Wave and Tidal Energy

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, many different approaches to wave and tidal energy conversion have emerged. However, none of them have been developed to a level of large industrial production. A large part of wave and tidal energy research projects remained at a design or laboratory test level, sometimes at a prototype testing stage. Therefore, the commercial utilization of wave and tidal energy is still low compared to that of other renewable sources, such as solar energy and wind energy. In recent years, several European States have had wave and tidal energy devices deployed in their adjoining waters. Experience has therefore been gained by wave and tidal energy developers, regulatory authorities, and stakeholders in the maritime environment and surrounding communities. Nevertheless, extensive R&D work is continuously required, at both fundamental and application level, to improve the performance of the particular technologies and to establish their competitiveness in the global energy market.

The purpose of this Topic is to present the most recent advancements in wave and tidal energy conversion technologies. The presentation of the new ideas as well as tests of models and prototypes using physical models or accurate numerical methods is encouraged. Additionally, papers reporting experiments carried out under real conditions at sea are very welcome.

Prof. Dr. Pasquale G. F. Filianoti
Prof. Dr. Sergio Mario Camporeale
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.7	4.5	2011	16.9 Days	CHF 2400
Water water	3.4	5.5	2009	16.5 Days	CHF 2600
Energies energies	3.2	5.5	2008	16.1 Days	CHF 2600

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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16 pages, 6357 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparisons of Tidal Currents in the Pearl River Estuary between High-Frequency Radar Data and Model Simulations

by Langfeng Zhu, Tianyi Lu, Fan Yang, Bin Liu, Lunyu Wu and Jun Wei

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6509; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136509 - 27 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1523

Abstract

High-frequency (HF) radar data, derived from a pair of newly developed radar stations in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) of China, were validated through comparison with in situ surface buoys, ADCP measurements, and model simulations in this study. Since no in situ observations [...] Read more.

High-frequency (HF) radar data, derived from a pair of newly developed radar stations in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) of China, were validated through comparison with in situ surface buoys, ADCP measurements, and model simulations in this study. Since no in situ observations are available in the radar observing domain, a regional high-resolution ocean model covering the entire PRE and its adjacent seas was first established and validated with in situ measurements, and then the HF radar data quality was examined against the model simulations. The results show that mean flows and tidal ellipses derived from the in situ buoys and ADCP were in very good agreement with the model. The model–radar data comparison indicated that the radar obtained the best data quality within the central overlapping area between the two radar stations, with the errors increasing toward the coast and the open ocean. Near the coast, the radar data quality was affected by coastlines and islands that prevent HF radar from delivering high-quality information for determining surface currents. This is one of the major drawbacks of the HF radar technique. Toward the open ocean, where the wind is the only dominant forcing on the tidal currents, we found that the poor data quality was most likely contaminated by data inversion algorithms from the Shangchuan radar station. A hybrid machine-learning-based inversion algorithm including traditional electromagnetic analysis and physical oceanography factors is needed to develop and improve radar data quality. A new radar observing network with about 10 radar stations is developing in the PRE and its adjacent shelf, this work assesses the data quality of the existing radars and identifies the error sources, serving as the first step toward the full deployment of the entire radar network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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43 pages, 7204 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Harvesting Energy from Ocean: Technologies and Perspectives

by Muhammed Zafar Ali Khan, Haider Ali Khan and Muhammad Aziz

Energies 2022, 15(9), 3456; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093456 - 09 May 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 7936

Abstract

The optimal utilization of renewable energies is a crucial factor toward the realization of sustainability and zero carbon in a future energy system. Tidal currents, waves, and thermal and salinity gradients in the ocean are excellent renewable energy sources. Ocean tidal, osmotic, wave, [...] Read more.

