Experimental Investigation of a Hybrid Device Combining a Wave Energy Converter and a Floating Breakwater in a Wave Flume Equipped with a Controllable Actuator-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Experimental Investigation of a Hybrid Device Combining a Wave Energy Converter and a Floating Breakwater in a Wave Flume Equipped with a Controllable Actuator

Published:2023-12-21 Issue:1 Volume:17 Page:40
ISSN:1996-1073
Container-title:Energies
language:en
Short-container-title:Energies

Author:

Martinelli Luca¹^ORCID,Capovilla Giulio¹,Volpato Matteo¹,Ruol Piero¹^ORCID,Favaretto Chiara¹^ORCID,Loukogeorgaki Eva²,Andriollo Mauro³^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (ICEA) Department, University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy

2. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

3. Department of Industrial Engineering (DEI), University of Padova, Via Venezia, 1, 35131 Padova, Italy

Abstract

This paper presents a hydrodynamic investigation carried out on the “Wave Attenuator” device, which is a new type of floating breakwater anchored with piles and equipped with a linear Power Take Off (PTO) mechanism, which is typical for wave energy converters. The device is tested in the wave flume, under regular waves, in slightly non-linear conditions. The PTO mechanism, that restrains one of the two degrees of freedom, is simulated through an actuator and a programmable logic controller with preassigned strategy. The paper presents the system identification procedure followed in the laboratory, supported by a numerical investigation essential to set up a credible control strategy aiming at maximizing the wave energy harvesting. The maximum power conversion efficiency under the optimal PTO control strategy is found: it is of order 50–70% when the incident wave frequency is lower than the resonance one, and only of order 20% for higher frequencies. This type of experimental investigation is essential to evaluate the actual efficiency limitations imposed by device geometry.

Funder

Centro studi di Economia e Tecnica dell’Energia Giorgio Levi Cases, Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy

PNRR MUR—M4C2—Investimento 1.3—Extended Partnership—“NEST”—Intervention area “2—Future energy scenarios”

Spoke 5 “Energy conversion”

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Energy (miscellaneous),Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Control and Optimization,Engineering (miscellaneous),Building and Construction

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/1/40/pdf

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