Abstract
High-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provides a cost-effective alternative to expensive, labor-intensive experimental studies of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) by enabling the creation of digital twins. However, adoption within the Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) community has been limited by steep learning curves, high costs of commercial software licenses, and a lack of relevant example cases.
To address these challenges, we have developed and publicly released detailed documentation, pre-configured real-world WEC simulation setups, pre-run examples (using the WEC Reference Model 6 as a case study), and their solutions, based on the open-source CFD suite OpenFOAM. The simulation setups are specifically optimized for MHK applications, minimizing the need for user inputs. Each stage of the typical WEC numerical simulation workflow is thoroughly documented, covering high-fidelity mesh generation, rigid-body motion solvers, mooring system modeling, Power Take-Off (PTO) modeling, wave condition setup, data acquisition, and power output calculations. Pre-run solutions for various scenarios, including wave-only flumes, floating or moored systems under regular and irregular waves, and systems with or without PTO, have been made publicly available to help developers follow the setup process, benchmark results, and debug their numerical models effectively.
The work presented here includes the comprehensive documentation of configuration files, model geometries, and solution results required for modelers to confidently simulate novel marine energy devices using freely available open-source software.
The poster for this paper at OREC/UMERC 2025 can be found here.