Experimental Investigation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Moored Floating WEC

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental investigation on a backward bent duct buoy, a floating oscillating water column (OWC) in the wave basin. This wave energy converter is a 1:20 scaled model to the sea trial OE Buoy in Galway Bay. The physical modelling aims to model the device in a complete mooring setup. As a part of the FP7 CORES project (Grant No. 213633), the wave tank test services following main purposes:

• Understand the hydrodynamics of the floating device in waves.
   
• Collect test data in well-controlled condition for calibration and validation of numerical simulation.
   
• Explore the survivability of the device under extreme conditions.

To achieve purposes, the experimental research includes:

1. free decay/stiffness tests for the natural frequency and damping coefficients of the system;
    
2. free floating model tests for comparison of motions to hydrodynamic analysis;
    
3. conventional regular and irregular wave tests in which the test time series, first-order response amplitude operators (RAOs) and second-order responses are all given; and
    
4. the tests in extreme conditions for testing the survivability of the device, mooring system and umbilical cable.