pivoted Point Absorber Type Wave Energy Converter Using CFD

Abstract

Wave energy is sustainable and clean energy, so it has great potential to be an eco-friendly and lasting renewable energy resource in the future. Recently, a number of researchers have investigated different types of wave energy converters (WECs) using numerical models such as potential theory and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to enhance the efficiency of such devices. In this paper, a validation of a point absorber type WECs is investigated to capture the movement of the WEC system and to measure the moment on the WEC system. The WEC consists of a lever and a buoy. The geometry is the same as the existing experimental geometry of the reference in order to validate the present numerical simulation. The buoy is connected to the lever and has a hinge on the connection point. Besides, another hinge is installed in the middle of the lever, and the WEC system rotates in the pitch direction. The commercial CFD package Star-CCM+, which solves Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, is employed in this study. In the initial stages of this research, a validation study against published experimental results was conducted. The rotational displacement and the moment on the buoy were compared with the existing experimental data of the reference. The result shows good agreement. In the near future, a study on a new pivoted point absorber WEC device regarding the buoy shape of the WEC device and an operation principle will be performed based on this numerical study.