The optimal utilization of renewable energies is a crucial factor toward the realization of sustainability and zero carbon in a future energy system. Tidal currents, waves, and thermal and salinity gradients in the ocean are excellent renewable energy sources. Ocean tidal, osmotic, wave, and thermal energy sources have yearly potentials that exceed the global power demand of 22,848 TWh/y. This paper extensively reviews the technologies related to energy harvesting from waves, tidal, ocean thermals, and the salinity gradient. Moreover, the socio-economic, social, and environmental aspects of the above technologies are also discussed. This paper provides a better picture of where to invest in the future energy market and highlights research gaps and recommendations for future research initiatives. It is expected that a better insight into ocean energy and a deep understanding of various potential devices can lead to a broader adoption of ocean energy. It is also clear that further research into control strategies is needed. Policy makers should provide financial support for technologies in the demonstration stage and employ road mapping to accelerate the cost and risk reductions to overcome economic hurdles. To identify traditional and online sources on the topic, the authors used electronic databases and keyword searching approaches. Among them, the International Renewable Energy Agency data were the primary database utilized to locate sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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20 pages, 4867 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Study on Identifying Biomimetic Entities for Generating Novel Wave Energy Converters

by Hui Zhang, Wanan Sheng, Zhimin Zha and George Aggidis

Energies 2022, 15(7), 2485; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072485 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1456

Abstract

Biomimetics and creatures could contribute to novel design inspiration for wave energy converters, as we have seen numerous examples in applications of other branches of engineering. However, the issue of how to obtain valuable biological entities, or bionic design cases, that could produce [...] Read more.

Biomimetics and creatures could contribute to novel design inspiration for wave energy converters, as we have seen numerous examples in applications of other branches of engineering. However, the issue of how to obtain valuable biological entities, or bionic design cases, that could produce inspiration for novel designs, may be challenging for the designers of wave energy converters (WECs). This study carries out preliminary research on the acquisition of biological entities for designers, to obtain innovative bio-inspired ideas for designing novel WECs. In the proposed method, the first step is to draw out engineering terminologies based on the function, structure, and energy extraction principles of existing WECs. Then, by applying WordNet, candidate biological terminologies can be obtained. Next, using AskNature, along with manual selection and filtering, biological terminologies can be acquired. The last step is to use the biological terminologies to establish the reference biological entities, and to use the information and knowledge of these entities in the design of an innovative WEC. Using the proposed methodology, a novel WEC was conceived and verified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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15 pages, 6357 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Design Optimization of a Cross-Flow Air Turbine for an Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter

by Hong-Goo Kang, Young-Ho Lee, Chan-Joo Kim and Hyo-Dong Kang

Energies 2022, 15(7), 2444; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072444 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2522

Abstract

A cross-flow air turbine, which is a self-rectifying, air-driven turbine, was designed and proposed for the power take-off (PTO) system of an oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC). To predict the complicated non-linear behavior of the air turbine in the OWC, [...] Read more.

A cross-flow air turbine, which is a self-rectifying, air-driven turbine, was designed and proposed for the power take-off (PTO) system of an oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC). To predict the complicated non-linear behavior of the air turbine in the OWC, numerical and experimental investigations were accomplished. The geometries of the nozzle and the rotor of the turbine were optimized under steady-flow conditions, and the performance analysis of the model in bi-directional flows was conducted by commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS CFX. Experimentation on the full-scale turbine was then undertaken in a cylindrical-type wave simulator that generated reciprocating air flows, to validate the numerical model. The optimized model had a peak cycle-averaged efficiency of 0.611, which is 1.7% larger than that of the reference model, and a significantly improved band width with an increase in flow coefficients. Under reciprocating-flow conditions, the optimized model had a more improved operating range with high efficiency compared to the performance derived from the steady-flow analysis, but the peak cycle-averaged efficiency was decreased by 4.3%. The numerical model was well matched to the experimental results with an averaged difference of 3.5%. The proposed optimal design having structural simplicity with high performance can be a good option to efficiently generate electricity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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26 pages, 6686 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation of the Hydrodynamic Performance of Land-Fixed Nearshore and Onshore Oscillating Water Column Systems with a Thick Front Wall

by Ayrton Alfonso Medina Rodríguez, Gregorio Posada Vanegas, Rodolfo Silva Casarín, Edgar Gerardo Mendoza Baldwin, Beatriz Edith Vega Serratos, Felipe Ernesto Puc Cutz and Enrique Alejandro Mangas Che

Energies 2022, 15(7), 2364; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072364 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1879

Abstract

Most experimental research on land-fixed Oscillating Water Column (OWC) systems assume that the OWC-water wave interaction happens with waves that propagate normally towards the device. However, the angle of incidence of the waves can determine the performance of the OWC, in particular the [...] Read more.

