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Task 10 - Wave Energy Modelling
Task 10: Wave Energy Converters Modelling Verification and Validation
The intention of this task is to assess the codes currently in use globally for analysis of wave energy devices. This effort will focus on assessing the accuracy and validation process of the codes by comparing codes to codes and codes to experiments. The validation will focus on performance, loads, and related responses for a single devices and arrays of devices operating in defined wave conditions The objectives are the following: 1. To assess the accuracy and establish confidence in the use of numerical models. 2. To validate a ranges of existing computational modeling tools 3. Identify simulation methodologies leading to:
a. Reduce risk in technology development 4. Future research and development needed to improve the computational tools and methods Next >The relevant work milestones are outlined as follows: M 1 Develop a detailed work plans for the wave simulation model verification and validation. M 2 Preform a review of available theoretical solutions for special cases that can be used for baseline verification of computational modeling tools and experimental model scale verification. M 3 Perform simulations to develop data for a code-to-code comparison that gives a side-by-side comparison of the simulation results. M 4 Perform simulations to develop code-to-experiment comparisons that give a side-by-side comparison of the simulation results. Next >Thework plan will include, but not be limited to the following: 1. Define verification strategies and validation practice to be used. 2. Compare analytical, experimental, and numerical results. 3. Developing and identifying suitable analytical models of wave energy converters for verification of the numerical models 4. Developing or identifying base line test cases that can be used for a first comparison between simulations in relation to a limited suite of experimental test cases for validation based on available experimental data. Selecting a limited number of test cases and performing simulations 5. Analyze the simulation results based on the metrics. Develop a simple comparison charts for validation purposes. Compare and evaluate the numerical simulation results in a side-by-side fashion and compare and evaluate the simulation results with respect to experimental data in a side-by-side fashion using the metrics developed 6. Discussing the need, practicality and cost of obtaining additional experimental test data for model validation and making written recommendations to the ExCo and the technical community 7. Prepare annual progress reports in power point form for the ExCo meetings 8. Prepare technical reports and papers on the results in the public domain at conferences and in peer reviewed journals. Next >
Overview of Project Findings The group is established under the Ocean Energy Systems Technology Collaboration Programme (OES) within the International Energy Agency. OES was founded in 2001 and Task 10 was proposed by Bob Thresher (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) in 2015 and approved by the OES Executive Committee in 2016. The kickoff workshop took place in September 2016, wherein the initial baseline task was defined. A heaving sphere (Figure 1) was chosen as the first test case. The team of project participants simulated different numerical experiments, such as heave decay tests and regular and irregular wave cases. The simulation results are presented and discussed in the EWTEC publication. A brief overview on some of the significant findings is given below.
Figure 1 Illustration of the heaving sphere, modeled during the project.
Figure 2 Free-decay response in heave for 5.0 m initial displacement and breaking radiated waves during large amplitude heave motion (from NREL SNL CFD simulation)
The third group that is evident in the heave response for the relatively large initial displacement of 5.0 m are the codes with strong nonlinearities: NREL SNL CFD, PU, KTH, and Chalmers. The phase of the solution from these three models is close to the phase of the codes with weak nonlinearities. However, these three codes predict a larger motion amplitude than the rest of the group. In the three codes with strong nonlinearities, instead of using a linear radiation assumption like the weakly nonlinear codes, they can capture higher order wave radiation effects, which are largely influenced by the instantaneous sphere cross section area at the water surface, particularly at the first oscillation of the free-decay case with the 5.0-m initial displacement. In addition, during the first oscillation, the NREL SNL CFD solution predicts breaking of the radiated wave around the sphere (Figure 2) an effect that can only be captured by CFD models. It is also worth mentioning that the relatively good agreement between the time-domain potential flow code from Chalmers and the CFD solutions (NREL SNL CFD and PU) suggests that the effect of fluid viscosity and wave breaking on the body response plays a relatively small role in the analyzed scenario. This analysis outlines the value of comparing numerical solutions from models with different levels of fidelity. It allows for the assessment of the underlying model assumptions and simplifications on the predicted response of the wave energy system. It helps to characterize shortcomings and advantages of different modelling techniques which enables the industry to select fit-for-purpose numerical modelling approaches for a given simulation task.
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