Abstract
The geometry of a wave energy converter (WEC) has a major influence on the power it can theoretically absorb. One of the first steps in the WEC design is the optimization of its geometry. If large power levels are to be attained, the individual WECs must be incorporated into “wave farms”, consisting in one or more arrays of devices, each device having its own PTO equipment. It is then important to understand how the different oscillators interact with each other and how their relative positions and distances affect the performance of the system.
A simple WEC consisting of a single axisymmetric oscillating body equipped with a linear PTO mechanism is considered first. The dependence, on geometry and size, of the power absorption from irregular waves is investigated, based on a stochastic model. This is followed by a study on the hydrodynamics of arrays of different configurations, and their performance in irregular waves.
It is expected that the analysis developed here may be applied to a wide variety of wave WECs.