Numerical investigation of a three-dimensional integrated system combining an inertial built-in wave energy converter array and a floating breakwater

Hengming Zhang, Haicui Wang, Xuhong Zhou, Jianjian Hu and Binzhen Zhou

Energy, 2025, vol. 326, issue C

Abstract: Integrating wave energy converters (WECs) with floating breakwater has potential in reducing generation cost and improving device reliability. This paper aims to developed a numerical model based on the potential flow theory with viscous correction to analyze the effects of the oscillator mass, ratio of WEC width to draft, and number of WECs on the energy extraction performance of the build-in WEC array-breakwater integrated system. The influence of the WEC array on the floating breakwater are also analyzed. Results show WEC with larger oscillator mass will extract more energy when placed in front of the breakwater. A tall and slender WEC floater in heave direction is more conducive to energy extraction. The annual energy production of the WECs becomes larger with the increase of the WEC number. The wave-focusing characteristics of the floating breakwater can enhance the energy extraction performance of the WEC array positioned in front of it. The mooring force amplitudes of the WEC array-breakwater system decrease compared with those of the isolated breakwater, especially at the wave periods where the wave power peaks. The findings of this paper provide guidance to design and optimize a WEC array-floating breakwater integrated system in practical engineering applications.

Keywords: Wave energy converter; Floating breakwater; Multi-body; Coupled constraint motion; Mooring forces (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:326:y:2025:i:c:s036054422501744x

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136102

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