Performance of Using Overtopping Breakwater for Shore Protection and Energy Conversion

Abstract

The breakwater's assignment as a wave energy breaker and a coastal protection needs to be changed to capturing wave energy and converting it to electricity. This innovation is important to provide new, renewable energy as un-renewable energy is on the verge of depletion. In this paper, a physical breakwater device of the overtopping type has been proposed, which has a front slope facing the incoming waves, and at the end of the back slope, the turbine was installed. The effect of wave state (incident wave height and wave period) on the extracted electricity and wave energy dissipation was investigated. The effect of structural parameters (structure draught and inlet slope inclination) was also examined. Results showed that a lower inlet inclined angle was preferable for the purpose of increasing electric power extraction, whereas for a larger inlet inclined angle, the dissipation of the waves' energy was greater. With increasing draught, energy extraction increased, and wave energy loss increased.