Parametric study on the absorbed power of the rigid and modular oscillating wave surge converters

As an attempt to investigate the oscillating wave surge converter (OWSC) system, this paper conducts a systematic parametric numerical analysis to compare the hydrodynamic performance and absorbed power of a rigid OWSC against modular configurations with 2, 4, and 6 flaps, maintaining a constant total length. Utilizing the boundary element method (BEM) within the ANSYS-AQWA framework based on linear potential flow theory, the study investigates the effects of key parameters including power take-off (PTO) damping coefficient, wave period, wave angle, vertical center of gravity position, and weight-to-buoyancy ratio (W/B). The model is rigorously validated against experimental data. Results demonstrate a profound advantage for modular designs, particularly the 6-module configuration (Modular-6), which achieved a peak absorbed power of 1675 kW. This represents a 266% increase compared to the rigid flap, while simultaneously requiring a 98% lower optimal PTO damping coefficient. A pivotal finding is the identification of an optimal weight-to-buoyancy ratio between 0.7 and 0.8 for the Modular-6 design. Furthermore, strong constructive hydrodynamic interactions within the modular array were quantified, contributing to a 77% performance enhancement over isolated flaps. This research provides critical design guidelines and demonstrates the significant techno-economic potential of modular OWSCs for efficient wave energy conversion.