Print Email Facebook Twitter Feasibility of using wave enhancement methods to optimise wave conditions in wave energy converter arrays Title Feasibility of using wave enhancement methods to optimise wave conditions in wave energy converter arrays Author van der Wiel, R.J. Contributor Reniers, A.J.H.M. (mentor) Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences Department Hydraulic Engineering Date 2016-09-16 Abstract Wave energy is a promising renewable resource for the extraction of energy. To increase the efficiency of this technology a parabolic reflection wall is located behind a wave farm of heaving point absorber wave energy converters (WECs) to increase the power output of the WEC array by altering the wave field. The WECs are modelled with patches of bottom friction in the linear wave model PHAROS. The modelling of the wave energy converters is validated with both numerical results on a single WEC and scaled lab measurement data of WEC arrays of 25 WECs of the WECwakes project with both long and short crested wave spectra. The validation of the numerical WEC modelling shows an error in the reflection zone but a good approximation of the bottom friction approach in the shadow zone that is of most interest to this study. The reflection wall increases the power output of the WEC array with approximately 130% for standard rectilinear and staggered array configurations. When the WEC array configuration is optimised to the standing wave pattern generated by the reflection wall, this increase in power output increases to 175-200% which is approximately 9 to 10MW with respect to the situation without the reflection wall. A rough feasibility study is made using an internal rate of return analysis based on a conceptual design using proven technology. The design consists of a reinforced concrete shell, forming the reflective surface, that is attached to driven steel monopiles for structural support. The cost-benefit analyses using the internal rate of return shows there could be potential in this concept. Finally some remarks are made detailing options of combining the reflection wall with other functions to increase the added value, e.g. wind parks, ports etc. Part of this study is also published in the RENEW2016 conference proceedings as Van der Wiel et al., 2016. Subject Wave energywave energy converterWECWEC arrayreflection wallwave field enhancementfocussing of wavesgreen energyblue energy To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:fdeca354-476d-490d-a0b8-d0593076d68a Part of collection Student theses Document type master thesis Rights (c) 2016 van der Wiel, R.J. Files PDF Feasibility of using wave ... r Wiel.pdf 33.2 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:fdeca354-476d-490d-a0b8-d0593076d68a/datastream/OBJ/view