Maximum Wave Energy Conversion by Two Interconnected Floaters

Abstract

Interconnected floaters could use relative rotations around connection joints to drive a power take-off (PTO) system, such that the ocean wave energy can be converted into a useful energy. In this paper, our attention is on the PTO optimization for the interconnected floaters. A fully linear dynamic system, including the linear hydrodynamics of the interconnected floaters and a linear PTO system, is considered. Under assumptions of linear theory, we present a mathematical model for evaluating the maximum wave energy conversion of two interconnected floaters based on the three-dimensional wave radiation–diffraction theory. The model is validated by comparison of the present results with the published data, and there is a good agreement. The model can be employed to calculate the maximum power absorbed by the interconnected floaters under motion constraints due to the restraints of pump stroke or/and collision problem between the floaters. The influence of wave frequency, PTO system, floater rotary inertia radius, and motion constraints on the power capture capability of the two interconnected floaters is also examined. It can be concluded that enlarging the rotary inertia of each floater by using mass nonuniform distribution can be seen as an alternative way of adding PTO inertia. The maximum relative power capture width of the two interconnected floaters with optimized PTO system under constraints is much smaller than that without any motion constraints for long waves.