Hydrodynamic Behavior of Overtopping Wave Energy Converters Built in Sea Defense Structures

• Published in: 29th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering: Volume 3
• Main Authors: Victor, Lander, Kofoed, Jens Peter, Troch, Peter
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2010
• Subjects: Overtoppings; Wave Energy; Wave Energy Converters; Hydrodynamic Behaviors; Sea Defense Structures; Arctic
• Online Access: https://vbn.aau.dk/da/publications/6b53aad3-3b69-44ae-a027-b1fc1cdcdf89; https://doi.org/10.1115/OMAE2010-20372

Many sea defense structures need to be adapted to the rising sea water level and changing wave climate due to global warming. The accordingly required investment opens perspectives for wave energy converters (WECs) – that are built as part of the sea defense structures – to become economically viable. In this paper the average overtopping discharges q of overtopping wave energy devices built in sea defense structures are studied. Physical model tests with this type of devices have been carried out in a wave flume leading to experimental q - values. The experimental q -values are compared with predicted average overtopping discharges by existing empirical formulae from literature. Overtopping converters have low relative crest freeboards and smooth slope characteristics to maximize overtopping, which is contradictive to the basic role of sea defense structures. As a consequence, the achieved average overtopping discharges are situated in an area that is not well covered with the existing empirical formulae. The results for overtopping WECs that are part of sea defense structures fill the gap between those for smooth dikes and those for plain vertical walls. The overtopping behavior in that particular zone is discussed in this paper.