Most experimental research on land-fixed Oscillating Water Column (OWC) systems assume that the OWC-water wave interaction happens with waves that propagate normally towards the device. However, the angle of incidence of the waves can determine the performance of the OWC, in particular the wave period at which the device resonates. In this study, an experimental investigation to examine the interaction of regular, oblique, water waves with a land-fixed, thick-front wall OWC device in terms of its hydrodynamic performance is reported. A 1:20 Froude scale was used to replicate a single chamber of the Mutriku Wave Energy Plant (MWEP), and a series of tests were carried out in a spectral wave basin. The goal of this study is to look at how incident wave direction and device location affect the hydrodynamic performance of land-fixed OWC systems in regular wave conditions with varying wave heights. The hydraulic performance includes the assessment of the wave amplification factor, hydrodynamic efficiency, the non-dimensional air pressure inside the chamber and non-dimensional water pressures on the chamber walls. The findings show that, for the nearshore OWC device, the period at which resonance occurs decreases when the incident wave angle increases. For the corresponding wave angles, similar results were found for the onshore and nearshore OWC devices, with a slight frequency shift in the bandwidth of the hydrodynamic efficiency. Furthermore, it was found that when wave height increases, the hydrodynamic efficiency improves for both short and long wave periods, with the exception of the resonance period, where the trend is reversed. Finally, regardless of the location, an OWC device with a thick front wall performs well when interacting with intermediate and long-period waves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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19 pages, 9873 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on Energy-Capture Characteristics of a Direct-Drive Wave-Energy Converter Based on Parallel Mechanism

by Tao Yao, Yulong Wang, Zhihua Wang, Tongxian Li and Zhipeng Tan

Energies 2022, 15(5), 1670; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051670 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372

Abstract

Aiming at the capture and conversion of multidirection wave energy, a multifreedom direct-drive wave-energy converter (WEC) based on a parallel mechanism is studied. The dynamic model of WEC was conducted based on force analysis and hydrodynamic theory, and the inverse kinematic solutions of [...] Read more.

Aiming at the capture and conversion of multidirection wave energy, a multifreedom direct-drive wave-energy converter (WEC) based on a parallel mechanism is studied. The dynamic model of WEC was conducted based on force analysis and hydrodynamic theory, and the inverse kinematic solutions of each branch chain of the mechanism were obtained following the space vector method. Furthermore, the kinetics response of the linear generator branch chain was obtained. Moreover, the influence on the capture efficiency of the device’s geometric structure scale was investigated under different sea conditions. To evaluate the performance of the WEC, a linear generator model was simulated and analyzed by COMSOL Multiphysics. A laboratory prototype was manufactured. The test results indicated that the multifreedom device can achieve better power conversion performance than traditional single degree of freedom (DOF) devices. This study provides ideas for the design and development of large multi-DOF wave-energy-conversion devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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19 pages, 5823 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Piezoelectric Wave Energy Harvester Using Plucking-Driven and Frequency Up-Conversion Mechanism

by Shao-En Chen, Ray-Yeng Yang, Zeng-Hui Qiu and Chia-Che Wu

Energies 2021, 14(24), 8441; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248441 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2552

Abstract

In this study, a plucking-driven piezoelectric wave energy harvester (PDPWEH) consisted of a buoy, a gear train frequency up-conversion mechanism, and an array of piezoelectric cantilever beams was developed. The gear train frequency up-conversion mechanism with compact components included a rack, three gears, [...] Read more.

