Numerical optimization and experimental study on the hybrid system of pendulum wave energy converter and floating breakwater

The integration of wave energy converter (WEC) with breakwater can significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency. This paper presents a hybrid system combining a pendulum WEC array and a floating breakwater to explore the optimal layout of WECs and their related parameters, analyzing both power generation performance and mooring forces. Subsequently, an experiment is carried out to explore the interactive dynamics between them, and the effects of different incident wave heights on the hybrid system are also investigated. Results show that the distance between the WECs significantly impacts the energy capture efficiency of the hybrid system. Positioning the WECs closer to the breakwater and increasing the Z value of the hinge points enhances the power generation capability of the hybrid system. The presence of the breakwater substantially improves the power generation performance of the pendulum WEC, increasing by up to 397 %, while the transmission coefficient is reduced by up to 73 %. Additionally, the mooring force in pitch motion decreases by 75 % due to the energy absorption by the WEC. This research provides valuable insights into the efficient utilization of wave energy and serves as a reference for the design of the WEC-breakwater hybrid system in practical engineering applications.