Assessment of Plate-Length Effect on the Performance of the Horizontal Plate Wave Energy Converter

Abstract

In this research, the effect of plate length on the power absorbed by a submerged plate that serves as a wave energy converter was examined numerically. To provide a better understanding of the effect of plate length on power absorption, plate efficiency was obtained at different opening areas beneath the plate and with different wave periods, wave heights, and distances of the plate from the sea bottom. Validation was also performed through a comparison of the current work results with those of theoretical and experimental approaches, and reasonable concordances were observed. The results show that with a low opening area, higher plate efficiency was obtained, and the effect of a change in the plate length on the plate efficiency was found to be remarkable. The numerical findings show that at low values of opening area and wave period, a criterion based on the relative length between the incident wavelength and plate length can be introduced to realize the plate length at which the plate efficiency deteriorates. The results indicate that with a low opening area, at each plate length, an increase in the wave height, wave period, or distance of the plate from the bottom has a favorable effect on the plate efficiency. It is also shown that a nonlinear relation occurs between the opening area below the plate and plate efficiency.