Towards standardised design of wave energy converters: A high-fidelity modelling approach

Abstract

Within this study, an analysis of the global standard panorama for wave energy converters (WECs) is presented, in order to develop design methodologies as close as possible to the state-of-the-art. In particular, an analysis of such international standards panorama exhibits a lack of information and detail regarding WEC system design, and the specific simulations procedures that shall be followed accordingly. In the light of this, this study proposes a standardised design process that can be followed to define the design loads which characterise a structural analysis, which are obtained by high-fidelity models. The device assessment in extreme states is analysed on intact and damaged conditions, where the use of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software is proposed to encompass any non-linear behaviour related to extreme events. Furthermore, this article also describes a fatigue assessment based on linear system theory, with the inclusion of linearised significant terms, such as, e.g. mooring influence on device dynamics.