Physical Modelling Of A Centralized Controlled Array Of Five Wecfarm Wave Energy Converters

Authors

  • TIMOTHY VERVAET Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
  • LAURENS CROMHEEKE Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
  • NICOLAS QUARTIER Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
  • MAXIMILIAN STREICHER Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
  • VASILIKI STRATIGAKI Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
  • PETER TROCH Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59490/coastlab.2024.718

Keywords:

wave energy converter (WEC), WEC array, WECfarm, physical modelling, centralized control

Abstract

Point absorber wave energy converters (WECs) closely placed in array hydrodynamically interact through wave radiation and diffraction. The power absorption by these WECs is optimised by altering the WEC dynamics through the control of the Power Take-Off (PTO). As the WEC dynamics are changed, the hydrodynamic interactions change as well. Therefore, the PTO control should be optimized taking all these interactions into account, referred to as centralized control. The ‘WECfarm’ project has been initiated to study WEC arrays, and to address the research gap on available realistic and reliable data on WEC array tests to validate numerical models (Vervaet et al., 2022). This work discusses the experimental design, implementation and testing of a centralized controlled array of five ‘WECfarm’ heaving point absorber WECs, tested at the Coastal and Ocean Basin Ostend.

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Published

2024-05-01

Conference Proceedings Volume

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Extended abstracts

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