Overview of an experimental campaign for arrays of wave energy conversion systems

Among the main challenges to overcome towards the large-scale commercial exploitation of wave energy systems, the deployment of arrays of wave energy converters (WECs) is of crucial importance. In the path towards a successful installation of multiple devices, the development of representative and reliable numerical models for dynamical analysis, performance assessment, and optimal definition of the layout configuration, is a fundamental step. To test the reliability of a model, experimental results are crucial assets for the process of model validation. Given the absence of available experimental data concerning arrays of WEC systems, we describe, in this paper, an experimental campaign fully conducted with the sole objective of generating and providing an open-access dataset on WEC farms: SWELL [1]. Such dataset is composed by four different categories of tests (free surface elevation in undisturbed wave tank, blocked device for wave contribution measurement, uncontrolled and controlled motion), and all the main motion and force variables are provided in the different regular and irregular wave conditions. In the attempt of enabling an informed and simple usage of the dataset, this paper provides a clear description of the test design and implementation.