Hydrodynamic response characteristics of curved shape trash intercepting net under wave–current combined conditions

Abstract

Under the influence of waves and ocean currents, the mesh panels of trash nets at nuclear power plants exhibit a curved shape. The combined action of waves and currents creates a Doppler effect that significantly influences the hydrodynamic response of these nets. This paper used OpenFOAM to establish a porous media macroscopic computational fluid dynamics model for analyzing the forces on curved trash nets. Wave–current combined conditions were simulated by introducing a uniform current in the direction of wave propagation. Forces on the nets under wave–current combined conditions were analyzed and compared with forces under separate uniform current and wave conditions. The results indicate that wave run-up on the nets is more significant under wave–current combined conditions than under wave action alone. The dimensionless horizontal force decreases more rapidly with increasing wave steepness (kA) and wave number (kd) under combined conditions than with linear superposition. Specifically, the rate of increase in dimensionless horizontal force with current speed, at the same blockage ratio, is about twice that of linear superposition. Additionally, the tension in the main cable of the nets is 17% higher under combined conditions than with linear superposition.