Abstract
The DIKWE concept aims at protecting coastal and harbours installations and generating energy from Wave Energy Conversion.
The device consists of a semi-immersed flap facing the waves and oscillating around a horizontal axis located at its top. A chamber with a free surface which dimensions are tuned according to the most probable sea states characteristics on the considered site is located behind the flap.
The incoming waves interact with the flap and induce an oscillating motion of this rigid body coupled with the water flow in the chamber. A Power Take Off is connected with the flap rotating axis. The development and step by step validation of the DIKWE concept includes three phases:
Phase 1: preliminary calculations and tests at Ifremer ocean engineering basin at model scale 1/15. The Technology Readiness Level reached is 3[Le Boulluec et al. 2022].
Phase 2: tests of an intermediate scale single cell device in Sainte Anne du Portzic sea test site operated by Ifremer. The TRL is 6-7. The article reports on the phase 2 of the project development.
Phase 3: full scale pilot included in a protecting dyke. The target TRL will be 8-9. Numerical and experimental results are compared. The results are energy captures according to the recorded waves on the test site, the tide level and the parameters of the PTO. Both mechanical power on flap axis and electrical power are assessed. The perspective at full scale development is described.