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Analyses of Wave Scattering and Absorption Produced by WEC Arrays: Physical/Numerical Experiments and Model Assessment

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Marine Renewable Energy

Abstract

Knowledge of the effects of wave energy converters (WECs) on the near and far wave fields is critical to the efficient and low-risk design of waveforms. Several computational wave models enable the evaluation of WEC array effects, but model validation has been limited. In this chapter, we validate two popular models with very different formulations: the phase-resolving model WAMIT and the phase-averaged Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model. The models are validated against wave data from an extensive set of WEC array laboratory experiments conducted by Oregon State University and Columbia Power Technologies, Inc (CPT). The experimental WECs were 1:33 scale versions of a commercial device (CPT “Manta”), and several different WEC array configurations were subjected to a range of regular waves and random sea states. The wave field in the lee of the WEC arrays was mapped, and the wave shadow was quantified for all sea states. In addition, the WEC power capture performance was measured independently via a motion-tracking system and compared to the observed wave energy deficit (i.e., the wave shadow). Overall, WAMIT displays skill in predicting the wave field both in offshore and in the lee of the WEC arrays. WAMIT simulations demonstrate partial standing wave patterns that are consistent with the observations. These patterns are related to wave scattering processes, and their presence increases the magnitude of the wave shadow in the lee of WECs . The pattern is less pronounced at longer wave periods where WECs behave more like wave followers. In these situations, the wave shadow is primarily controlled by the WEC energy capture and less so by scattering. The SWAN model accounts for the frequency-dependent energy capture of the devices and performs well for cases when the wave shadow is primarily controlled by the WEC energy capture. For regular wave cases, inclusion of the wave diffraction process is necessary, but SWAN simulations for wave fields with frequency and directional spreading capture the general character of the wave shadow even without diffraction. Finally, we suggest that WECs designed to operate such that the expected significant wave energy lies at periods near, or larger than, the period of peak energy extraction will minimize the wave shadow effect for a given gross extraction of wave energy, which leads to more efficient arrays with respect to environmental impact.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (Award #DE-EE0002658), Sandia National Laboratories, and Columbia Power Technologies under Research Subagreement NO. 2010-1698. Additional support came from the Oregon Wave Energy Trust through Award Number OIC-0911-109. We also wish to thank Ken Rhinefrank, Joe Prudell, Al Schacher, Erik Hammagren, Tim Maddux, and the staff of the Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory for their help in the experimental effort.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA

    H. Tuba Özkan-Haller

  2. School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA

    Merrick C. Haller

  3. Mocean Energy, Edinburgh, UK

    J. Cameron McNatt

  4. Coast and Harbor Engineering, Edmonds, WA, USA

    Aaron Porter

  5. Columbia Power Technologies, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Pukha Lenee-Bluhm

Authors
  1. H. Tuba Özkan-Haller
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  2. Merrick C. Haller
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  3. J. Cameron McNatt
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  4. Aaron Porter
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  5. Pukha Lenee-Bluhm
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Correspondence to H. Tuba Özkan-Haller .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Zhaoqing Yang

  2. Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Andrea Copping

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Tuba Özkan-Haller, H., Haller, M.C., Cameron McNatt, J., Porter, A., Lenee-Bluhm, P. (2017). Analyses of Wave Scattering and Absorption Produced by WEC Arrays: Physical/Numerical Experiments and Model Assessment. In: Yang, Z., Copping, A. (eds) Marine Renewable Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53536-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53536-4_3

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53534-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53536-4

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