Laboratory Tests in the Development of WaveCat

James Allen, Konstantinos Sampanis, Jian Wan, Deborah Greaves, Jon Miles and Gregorio Iglesias
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James Allen: School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Konstantinos Sampanis: School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Jian Wan: School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Deborah Greaves: School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Jon Miles: School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Gregorio Iglesias: School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: WaveCat, a novel overtopping Wave Energy Converter, was tested with the aim of determining its performance under different sea states, establishing a starting point for optimisation of the device, numerical model validation and proof-of-concept for the control systems. The tests were carried out at a 1:30 scale in the Ocean Basin of the COAST Laboratory at University of Plymouth. A state-of-the-art control system was implemented, and overtopping rates and device motions were recorded alongside the wave field. It was observed that power generation is dependent on both the wave height and period, with smaller periods tending to produce greater overtopping rates, and therefore greater power generation, for the same wave height. Due to time constraints in the laboratory, only one configuration of draft/freeboard was tested; with this configuration, overtopping occurred under significant wave heights of 0.083 m or more, corresponding to 2.5 m or more in prototype values. These experimental results form the basis for future development and optimisation of WaveCat.

Keywords: overtopping; wave energy converter; physical modelling; marine renewable energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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