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Abstract This study focussed on the evaluation of the motion responses exhibited by the CorPower C4 wave energy converter (WEC) when subjected to extreme wave conditions. The hydrodynamic performance of the device is examined through experiments conducted with a 1:25 scale model of the CorPower WEC at the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility, University of Edinburgh. The investigation encompasses a range of sea conditions, employing both regular and random waves to comprehensively understand the hydrodynamics of the CorPower WEC, with a particular focus on scenarios representative of the WEC’s survivability. The experimental setup involves the utilization of a Qualisys camera system to measure the six-component motion responses of the WEC at its waterline. Additionally, a 6-component load cell is employed to measure forces and moments acting on the entire model, including its mooring system. This article provides a detailed overview of the model setup, experimental procedures, data analysis techniques, and thorough discussions of the results obtained. Drawing insights from the Response Amplitude Operators (RAOs) derived through the experiments, this work asserts that the CorPower WEC exhibits remarkable stability, demonstrating its capability to safely endure extreme wave conditions similar to those simulated in this study. The findings contribute valuable knowledge to the understanding of the CorPower WEC’s performance and resilience in challenging marine environments.
Venugopal et al. (Sun,) studied this question.