Numerical study on active wave devouring propulsion

• Published in: Journal of marine science and technology Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 261 - 275
• Main Authors: De Silva, Liyanarachchi Waruna Arampath, Yamaguchi, Hajime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.09.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Automotive Engineering; Design parameters; Engineering; Engineering Design; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Flapping foil; Fluid dynamics; Free surfaces; Gravity; Gravity waves; Hydrodynamics; Hydrofoils; Marine; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mechanical Engineering; Navier-Stokes equations; Numerical analysis; Numerical simulation; Offshore Engineering; Original Article; Oscillating; Surface waves; Wave devouring propulsion; Wave energy; Wave power; Wave devouring propulsion; Numerical simulation; Flapping foil
• ISSN: 0948-4280; 1437-8213
• DOI: 10.1007/s00773-012-0169-y

The possibility of extracting energy from gravity waves for marine propulsion was numerically studied by a two-dimensional oscillating hydrofoil in this study. The commercially available computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT was used for the unstructured grid based on the Reynolds-average Navier–Stokes equation. The free surface waves and motion of the flapping foil were implemented by customizing the FLUENT solver using a user-defined function technique. In addition, dynamic mesh technology and post processing capabilities were fully utilized. The validation of the model was carried out using experimental data for an oscillation hydrofoil under the waves. The results of the simulation were investigated in detail in order to explain the increase of propeller efficiency in gravity waves. Eight design parameters were identified and it was found that some of them greatly affected the performance of wave energy extraction by the active oscillating hydrofoil. Finally, the overall results suggested that when the design parameters are correctly maintained, the present approach can increase the performance of the oscillating hydrofoil by absorbing energy from sea waves.