Wave energy has gained its popularity in recent decades due to the vast amount of untapped wave energy resources.There are numerous types of wave energy convertor(WEC)being proposed and to be economically viable,vario...Wave energy has gained its popularity in recent decades due to the vast amount of untapped wave energy resources.There are numerous types of wave energy convertor(WEC)being proposed and to be economically viable,various means to enhance the power generation from WECs have been studied and investigated.In this paper,a novel pontoon-type WEC,which is formed by multiple plate-like modules connected by hinges,are considered.The power enhancement of this pontoon-type WEC is achieved by allowing certain level of structural deformation and by utilizing a series of optimal variable power take-off(PTO)system.The wave energy is converted into useful electricity by attaching the PTO systems on the hinge connectors such that the mechanical movements of the hinges could produce electricity.In this paper,various structural rigidity of the interconnected modules are considered by changing the material Young’s modulus in order to investigate its impact on the power enhancement.In addition,the genetic algorithm optimization scheme is utilized to seek for the optimal PTO damping in the variable PTO system.It is observed that under certain condition,the flexible pontoon-type WEC with lesser connection joints is more effective in generating energy as compared to its rigid counterpart with higher connection joints.It is also found that the variable PTO system is able to generate greater energy as compared to the PTO system with constant/uniform PTO damping.展开更多
In this paper,using potential flow theory and assuming that the pressure in the air cabin is proportional to the vertical velocity of the water column,we establish a hydrodynamic model for OWC wave energy convertors,r...In this paper,using potential flow theory and assuming that the pressure in the air cabin is proportional to the vertical velocity of the water column,we establish a hydrodynamic model for OWC wave energy convertors,resulting in a collection of illustrative plates,from which the behaviour of an OWC and the relation between its parameters are discussed. Optimization theory is used to design an optimum convertor working in irregular waves. It is found that the numerical results fit well the experimental data.展开更多
The fluid viscosity is known to have a significant effect on the hydrodynamic characteristics which are linked to the power conversion ability of the wave energy converter(WEC). To overcome the disadvantages of case-b...The fluid viscosity is known to have a significant effect on the hydrodynamic characteristics which are linked to the power conversion ability of the wave energy converter(WEC). To overcome the disadvantages of case-by-case study through the experiments and numerical computations employed by the former researches, the viscous effect is studied comprehensively for multiple geometries in the present paper. The viscous effect is expressed as the viscous added mass and damping solved by the free-decay method. The computational fluid dynamics(CFD) method is employed for the calculation of the motion and flow field around the floater. The diameter to draft ratio and bottom shape are considered for the geometrical evaluation on the viscous effect. The results show that a slenderer floater presents a stronger viscous effect. Through the comparisons of the floaters with four different bottom shapes, the conical bottom is recommended in terms of low viscous effect and simple geometry for manufacture. A viscous correction formula for a series of cylindrical floaters is put forward, for the first time, to help the engineering design of outer-floaters of point-absorber WECs.展开更多
文摘Wave energy has gained its popularity in recent decades due to the vast amount of untapped wave energy resources.There are numerous types of wave energy convertor(WEC)being proposed and to be economically viable,various means to enhance the power generation from WECs have been studied and investigated.In this paper,a novel pontoon-type WEC,which is formed by multiple plate-like modules connected by hinges,are considered.The power enhancement of this pontoon-type WEC is achieved by allowing certain level of structural deformation and by utilizing a series of optimal variable power take-off(PTO)system.The wave energy is converted into useful electricity by attaching the PTO systems on the hinge connectors such that the mechanical movements of the hinges could produce electricity.In this paper,various structural rigidity of the interconnected modules are considered by changing the material Young’s modulus in order to investigate its impact on the power enhancement.In addition,the genetic algorithm optimization scheme is utilized to seek for the optimal PTO damping in the variable PTO system.It is observed that under certain condition,the flexible pontoon-type WEC with lesser connection joints is more effective in generating energy as compared to its rigid counterpart with higher connection joints.It is also found that the variable PTO system is able to generate greater energy as compared to the PTO system with constant/uniform PTO damping.
文摘In this paper,using potential flow theory and assuming that the pressure in the air cabin is proportional to the vertical velocity of the water column,we establish a hydrodynamic model for OWC wave energy convertors,resulting in a collection of illustrative plates,from which the behaviour of an OWC and the relation between its parameters are discussed. Optimization theory is used to design an optimum convertor working in irregular waves. It is found that the numerical results fit well the experimental data.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51761135013)the High Technology Ship Scientific Research Project from Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China–Floating Security Platform Project(the second stage,201622)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Fund for the Central University(Grant Nos.HEUCF180104 and HEUCFP201809)the China Scholarship Council(the International Clean Energy Talent Program,2017)
文摘The fluid viscosity is known to have a significant effect on the hydrodynamic characteristics which are linked to the power conversion ability of the wave energy converter(WEC). To overcome the disadvantages of case-by-case study through the experiments and numerical computations employed by the former researches, the viscous effect is studied comprehensively for multiple geometries in the present paper. The viscous effect is expressed as the viscous added mass and damping solved by the free-decay method. The computational fluid dynamics(CFD) method is employed for the calculation of the motion and flow field around the floater. The diameter to draft ratio and bottom shape are considered for the geometrical evaluation on the viscous effect. The results show that a slenderer floater presents a stronger viscous effect. Through the comparisons of the floaters with four different bottom shapes, the conical bottom is recommended in terms of low viscous effect and simple geometry for manufacture. A viscous correction formula for a series of cylindrical floaters is put forward, for the first time, to help the engineering design of outer-floaters of point-absorber WECs.
