Point absorber wave energy converter arrays coupled with a V-shaped breakwater energy concentrator

Abstract

The Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter (PA-WEC) represents a promising technology for harnessing wave energy but enhancing its energy capture efficiency remains a pivotal challenge. This study introduces an innovative WEC system that integrates an array of heaving PA-WECs with a V-shaped breakwater wave-reflector. The energy-focussing characteristics of the V-shaped breakwater intensify the wave field in localised regions, revealing multiple energy-focussing positions and temporally alternating focussing sites. The V-shaped breakwater enhances the energy capture of the PA-WECs, with oscillation amplitudes at focussing positions approximately three times greater than those in open-sea conditions, thereby validating the system's potential for improving wave energy conversion efficiency. The synergistic operation of multiple PA-WEC devices, facilitated by phase differences in float oscillations, allows the array to harvest more wave energy over time, thereby boosting the amalgamated energy absorption efficiency. The capture-width-ratio (CWR) of the devices is related to their damping coefficient, with optimised damping significantly improving the efficiency of the whole system. Increasing the number of PA-WEC devices markedly enhances the energy capture capability of the array system and improves the output energy stability. This research provides crucial theoretical insights for optimised design of wave energy harvesting systems and holds considerable promise for practical applications.