Simulation based design optimization and performance assessment for an attenuator type wave energy converter

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Wave energy from a shear resource magnitude perspective is a very promising low-GHG energy source that**can potentially play a role in Canada's evolving energy mix for both grid-connected and remote coastal**communities. Wave energy converters (WECs) which must transform raw wave energy into useful electrical**power face the key challenge of power density; that is how many kW of power can be generated per kg of**device mass. As WEC cost is to a large degree proportional to mass, improving this power density can greatly**impact the economics of WECs.**The proposed project is aimed at helping the developers, Blu-tility, of a novel attenuator type WEC named the**Blu-Dino System, to improve the simulation fidelity of their system and optimize the key system parameters**for wave conditions on Canada's West Coast. The Blu-Dino WEC concept utilizes a helical attenuator design,**and which holds up the promise of greatly improved power density. Novel CFD methods developed at UVic**will be employed to analyse the hydrodynamics of the device, to compare again simplified hydrodynamic**models that may miss some important viscous hydrodynamic effects. A heuristic optimization framework,**developed previously for other WEC types and floating offshore wind turbine structures, will be used to refine**the system design. The output of the project will be better insight into the Blu-Dino system design parameters,**and a toolset for continued development of a prototype.