Experimental and numerical comparisons of self-reacting point absorber wave energy converters in regular waves

An experimental and numerical comparison of the performance of two self-reacting point absorber wave energy converter designs is undertaken for heave motions. The designs are either currently, or have recently been, under development for commercialization. The experiments consist of a series of 1:25 scale model tests. The physical model features a re-configurable reacting body shape, a feedback controlled power take-off, and a heave motion constraint apparatus. Detailed descriptions of the reconfigurable model design, the analysis/test methodologies, and power capture are given. An extension of Budal's theoretical upper bound on power capture for application to self-reacting point absorbers is proposed. A quantitative comparison is made of the two self-reacting point absorber designs in terms of displacement, power take-off force requirements, and power capture in typical (non-extreme) operating conditions with reference to theoretical upper bounds. The design implications of a reactive power take-off control scheme and relative motion constraints on the wave energy converters are investigated using an experimentally validated numerical dynamics model. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.