Boundary element and integral methods in potential flow theory: a review with a focus on wave energy applications
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Boundary element and integral methods in potential flow theory: a review with a focus on wave energy applications Louis Papillon1 · Ronan Costello2 · John V. Ringwood3 Received: 2 April 2020 / Accepted: 14 September 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive review of boundary element methods for hydrodynamic modelling of wave energy systems. To design and optimise a wave energy converter (WEC), it is estimated that several million hours of WEC operation must be simulated. Linear boundary element methods are sufficiently fast to provide this volume of simulation and high speed of execution is one of the reasons why linear boundary element methods continue to underpin many, if not most, applied wave energy development efforts; however, the fidelity of the physics included is inadequate for some of the required design calculations. Judicious use of non-linear boundary element methods provides a route to increase the fidelity of the modeling while maintaining speed and other advantages over more computationally demanding alternatives such as Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) or smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The paper presents some background to each aspect of the boundary methods reviewed, building up a relatively complete theoretical framework. Both linear and nonlinear methods are covered, and consideration is given to the computational complexity of the methods reviewed. The paper aims to provide a review that is useful in selection of the most appropriate techniques for the next generation of WEC design tools. Keywords Wave energy converter design tools · Potential flow theory · Boundary element method · Zero forward speed problem · Wave energy converter
1 Introduction Despite continuous attention from both commercial and academic researchers over the past 50 years, wave energy has still not achieved large-scale commercialisation. It is evident that the development of economically attractive WEC technology is a difficult endeavour. Analysis of the reasons why wave energy research is so difficult and why it remains inconclusive at this time has been reported in detail by Weber (2012) and Weber et al. (2013). A new R&D management approach, more suited to the challenges of wave energy development, has been followed from Weber (2012) and Weber et al. (2013) and is further developed in Bull et al. (2016),
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John V. Ringwood [email protected] Louis Papillon [email protected]
1
Ecole Centrale Nantes, Nantes, France
2
Wave Venture, Cork, Ireland
3
Centre for Ocean Energy Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
Roberts et al. (2017), Weber and Laird (2018) and Costello et al. (2019). This new R&D management methodology may be termed the performance before readiness approach, since it emphasises the importance of achieving high-technology performance level (TPL) at low-technology readiness level (TRL) to increase overall performance and to reduce risks due to premature large-scale testing of new technologies. This perform
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