Viscous effects on the hydrodynamic performance of a two-body wave energy converter with a damping plate

Abstract

In this study, the hydrodynamic forces and power absorption performance of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)-based two-body wave energy converter (2BWEC) are investigated. A theoretical model is developed within the framework of linear potential flow to solve for added mass, radiation damping, and wave excitation force using the matched eigenfunction expansion method (MEEM). A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is employed to account for vortex-shedding effects of the floater and inner cylinder with a damping plate under various excitation conditions. Empirical formulas for supplementary added mass and drag coefficients caused by flow separation are proposed based on curve-fitting the differences between CFD results and MEEM calculations. These formulas are integrated into motion equations to enhance accuracy in evaluating the power absorption of the 2BWEC. It has been found that in the context of viscous flow, both the added mass and damping coefficients are increased, particularly for the inner cylinder with a damping plate. In addition, the viscous hydrodynamic coefficients exhibit strong dependence on the Keulegan–Carpenter number, while showing insensitivity to changes in the frequency parameter β. The supplementary (viscous) added mass provides additional inertia for the AUV with a limited mass itself, which is advantageous for the power absorption of the AUV-based 2BWEC. Conversely, the presence of viscous damping from the damping plate impedes wave energy capture.