Numerical modelling of wave energy absorption by a floating point absorber system

Point absorbers are wave energy converters (WECs) consisting of small (floating) bodies oscillating with either one or more degrees of freedom. They can either move with respect to a fixed reference, or with respect to a floating reference. Different buoy geometries are evaluated to obtain the ideal values of size, shape and draft with regard to power absorption for a given moderate wave climate. In this paper, the performance of a heaving point absorber in a floating platform is analysed in a linear way.