A basic study on the MPS method simulation for the caisson OWC type WEC in regular waves

Abstract

Oscillating water column (OWC) type wave energy converter (WEC) are recognized as high safety and reliability wave energy devices under heavy weather owing to the simple structure and no underwater moving components. However, damage cases of their structures or power devices by heavy weather are reported during actual sea experiments with a prototype floating OWC type WEC. Estimating detail behavior of an OWC type WEC under any sea state including heavy weather is important for evolution of development of OWC type WECs. In this research, development of a numerical simulation method is implemented using the moving particle semi-implicit method for reproducing nonlinear phenomena like heavy weather and interaction of structures and waves. In this paper, basic applicability of the MPS method is indicated by numerical simulation of reproducing a caisson OWC type WEC in regular waves. In addition, arrangement of air particles for setting computational domain is examined.