• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.1 s.74
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• pp.7-17
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• 2007

Based on the Boussinesq wave model, the wave distribution in the Chagui-Do sea area in Jeju was simulated by applying the directional irregular waves at an incident boundary. The time and spatial variations of monthly mean wave height and period were investigated, which aims to provide basic information on optimal sites for wave power generation. The grid size and time interval of the Boussinesq wave model were validated by examining wave distributions around a surface piercing wall, fixed at sea bottom with a constant slope. Except for the summer season, the significant wave height is dominated by wind waves and appears to be relatively high at the north sea of Chagui-Do, which is open to the ocean, while it is remarkably reduced at the rear sea of Chagui-Do because of its blocking effect on incident waves. In the summer, the significant wave height is higher at the south sea, and it is dominated by the swell waves, which is contributed by the strong south-west wind. The magnitude of significant wave height is the largest in the winter and the lowest in the spring. Annual average of the significant wave height is distinctively high at the west sea close to the Chagui-Do coast, due to a steep variation of water depth and corresponding wave focusing effect. The seasonal and spatial distribution of the wave period around Chagui-Do sea reveals very similar characteristics to the significant wave height. It is suggested that the west sea close to the Chagui-Do coast is the mast promising site for wave power generation.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.6 s.61
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• pp.8-15
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• 2004

Wave power distribution is investigated to determine the optimal sites for wave power generation at Jeju sea which has the highest wave energy density in the Korean coastal waters. The spatial and seasonal variation of wave power per unit length is calculated in the Jeju sea area based on the monthly mean wave data from 1979 to 2002 which is produced by the SWAN wave model simulation in prior research. The selected favorable locations for wave power generation are compared in terms of magnitude of wave energy density and distribution characteristics of wave parameters. The results suggest that Chagui-Do is the most optimal site for wave power generation in the Jeju sea. The seasonal distribution of wave energy density reveals that the highest wave energy density occurs in the northwest sea in the winter and it is dominated by wind waves, while the second highest one happens at south sea in the summer and it is dominated by a swell sea. The annual average of wave energy density shows that it gradually increases from east to west of the Jeju sea. At Chagui-Do, the energy density of the sea swell sea is relatively uniform while the energy density of the wind waves is variable and strong in the winter.