ITTC Recommended Guidelines: Wave Energy Converter Model Test Experiments (7.5-02-07-03.7)

The purpose of this document is to offer guidance to research organizations on performing model tests of wave energy converters (WECs) according to the state of the art. Model tests of WECs have some differences from tests of other offshore structures. The main challenges of WEC testing and the differences between tests of WECs and offshore structures may include:

• Rapid evolution of design of WECs: great diversity of concepts, some presenting novel challenges for model testing;
• Requirement for simulation and measurement of complex kinematics for articulated WECs;
• Requirement to simulate complex kinematics, material properties and fluid-structure interaction for flexible devices;
• Requirement to simulate devices with very large dimensions either parallel to or normal to direction of wave propagation;
• Requirement to include a simulated power take-off (PTO) mechanism in WEC tests. One of the important objectives in WEC tests is to evaluate device power capture; Realistic simulation of PTO may require relatively large scale models, leading in turn to a need for large-scale waves;
• Requirement for testing throughout the various experimental stages: the concept validation stage, the design validation stage, the system validation stage, and the prototype and demonstration stage. The model scale depends on the test stage;
• Possible requirement for tests of multiple device models corresponding to an array of WECs, requiring a very large tank for reliable results.

In general, model tests on WECs are employed to validate the device concept, to quantify the technical performance variables, to acquire information on power take-off (PTO) and data for optimized performance design, to confirm survivability characteristics, to investigate installation and tow-out methodology and to validate numerical models.