Optimización geométrica de un convertidor de energía undimotriz (WEC) : estudio hidrodinámico de un arreglo de WECs.

Abstract

Climate change has generated extensive periods of drought both globally and in Ecuador, impacting the production of electrical energy due to the high dependence on hydroelectric power plants. To address this challenge, it is crucial to diversify the country's energy matrix. A promising option is wave energy, a constant and renewable source. This project aims to study, through numerical simulations, the hydrodynamic performance of the optimized WEC system for energy generation. The analyzed system consists of a floating body and a submerged body, connected by a cable. Its design focuses on vertical displacement to synchronize the system's natural frequency with that of the waves, achieving a state of resonance that maximizes energy extraction. Through the state-of-the-art Ansys AQWA software, a hydromechanical analysis is conducted to verify the optimization of the system's structural components, seeking to achieve the maximum dynamic response. The optimization process includes configuring the numerical interface of the AQWA software, conducting simulations, verifying the mechanism's resonance with the characteristic wave spectrum of the Galapagos Islands archipelago, and comparing different optimized geometries of the WEC system.