Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering

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Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Dynamics of a U-Shaped Sloshing Tank to Increase the Performance of Wave Energy Converters
Fontana, Marco; Giorgi, Giuseppe; Accardi, Massimiliano; Giorcelli, Ermanno; Brizzolara, Stefano; Sirigu, Sergej Antonello (MDPI, 2023-12-11)
In this investigation, a comprehensive study was conducted on a U-shaped sloshing tank, based on reversing the classical treatment of such devices as motion stabilizers and using them instead to improve the performance of wave energy converters. The modeling encompasses a comparative analysis between a linear model and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The validation of the CFD methodology was rigorously executed via a series of experimental tests, subsequently enhancing the linear model. The refined linear model demonstrates a notable alignment with rigorously verified results, thus establishing itself as a reliable tool for advanced research, indicating promise for various applications. Furthermore, this novelty is addressed by simulating the integration of a U-tank device with a pitch-based wave energy converter, displaying a broadening of the operational bandwidth and a substantial performance improvement, raising the pitch motion of the floater to about 850% in correspondence with the new secondary peak over extended periods, effectively addressing previously identified limitations. This achievement contributes to the system’s practical relevance in marine energy conversion.