Wave Energy Converter Design Tool for Point Absorbers with Arbitrary Device Geometry

In order to promote and support the wave energy industry, a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) design tool has been developed for modeling point absorber WECs with arbitrary device geometry. The design tool provides a numerical modeling structure and methodology capable of modeling of heaving point absorber WEC response and performance to regular and irregular operational waves. Its time-domain formulation is based on frequency-domain hydrodynamic coefficients from Boundary Element Method (BEM) codes, and provides a framework for studying WEC design and innovative control strategies. KEY WORDS: wave energy; point absorber; time-domain; design tool