Overtopping performance of a multi-level CROWN wave energy convertor: A numerical study

The multi -level overtopping device is suitable to the wave climate characteristics in China, including small wave heights and large tidal ranges. In this study, an innovative overtopping device with multi -level conical reservoirs was proposed and studied numerically. A numerical model was established based on the commercial computational fluid dynamic platform ANSYS-Fluent (R) 16.0, which was carefully verified and validated using experimental results. The numerical model has good accuracy and capability in predicting complicated air -water interactions during overtopping processes. The slope ratio and guide -vane number for the reservoirs were optimized. In addition, the smaller opening mouth width of the lower reservoir benefits the overtopping performance of the upper reservoir. The optimized shape parameters could be employed for practical design of a prototype multi -level overtopping device.