Wave Energy Converters (WECs) placed in an array configuration change the incident wave field due to radiation and diffraction. These are the so-called near- and far-field effects of WEC farms. This study investigates these effects for an array of up to five heaving point absorber WECs, that was tested at the Coastal & Ocean Basin Ostend.
To optimize the absorbed power of the array, the Power Take-Off (PTO) devices are controlled using a centralized control algorithm, influencing the hydrodynamics of the WECs and hence the wave field. Wave elevations around the WEC array are recorded using an array of up to 17 wave gauges to characterize the wave field. Wave directionality is measured in the wake zone of the WEC array using a CERC 5 wave gauge array. Multiple wave conditions are examined including irregular long-crested and short-crested waves, resembling both operational and extreme conditions.
