Numerical modeling of the effects of wave energy converter characteristics on nearshore wave conditions

Chang, G.; Ruehl, K.; Jones, C. A.; Roberts, J.; Chartrand, C.

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.048

Numerical modeling of the effects of wave energy converter characteristics on nearshore wave conditions

Journal Article · Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Renewable Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.048· OSTI ID:1262235

Chang, G. ^[1]; Ruehl, K. ^[2]; Jones, C. A. ^[1]; Roberts, J. ^[2]; Chartrand, C. ^[2]

Integral Consulting Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Modeled nearshore wave propagation was investigated downstream of simulated wave energy converters (WECs) to evaluate overall near- and far-field effects of WEC arrays. Model sensitivity to WEC characteristics and WEC array deployment scenarios was evaluated using a modified version of an industry standard wave model, Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN), which allows the incorporation of device-specific WEC characteristics to specify obstacle transmission. The sensitivity study illustrated that WEC device type and subsequently its size directly resulted in wave height variations in the lee of the WEC array. Wave heights decreased up to 30% between modeled scenarios with and without WECs for large arrays (100 devices) of relatively sizable devices (26 m in diameter) with peak power generation near to the modeled incident wave height. Other WEC types resulted in less than 15% differences in modeled wave height with and without WECs, with lesser influence for WECs less than 10 m in diameter. Wave directions and periods were largely insensitive to changes in parameters. Furthermore, additional model parameterization and analysis are required to fully explore the model sensitivity of peak wave period and mean wave direction to the varying of the parameters.

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1262235

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1359817

Report Number(s):: SAND2016-6265J; 642916

Journal Information:: Renewable Energy, Journal Name: Renewable Energy Journal Issue: C Vol. 89; ISSN 0960-1481

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (13)

Environmental Risk Evaluation System—an Approach to Ranking Risk of Ocean Energy Development on Coastal and Estuarine Environments Copping, Andrea; Hanna, Luke; Van Cleve, Brie Estuaries and Coasts, Vol. 38, Issue S1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-014-9816-3	journal	April 2014
Assessment of the changes induced by a wave energy farm in the nearshore wave conditions Bento, A. Rute; Rusu, Eugen; Martinho, Paulo Computers & Geosciences, Vol. 71 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2014.03.006	journal	October 2014
Modelling analysis of the sensitivity of shoreline change to a wave farm Millar, D. L.; Smith, H. C. M.; Reeve, D. E. Ocean Engineering, Vol. 34, Issue 5-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2005.12.014	journal	April 2007
Environmental Impact Assessments for wave energy developments – Learning from existing activities and informing future research priorities Leeney, Ruth H.; Greaves, Deborah; Conley, Daniel Ocean & Coastal Management, Vol. 99 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.05.025	journal	October 2014
Numerical modelling to estimate the spatial distribution of the wave energy in the Portuguese nearshore Rusu, Eugen; Guedes Soares, C. Renewable Energy, Vol. 34, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2008.10.027	journal	June 2009
The impact of wave energy farms in the shoreline wave climate: Portuguese pilot zone case study using Pelamis energy wave devices Palha, Artur; Mendes, Lourenço; Fortes, Conceição Juana Renewable Energy, Vol. 35, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.05.025	journal	January 2010
Further analysis of change in nearshore wave climate due to an offshore wave farm: An enhanced case study for the Wave Hub site Smith, Helen C. M.; Pearce, Charles; Millar, Dean L. Renewable Energy, Vol. 40, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.09.003	journal	April 2012
Numerical benchmarking study of a selection of wave energy converters Babarit, A.; Hals, J.; Muliawan, M. J. Renewable Energy, Vol. 41 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.10.002	journal	May 2012
Coastal impact induced by a Pelamis wave farm operating in the Portuguese nearshore Rusu, Eugen; Guedes Soares, C. Renewable Energy, Vol. 58 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.03.001	journal	October 2013
Wave farm impact: The role of farm-to-coast distance Iglesias, G.; Carballo, R. Renewable Energy, Vol. 69 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.03.059	journal	September 2014
The challenging life of wave energy devices at sea: A few points to consider Tiron, Roxana; Mallon, Fionn; Dias, Frédéric Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 43 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.105	journal	March 2015
A third-generation wave model for coastal regions: 2. Verification Ris, R. C.; Holthuijsen, L. H.; Booij, N. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, Vol. 104, Issue C4 https://doi.org/10.1029/1998JC900123	journal	April 1999
A third-generation wave model for coastal regions: 1. Model description and validation Booij, N.; Ris, R. C.; Holthuijsen, L. H. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, Vol. 104, Issue C4 https://doi.org/10.1029/98JC02622	journal	April 1999

Cited By (6)

Multi-chamber oscillating water column wave energy converters and air turbines: A review Shalby, Mohammad; Dorrell, David G.; Walker, Paul International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 43, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4222	journal	October 2018
Spatial Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT): A Modeling Tool to Evaluate Potential Environmental Risks Associated with Wave Energy Converter Deployments Jones, Craig; Chang, Grace; Raghukumar, Kaustubha https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201806.0486.v1	preprint	June 2018
Spatial Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT): A Modeling Tool to Evaluate Potential Environmental Risks Associated with Wave Energy Converter Deployments Jones, Craig; Chang, Grace; Raghukumar, Kaustubha Energies, Vol. 11, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.3390/en11082036	journal	August 2018
Modelling Offshore Wave farms for Coastal Process Impact Assessment: Waves, Beach Morphology, and Water Users Stokes, Christopher; Conley, Daniel Energies, Vol. 11, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102517	journal	September 2018
Irregular Wave Validation of a Coupling Methodology for Numerical Modelling of Near and Far Field Effects of Wave Energy Converter Arrays Fernández, Gael; Stratigaki, Vasiliki; Troch, Peter Energies, Vol. 12, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030538	journal	February 2019
Wake Effect Assessment in Long- and Short-Crested Seas of Heaving-Point Absorber and Oscillating Wave Surge WEC Arrays Verao Fernandez, Gael; Stratigaki, Vasiliki; Vasarmidis, Panagiotis Water, Vol. 11, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.3390/w11061126	journal	May 2019

Similar Records

Investigation of Wave Energy Converter Effects on Near-shore Wave Fields: Model Generation Validation and Evaluation - Kaneohe Bay HI.

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · OSTI ID:1156602

Investigation of Wave Energy Converter Effects on the Nearshore Environment: A Month-Long Study in Monterey Bay CA.

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · OSTI ID:1156936

Wave Energy Converter Effects on Wave Fields: Evaluation of SNL-SWAN and Sensitivity Studies in Monterey Bay CA.

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · OSTI ID:1156934

Related Subjects

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER

Numerical modeling of the effects of wave energy converter characteristics on nearshore wave conditions

Citation Formats

References (13)

Cited By (6)

Similar Records

Related Subjects