Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter

The geometry optimisation of a point-absorber wave energy converter, focusing on the increase in energy absorption derived from heave forces, was performed. The proposed procedure starts by developing an initial geometry, which is later evaluated in terms of hydrodynamics and optimised through an op...

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Main Authors: Susana Costa, Jorge Ferreira, Nelson Martins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/207
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author Susana Costa
Jorge Ferreira
Nelson Martins
author_facet Susana Costa
Jorge Ferreira
Nelson Martins
author_sort Susana Costa
collection DOAJ
description The geometry optimisation of a point-absorber wave energy converter, focusing on the increase in energy absorption derived from heave forces, was performed. The proposed procedure starts by developing an initial geometry, which is later evaluated in terms of hydrodynamics and optimised through an optimisation algorithm to tune the shape parameters that influence energy absorption, intending to obtain the optimal geometry. A deployment site on the Portuguese coast was defined to obtain information on the predominant waves to assess several sea states. NEMOH and WEC-Sim (both open-source software packages) were used to evaluate the interaction between the structure and the imposed wave conditions. The results extracted and analysed from this software included forces in the six degrees of freedom. Under extreme wave conditions, the highest increase in the relative capture width between the initial and final shapes was around 0.2, corresponding to an increase from 0.36 to 0.54, while under average wave conditions, the increase only reached a value of around 0.02, corresponding to an increase from 0.22 to 0.24, as calculated through the relative capture width values.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-48567bb8bdd54ab6b4ffef414a93a16a2025-01-10T13:17:25ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-01-0118120710.3390/en18010207Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy ConverterSusana Costa0Jorge Ferreira1Nelson Martins2Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalMechanical Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalMechanical Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalThe geometry optimisation of a point-absorber wave energy converter, focusing on the increase in energy absorption derived from heave forces, was performed. The proposed procedure starts by developing an initial geometry, which is later evaluated in terms of hydrodynamics and optimised through an optimisation algorithm to tune the shape parameters that influence energy absorption, intending to obtain the optimal geometry. A deployment site on the Portuguese coast was defined to obtain information on the predominant waves to assess several sea states. NEMOH and WEC-Sim (both open-source software packages) were used to evaluate the interaction between the structure and the imposed wave conditions. The results extracted and analysed from this software included forces in the six degrees of freedom. Under extreme wave conditions, the highest increase in the relative capture width between the initial and final shapes was around 0.2, corresponding to an increase from 0.36 to 0.54, while under average wave conditions, the increase only reached a value of around 0.02, corresponding to an increase from 0.22 to 0.24, as calculated through the relative capture width values.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/207wave energy conversionoptimisationshape NEMOHWEC-Sim
spellingShingle Susana Costa
Jorge Ferreira
Nelson Martins
Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter
Energies
wave energy conversion
optimisation
shape NEMOH
WEC-Sim
title Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter
title_full Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter
title_fullStr Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter
title_full_unstemmed Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter
title_short Geometry Optimisation of a Wave Energy Converter
title_sort geometry optimisation of a wave energy converter
topic wave energy conversion
optimisation
shape NEMOH
WEC-Sim
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/207
work_keys_str_mv AT susanacosta geometryoptimisationofawaveenergyconverter
AT jorgeferreira geometryoptimisationofawaveenergyconverter
AT nelsonmartins geometryoptimisationofawaveenergyconverter