The inertial sea wave energy converter (ISWEC) technology: Device-physics, multiphase modeling and simulations

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of the inertial sea wave energy converter (ISWEC) device using fully-resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Originally prototyped by the Polytechnic University of Turin, the device consists of a floating, boat-shaped hull that is slack-moored to the sea bed. Internally, a gyroscopic power take-off (PTO) unit converts the wave-induced pitch motion of the hull into electrical energy. The CFD model is based on the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and utilizes the fictitious domain Brinkman penalization (FD/BP) technique to couple the device physics and water wave dynamics. A numerical wave tank is used to generate both regular waves based on fifth-order Stokes theory and irregular waves based on the JONSWAP spectrum to emulate realistic sea operating conditions. A Froude scaling analysis is performed to enable two- and three-dimensional simulations for a scaled-down (1:20) ISWEC model. It is demonstrated that the scaled-down 2D model is sufficient to accurately simulate the hull’s pitching motion and to predict the power generation capability of the converter. A systematic parameter study of the ISWEC is conducted, and its optimal performance in terms of power generation is determined based on the hull and gyroscope control parameters. It is demonstrated that the device achieves peak performance when the gyroscope specifications are chosen based on the reactive control theory. It is shown that a proportional control of the PTO control torque is required to generate continuous gyroscopic precession effects, without which the device generates no power. In an inertial reference frame, it is demonstrated that the yaw and pitch torques acting on the hull are of the same order of magnitude, informing future design investigations of the ISWEC technology. Further, an energy transfer pathway from the water waves to the hull, the hull to the gyroscope, and the gyroscope to the PTO unit is analytically described and numerically verified. Additional parametric analysis demonstrates that a hull length to wavelength ratio between one-half and one-third yields high conversion efficiency (ratio of power absorbed by the PTO unit to wave power per unit crest width). Finally, device protection during inclement weather conditions is emulated by gradually reducing the gyroscope flywheel speed to zero, and the resulting dynamics are investigated.