A boundary element model for a partially piston-type porous wave energy converter in gravity waves

The present paper applies the multi-domain boundary element method (BEM) to investigate the performance of a partially piston-type porous wave energy converter (WEC), which consists of a solid wall, a vertical porous plate, a transmission bar, a rigid block constrained by rollers, a spring, and a damper. This WEC is subjected to a dynamic loading external source from a wave attack. For this wave–body interaction problem, a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system is developed to describe the response of the present WEC. Linear wave theory governs the entire fluid domain, which is divided into three regions by a pseudo boundary and the vertical porous plate. Darcy's law applies to the porous plate. Examples are shown to illustrate the wave reflection from the WEC, the response to wave loading, and the instantaneous mechanical power from the wave.