Numerical study on overtopping performance of a multi-level breakwater for wave energy conversion

Abstract

Overtopping wave energy converter (OWEC) is capable of converting the unstable wave energy into the relatively stable potential energy in its reservoir. The small wave height and the large tidal range in China will cause a lower efficiency of the traditional single-level overtopping device especially at the lower tidal level. The design of the multi-level reservoirs may be a solution to improve the overtopping performance, which can be integrated in the sloping-ramp breakwater. In this study, a multi-level breakwater for wave energy conversion, consisting of two reservoirs with sloping walls at different levels, is proposed. A numerical wave tank based on the VOF model is established in ANSYS-Fluent® 12.0 for the OWEC's performance investigation. The numerical model on predicting the overtopping process and time-averaged discharges is validated by corresponding experimental data. Effects of the opening width of the lower reservoir, sloping angles of two reservoirs and the gap height between the reservoirs on the dimensionless overtopping discharges are studied numerically. It is found that a smaller opening width, larger height ratio, and two sloping angles of 30° have positive effects to improve the overtopping performance of the device.