Wave loadings acting on Overtopping Breakwater for Energy Conversion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Vicinanza, D., Norgaard, J.H., Contestabile, P. and Andersen, T.L., 2013. Wave loadings acting on Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion. Any kind of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) requires information on reliability of technology and on time required for the return of the investment (reasonable payback). The structural response is one of the most important parameters to take in to account for a consistent assessment on innovative devices. This paper presents results on wave loading acting on an hybrid WEC named Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion (OBREC). The new design is based on the concept of an integration between a traditional rubble mound breakwater and a front reservoir designed to store the wave overtopping from the incoming wave to produce electricity. 2D hydraulic model tests were carried out at the Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University (Denmark). The analyses of hydraulic model tests have identified the main shapes assumed by wave surfaces at the breakwater ...