Exploring the hydrodynamics of Mixed Wave Energy farms

Abstract

In order to reduce the Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and make them competitive with conventional energy sources, they would need to be deployed in large numbers as farms similar to Offshore Wind. Given their significant capacity, Offshore wind turbines are often placed at large distances apart, to reduce destructive wake effects, while maintaining a high energy density per unit area. However, WECs within a farm, are much smaller with much lower capacities and stronger inter device interactions due to the presence of a highly dense fluid. Therefore, larger number of WECs can be deployed in closer proximity to produce comparable energy density per unit area. As we move towards hybrid systems with floating solar, wind and wave energy amongst others, efficiency in deployment within an area becomes key. Conventional wave farm concepts that have been extensively studied such as 1) wave farms of different types of WECs (Point Absorber, Attenuator, Flap etc) also referred to as homogeneous arrays (same device in multiple numbers) and 2) wave farms with different sizes and drafts of one type of WEC also referred to as heterogeneous arrays. To date, studies have focused on multiple devices with similar geometries interacting through the same degrees of freedom. With this research, the authors explore mixed wave energy farms, which are wave farms utilizing different types of wave energy converters in the same farm. With the focus on the hydrodynamics and power produced by wave energy converters, this research provides for the first time insights into the interaction of devices, with varying geometries and degrees of freedom, thus entering an entirely new domain of wave farm research.