In this study, a plucking-driven piezoelectric wave energy harvester (PDPWEH) consisted of a buoy, a gear train frequency up-conversion mechanism, and an array of piezoelectric cantilever beams was developed. The gear train frequency up-conversion mechanism with compact components included a rack, three gears, and a geared cam provide less energy loss to improve electrical output. Six individual piezoelectric composite beams were plucked by geared cam to generate electrical power in the array of piezoelectric cantilever beams. A sol-gel method was used to create the piezoelectric composite beams. To investigate PDPWEH, a mathematical model based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory was derived. The developed PDPWEH was tested in a wave flume. The wave heights were set to 100 and 75 mm, the wave periods were set to 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 s. The maximum output voltage of the measured value was 12.4 V. The maximum RMS voltage was 5.01 V, which was measured by connecting to an external 200 kΩ resistive load. The maximum average electrical power was 125.5 μw. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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31 pages, 11385 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Sea Wave Energy. A Review of the Current Technologies and Perspectives

by Domenico Curto, Vincenzo Franzitta and Andrea Guercio

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6604; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206604 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 6720

Abstract

The proposal of new technologies capable of producing electrical energy from renewable sources has driven research into seas and oceans. Research finds this field very promising in the future of renewable energies, especially in areas where there are specific climatic and morphological characteristics [...] Read more.

The proposal of new technologies capable of producing electrical energy from renewable sources has driven research into seas and oceans. Research finds this field very promising in the future of renewable energies, especially in areas where there are specific climatic and morphological characteristics to exploit large amounts of energy from the sea. In general, this kind of energy is referred to as six energy resources: waves, tidal range, tidal current, ocean current, ocean thermal energy conversion, and saline gradient. This review has the aim to list several wave-energy converter power plants and to analyze their years of operation. In this way, a focus is created to understand how many wave-energy converter plants work on average and whether it is indeed an established technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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18 pages, 659 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Wave Energy in the Mediterranean Sea: Resource Assessment, Deployed WECs and Prospects

by Evangelia Dialyna and Theocharis Tsoutsos

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4764; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164764 - 05 Aug 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3240

Abstract

A detailed review of wave energy resource assessment and the state-of-the-art of deployed wave energy converters (WECs) in real environmental conditions in the Mediterranean Sea have been analysed in this study. The installed power of the several deployed WECs in the Mediterranean Sea [...] Read more.

A detailed review of wave energy resource assessment and the state-of-the-art of deployed wave energy converters (WECs) in real environmental conditions in the Mediterranean Sea have been analysed in this study. The installed power of the several deployed WECs in the Mediterranean Sea varies between 3–2500 kW. Ten project cases of deployed WECs in the basin are presented, with their analysis of the essential features. Five different types of WEC have already been tested under real environmental conditions in Italy, Greece, Israel and Gibraltar, with Italy being the Mediterranean country with the most deployed WECs. The main questions of the relevant studies were the ongoing trends, the examination of WECs in combination with other renewable sources, the utilising of WECs for desalination, and the prospects of wave energy in the Mediterranean islands and ports. This paper is the first comprehensive study that overviews the recent significant developments in the wave energy sector in the Mediterranean countries. The research concludes that the advances of the wave energy sector in the Mediterranean Sea are significant. However, in order to commercialise WECs and wave energy exploitation to become profitable, more development is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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23 pages, 11790 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Properties of Hydraulic Fluid on Pressure Peaks in Axial Piston Pumps’ Chambers

by Piotr Patrosz

Energies 2021, 14(13), 3764; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133764 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2617

Abstract

The article concentrates on the research of the pressure peaks in a working chamber of an axial piston pump. The main focus of the article is the influence of fluid properties on the pressure peaks value. Experimental and analytical methods were used to [...] Read more.

The article concentrates on the research of the pressure peaks in a working chamber of an axial piston pump. The main focus of the article is the influence of fluid properties on the pressure peaks value. Experimental and analytical methods were used to determine the impact of the fluid density, viscosity, compressibility and aeration. The article describes the pressure peak generation process and explains the theoretical basis of this phenomenon. A model of aerated fluid compression and models of leakage were created using CFD analysis and mathematical equations. These partial models were then merged into one consistent model in Matlab Simulink. The final result was verified by comparing the results obtained from the mathematical model with the results of the experiment. After validation, the model was used to present explicitly how each of the mentioned fluid properties affects the pressure peak value. Additionally, the test stand and measurement equipment used in the experiment were presented along with a short description of the laboratory research and sample results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wave and Tidal Energy)

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