Researchers from the University of Tehran, led by Erfan Amini and Fereidoun Amini, have conducted a study to evaluate the potential of wave energy converters (WECs) along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. The team, which includes Rojin Asadi, Danial Golbaz, Mahdie Nasiri, and Seyed Taghi Omid Naeeni, published their findings in the journal “Renewable Energy,” aiming to identify suitable sites for WEC installation and optimize their design for maximum efficiency.
The study begins by highlighting the global importance of renewable energy, with a specific focus on ocean wave energy. Given Iran’s extensive coastline along the Caspian Sea, the researchers identified three potential sites—Nowshahr, Anzali, and Amirabad ports—for WEC installation. They collected conditional parameters such as wave height, period, and direction at these sites to design an oscillating wave energy converter tailored to each location’s specific conditions.
Using the ABAQUS program, the researchers simulated the geometric parameters of the WECs. To validate their designs, they employed the WEC-Sim module in MATLAB, which allowed them to evaluate both conditional and geometric parameters simultaneously. The comparison of results from both methods revealed that Nowshahr port exhibited the highest potential for wave energy conversion among the three sites.
The study found that the productivity of the WEC at Nowshahr port increased by 63 percent after considering the proposed design. Additionally, the researchers determined that the optimal width for the converter’s flap should be between 18 and 23 meters. They also observed a direct relationship between the system’s efficiency and changes in damping incident forces, with Nowshahr experiencing the highest force in the pitch degree of freedom.
The researchers concluded that the force applied to the power take-off system behind the converter flap is the most crucial indicator of the converter’s performance. By comparing this force among the studied sites, they provided valuable insights for the practical application of WECs in the Caspian Sea. This research offers a solid foundation for the energy sector to harness wave energy more effectively, contributing to the global shift towards renewable energy sources.
Source: Amini, E., Asadi, R., Golbaz, D., Nasiri, M., Naeeni, S.T.O., & Amini, F. (2023). Comparative Analysis of Oscillating Wave Energy Converter Performance in Southern Coast of the Caspian Sea. Renewable Energy, 202, 116-130.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.