Investigation of the effects of different array forms and float shapes on the hydrodynamic characteristics of floating photovoltaic systems under nearshore infragravity waves

Abstract

As nations worldwide continue advancing sustainable energy initiatives, nearshore floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have emerged as promising solutions in green energy development. Among these, FPV systems based on frame structures stand out for their lightweight design and modular, detachable configurations, offering extensive application potential. This study examines how different array configurations and float shapes influence the hydrodynamic performance of FPV systems, aiming to identify optimal structural designs for nearshore infragravity wave conditions. To validate the numerical methodology employed, two experimental models were simulated, revealing strong agreement between the numerical and experimental results. For this validation, three array types (rectangle, hexagon, and triangle) and three float shapes (box, cylinder, and sphere) were designed following the equivalent principles of displacement, water-plane area, and panel count. Hydrodynamic analyses were conducted for various moored FPV systems to assess their motion responses under three distinct wave headings. The results indicate that array configurations exert a more pronounced effect on motion responses than float shapes do. Among the designs, the triangular array with spherical floats exhibited the most stable motion performance. On the basis of these findings, a novel FPV configuration was proposed, which achieves improved hydrodynamic performance under nearshore infrared wave conditions.