Study on the energy capture spectrum of a two-body hinged-raft wave energy converter

Wave energy converters (WECs) of the hinged-raft type offer flexible arrangements and can be further applied in arrays. This study employs a numerical model to investigate the energy capture spectrum (ECS) of a two-body hinged-raft WEC under random waves utilizing the open-source simulation software WEC-Sim. The model explores in detail the combined effects of random wave parameters and WEC parameters, including the power take-off (PTO) damping coefficient, PTO stiffness coefficient, and horizontal hinge position, on the ECS. The findings revealed that the hinged-raft WEC is highly sensitive to the average wave period and adaptable to varying wave heights. Optimal energy capture under conditions of varying wave heights can be achieved by adjusting a specific PTO coefficient. These findings underscore the complex response of the two-body hinged-raft WEC to wave parameters and emphasize the importance of understanding these sensitivities and adaptabilities to optimize the WEC system, enhance efficiency, and promote its application in arrays.