Analysis of Horizontal Cylinder Load under Different Conditions in Regards to Waves and Flows.

A numerical simulation based on the CFD method is used to study the interaction between a horizontal cylinder and wave flow. Firstly, a two-dimensional numerical calculation model of both a fixed and a rigid moving cylinder, with a free surface under varying wave flow conditions, is created. In the established model, the loads on the horizontal cylinder under different submergence depths, flow velocities, cylinder sizes, wave periods, and k values (spring stiffness) are analyzed and calculated. The results show that, when the cylinder is close to the free surface, its hydrodynamic load under wave flow conditions is more sensitive to changes in submergence depth, which essentially affects wave reflection and blockage. At different flow velocities, k values, cylinder radii, and arm lengths, the main frequency of the Fourier transform of the cylinder motion curve remains unchanged; however, the main frequency does change with the wave period and submergence depth. The efficiency of rotary cylindrical energy harvesting is influenced by various factors, among which an initial increase and then decrease are observed with a gradually increasing k value, arm length, period, and radius, in addition to an observed decrease with increasing flow velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]