Numerical investigation of Edinburgh Duck wave energy converter integrated with floating breakwaters

Abstract

Hydrodynamic performance of hybrid floating structures consisting of Edinburgh Duck Wave Energy Converter (ED-WEC) integrated to different shapes of Floating Breakwaters (FBW) namely (i) box-type FBW, (ii) trapezoidal-type FBW, (iii) π -type FBW, (iv) parabolic-type FBW and (v) semi-circular-type FBW are investigated based on small amplitude wave theory. The study is performed on the harvesting of wave energy and increasing the wave power absorption from the scattered and the reflected waves due to the presence of oceanic structures integrated with WEC. The hydrodynamic analysis for the hybrid floating breakwater-WEC system is analysed using Ansys AQWA. The associated diffractions and motions of the hybrid floating breakwater-WEC system are examined. The motion responses and resulting wave forces for the heave motion of ED-WEC with different parameters such as width of ED, draft of ED, distance between ED-WEC and floating breakwater and angle of incident are investigated. Further, the study is carried out for isolated ED-WEC and isolated breakwaters. The study performed will help in developing an efficient and reliable form of device for harnessing maximum wave energy into electricity along with the breakwater having practical application of ED-WEC at the initial stages of design. The study will provide a potential solution of generating power from the wave energy and as a coastal defence structure with the presence of floating breakwaters. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia Naval.