Nonlinear hydrodynamic simulations in wave energy conversion systems engineering

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Wave energy converters (WECS) are a clean alternative energy source that has promise to buttress the existing generation infrastructure in Canada. Ocean wave energy is highly concentrated compared to other renewable sources, often offering 15-20 times more available energy per square meter than either wind or solar, and Canada boasts a vast reserve along its coastlines. Like wind energy, wave energy has its own temporal characteristics, and the intermittent nature of this renewable source make it a challenging problem to find ways to exploit the resource. The wave energy industry is a relatively new industry with only a few concepts near to commercialization, and Canadian technology development in this area is in its infancy. Missing is a clear identification of how wave energy can complement existing supplies at institutional, community, regional, and provincial scales, and ignorance in this area is a barrier to the integration of ocean energy. A justified statement of the economic and environmental benefits of wave energy could illustrate potential market(s) for wave energy and spur economic development in this renewable resource.