Researchers Alexis Mérigaud, Benjamin Thiria, and Ramiro Godoy-Diana from the PMMH laboratory at ESPCI Paris have explored a novel concept for coastal protection and renewable energy generation. Their study, published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, investigates the potential of large arrays of wave-absorbing structures to serve dual purposes: safeguarding coastlines from erosion and producing clean electricity.
The researchers propose an artificial canopy composed of vertical structures arranged in rows parallel to the coastline. As sea waves approach the shore, they interact with these structures, resulting in three outcomes: a portion of the wave energy is reflected back to the ocean, another part is transmitted to the shoreline, and the remaining energy is absorbed and potentially harnessed for power generation. However, the researchers note that some energy loss is inevitable due to factors like fluid viscosity and inefficiencies in the power conversion process.
The study begins by presenting a simple geometric model to represent the reflection and transmission properties of individual, fixed rows of structures. For moving rows, the researchers establish relationships between the internal stiffness and damping parameters of the devices and their reflection, transmission, and absorption characteristics. They then examine the properties of the entire array, considering both individual row design parameters and the spacing between rows, using the wide-spacing approximation.
A numerical case study illustrates the capabilities of the proposed modeling framework. The researchers simulate arrays of vertical, oscillating rectangular plates and analyze the transmitted, reflected, and absorbed wave spectra. They also investigate how these spectra depend on individual oscillator control tuning and array design parameters.
This research offers a promising avenue for the energy sector, particularly in coastal areas where wave energy can be harnessed while simultaneously providing coastal protection. The findings could contribute to the development of more efficient and sustainable wave energy conversion systems, integrating structural design and control strategies to optimize energy absorption and minimize environmental impact.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.