ABSTRACT
In numerical simulations of wave power farms, wave energy converters (WECs) are usually modelled as one-body systems with an integrated power take-off, and the dynamics are solved in the frequency domain. These simplified models neglect important phenomena such as slack mooring line, which is crucial when analysing the survivability of the WEC. Here, a linear, two-body, time-domain model is developed for a WEC moving in heave. The model serves as a compromise between low- and high-fidelity models and is the first step towards a more realistic time-domain model for control in wave farms. The model is compared to a one-body model and to experimental data with extreme wave conditions. Despite being based on linear potential flow theory, the two-body model captures the dynamics well, whereas the one-body model gives a less accurate prediction. The mooring force is captured reasonably well, except in the most extreme waves and damping scenarios.
