Experimental Force Characterization and Numerical Modeling of a Taut-Moored Dual-Body Wave Energy Conversion System

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative modeling technique that combines experimental force measurements from a full scale linear generator with a coupled model of a two body, moored floating system to investigate the performance of a wave energy conversion system. An experiment was conducted using the Oregon State University’s wave energy linear test bed to characterize the frictional and electromagnetic forces generated by the SeaBeavI linear generator. These force characteristics have been incorporated into a coupled model using a numerical fluid-structure interaction model, OrcaFlex, to predict the energy extraction potential of the system.