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Effects of wave run-down on the performance of overtopping wave energy converters

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  • Sandoval, Claudio
  • Stoesser, Thorsten

Abstract

This paper focuses on the energy losses of an Overtopping Wave Energy Converter (OWEC) occurring during the run-up ramp. When waves interact with a sloped ramp, three main processes occur: wave breaking, run-up and run-down. The effect of the run-down on energy dissipation of subsequent waves has not been extensively studied and is the centre of this research. A three-dimensional numerical wave tank, Hydro3DNWT, based on the method of large eddy simulation (LES), is employed to simulate the interaction of waves with an OWEC ramp. The method is first validated successfully using experimental data. The analysis reveals that the run-down flow affects the wave-breaking process of OWECs. A reduction of the run-down flow shifts the wave breaking type towards collapsing and surging type of breaking. If the decrease in the run-down flow is significant, a plunging breaking wave transitions to a collapsing breaking wave. This change in the breaking condition reduces the curl of the front of the wave, a typical characteristic of plunging waves, which reduces turbulence and speeds up the run-up flow. An improvement of more than 20% on the remaining energy in the run-up is recorded when a transition from plunging to collapsing breaking type is achieved and between 12% and 3% when a more compact collapsing breaking is generated. The findings of this research indicate that the operational efficiency of an OWEC can be improved significantly by altering the run-down flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandoval, Claudio & Stoesser, Thorsten, 2026. "Effects of wave run-down on the performance of overtopping wave energy converters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:263:y:2026:i:c:s0960148126003010
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2026.125476
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