go to top scroll for more

The power-capture of a nearshore, modular, flap-type wave energy converter in regular waves


Citation Wilkinson, L., Whittaker, T.J.T., Thies, P.R., Day, S., and Ingram, D. The power-capture of a nearshore, modular, flap-type wave energy converter in regular waves, Ocean Engineering, 137: 394-403, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.04.016.
Cite this using DataCite
Author(s) Wilkinson, L., Whittaker, T.J.T., Thies, P.R., Day, S., and Ingram, D.
Project partner(s) Queen?s University Belfast, University of Exeter, University of Strathclyde, University of Edinburgh
Publisher Ocean Engineering, 137: 394-403
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.04.016
Abstract Bottom-hinged, nearshore flap-type wave energy converters (WECs), have several advantages, such as high power conversion efficiency and survivability. They typically comprise a single flap spanning their full width. However, a potentially beneficial design change would be to split the flap into multiple modules, to make a “Modular Flap”. This could provide improvements, such as increased power-capture, reduced foundation loads and lower manufacturing and installation costs. Assessed in this work is the hydrodynamic power-capture of this device, based on physical modelling. Comparisons are made to an equivalent “Rigid Flap”. Tests are conducted in regular, head-on and off-angle waves. The simplest control strategy, of damping each module equally, is employed. The results show that, for head-on waves, the power increases towards the centre of the device, with the central modules generating 68% of the total power. Phase differences are also present. Consequently, the total power produced by the Modular Flap is, on average, 23% more smooth than that generated by the Rigid Flap.; The Modular Flap has 3% and 1% lower average power-capture than the Rigid Flap in head-on and off-angle waves, respectively. The advantages of the modular concept may therefore be exploited without significantly compromising the power-capture of the flap-type WEC

Highlights
  • Physical modelling of a modular flap considers viscous effects.
  • Power increases significantly towards the central modules.
  • A modular flap has 3% lower efficiency than a rigid flap in head-on waves.
  • Power generated by a modular flap is 23% more smooth.
  • A modular flap has up to 10% higher efficiency in off-angle waves.


This work was partly funded via IDCORE, the Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy, which trains research engineers whose work in conjunction with sponsoring companies aims to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal-current technologies
Associated Project(s) ETI-MA2003: Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE)
Associated Dataset(s) No associated datasets
Associated Publication(s)

A model to map levelised cost of energy for wave energy projects

An Integrated Data Management Approach for Offshore Wind Turbine Failure Root Cause Analysis

An investigation of the effects of wind-induced inclination on floating wind turbine dynamics: heave plate excursion

Application of an offshore wind farm layout optimization methodology at Middelgrunden wind farm

Characterisation of current and turbulence in the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility

Characterization of the tidal resource in Rathlin Sound

Comparison of Offshore Wind Farm Layout Optimization Using a Genetic Algorithm and a Particle Swarm Optimizer

Component reliability test approaches for marine renewable energy

Constraints Implementation in the Application of Reinforcement Learning to the Reactive Control of a Point Absorber

Control of a Realistic Wave Energy Converter Model Using Least-Squares Policy Iteration

Cost Reduction to Encourage Commercialisation of Marine in the UK

Cumulative impact assessment of tidal stream energy extraction in the Irish Sea

Design diagrams for wavelength discrepancy in tank testing with inconsistently scaled intermediate water depth

Development of a Condition Monitoring System for an Articulated Wave Energy Converter

Dynamic mooring simulation with Code(-)Aster with application to a floating wind turbine

ETI Insights Report - Wave Energy

Environmental interactions of tidal lagoons: A comparison of industry perspectives

Exploring Marine Energy Potential in the UK Using a Whole Systems Modelling Approach

Hybrid, Multi-Megawatt HVDC Transformer Topology Comparison for Future Offshore Wind Farms

Hydrodynamic analysis of a ducted, open centre tidal stream turbine using blade element momentum theory

Offshore wind farm electrical cable layout optimization

Offshore wind installation vessels - A comparative assessment for UK offshore rounds 1 and 2

Optimisation of Offshore Wind Farms Using a Genetic Algorithm

Quantifying uncertainty in acoustic measurements of tidal flows using a “Virtual” Doppler Current Profiler

Re-creation of site-specific multi-directional waves with non-collinear current

Reactive control of a two-body point absorber using reinforcement learning

Reactive control of a wave energy converter using artificial neural networks

Reliability and O & M sensitivity analysis as a consequence of site specific characteristics for wave energy converters

Reliability prediction for offshore renewable energy: Data driven insights

Resource characterization of sites in the vicinity of an island near a landmass

Review and application of Rainflow residue processing techniques for accurate fatigue damage estimation

Sensitivity analysis of offshore wind farm operation and maintenance cost and availability

Simulating Extreme Directional Wave Conditions

Testing Marine Renewable Energy Devices in an Advanced Multi-Directional Combined Wave-Current Environment

Testing the robustness of optimal access vessel fleet selection for operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms

The Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy(IDCORE) - Case Studies

The SPAIR method: Isolating incident and reflected directional wave spectra in multidirectional wave basins

The effects of wind-induced inclination on the dynamics ofsemi-submersible floating wind turbines in the time domain

UK offshore wind cost optimisation: top head mass (Presentation to All Energy, 10th May 2017)