An Evaluation of the Interaction Between Surface Waves and a Simplified OTEC Intake Flow

Abstract

The interaction between a steady linear water-wave field and a two-dimensional current, selected to approximate the surface intake of a large floating ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant, is examined. The mathematical formulation is based upon the use of averaged Lagrangians, and the determination of rays, of characteristics, numerical results in nondimensional form are obtained, for a headsea configuration, while relative intake strength (current velocity) is allowed to vary. Energy focusing is shown to occur in the vicinity of the intake walls, although this effect linearly depends upon relative intake strength. Simple dimensional arguments, however, indicate that such interaction effects are weak when a “typical” large OTEC plant is considered.