Experimental study on the hydrodynamics of oscillating surge WEC with different power take-off damping

The hydrodynamics of the Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter (OSWEC) have been investigated through an experimental model study, focusing on its operational dynamics, loads, and energy capture efficiency. This study found that the OSWEC’s angular velocity of the pitch motion is influenced by both the incident wave periods and the damping levels. Additionally, torque generation strongly depends on the damping levels for the Coulomb-type power take-off mechanism considered in this study. The capture factor was high for both short and long wave periods at high and low PTO damping levels, respectively. This suggests a need to control the PTO damping to maximize energy capture in irregular wave incidences. The increased surge load with shortwave periods and higher damping levels emphasized the need to consider these factors in the design conditions.