Idea for doing research : Selection of Suitable Wave Converters for Shoreline Protection by Multi-Criteria Decision Making Method

Keywords : wave energy,multi criteria decision making methods,renewable energy,shore line protection

For whom ? Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering scholars and PG students

Scientific Benefit : The uncontrolled extraction of natural resources and un-regulated utilization of coastal zones for commercial purposes have induced erosive action which has reduced the area of coastal zones in many parts of the World.In this aspect protection of shoreline is an important objective to achieve for the sustenance of the coastal zones and to maintain the ecosystem. On the other hand, due to the rising demand for energy and limited availability of conventional fuel resources, has increased the demand for supply of energy from renewable and alternative sources of energy.That is why,if on-shore wave converters which is used for conversion of wave energy to electrical energy, can be installed in the coastal areas, then these converters can be used for both protection of shoreline and producing energy. Such procedures are now implemented in few coastal regions but the selection of suitable wave converters and the ideal location where they can be installed for maximum utilization is limiting the benefit that can be achieved from such projects. Subjective selection of converters or location will result in less than desired level of protection and  production of energy. It will also increase the investment required for installation and operation of such arrangements. Thus research projects can be undertaken to solve this problem by utilizing objective techniques like Multi Criteria Decision Making(MCDM).

Brief Methodology : The multi criteria decision making processes requires a set of alternatives or options from which one has to be selected as the answer to the decision making problem. A set of criteria is also required by which the alternatives are compared and rated with the help of a scale and then based on the selected MCDM method, aggregated value of the ratings were calculated. The option with the maximum aggregated value (also known as : weight of significance/priority value), will be selected as the answer to the decision making problem.

In case of wave converter selection for shoreline protection and energy production on a particular location, some criteria has to be identified by which the available alternatives can be compared. As the objective of the present investigation is to select a converter which can be used on that location for maximum protection and production of energy from the waves,due to two number of objectives,  two level of criteria will be ideal for the present decision problem.

First level of criteria can  be shoreline protection and utilization efficiency that can be achieved from the converter on that location.

The second level criteria will be 1.Total Cost required for installation,operation and maintenance;2. stability of the soil;3.height of the wave;4.wave period;5.ocean depth and 6. wind speed.

The converters must be on-shore and oscillating column type as such kind of converters has a stable mooring structure which is required for shoreline protection. The type of converters will be used as the alternatives.

The Second level criteria will be compared with respect to the first level criteria and the alternatives will be compared with respect to the second level criteria.

After the criteria and alternatives are selected, next step is to identify a MCDM method which can be effectively used for this kind of decision making problems. Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP) can be a good method as the present problem consist complexity and AHP is known to be ideal for such kind of problems.

The criteria and alternative selected here is based on the opinion of the author of this post.However,other criteria can be used and it will definitely vary with respect to the decision maker.

Short tutorial : How to find the best wave converter for shore line protection by the AHP MCDM method ?

Apps : For application of AHP in any type of similar decision making problem (Coming soon).

Book/Papers/Reports to learn more :

About Wave Energy Converters : Hosna Titah-Benbouzid, Mohamed Benbouzid. An Up-to-Date Technologies Review and Evaluation of
Wave Energy Converters. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING-IREE,
2015, 10 (1), pp.52-61.

2. Wave energy converters

About MCDM and AHP : 1. Multi-Criteria Decision Making method

2.Multi-Criteria Decision Making: An Operations Research approach

3.Triantaphyllou E. (2000) Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods. In: Multi-criteria Decision Making Methods: A Comparative Study. Applied Optimization, vol 44. Springer, Boston, MA.

Software you can use 

For AHP decision making : 1. MakeItRational is a decision support software based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP is a method of multi-criteria evaluation which organizes and simplifies decision-making. Use MakeItRational software for supporting complex and tough decisions; 2. The Super Decisions is decision support software that implements the AHP and ANP. The Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) and the Analytic Network Process (ANP) make it possible to include intangibles in decision making.

Similar Papers

The difference between the following papers and the present idea is all these papers uses a subjective approach whereas the present idea tried to utilize objective method like MCDM to solve the problem.

Zanuttigh, B., L. Martinelli, M. Castagnetti, P. Ruol, Jens Peter Kofoed, and Peter Frigaard. “Integration of wave energy converters into coastal protection schemes.” Proc ICOE (2010).

Bergillos, Rafael J., Alejandro Lopez-Ruiz, Encarnacion Medina-Lopez, Antonio Monino, and Miguel Ortega-Sanchez. “The role of wave energy converter farms on coastal protection in eroding deltas, Guadalfeo, southern Spain.” Journal of Cleaner Production 171 (2018): 356-367.

Call for Paper related to present research idea:

Monograph : Climate change and its impact on Water and Energy Management : MCDM and ANN Approaches edited by M.Majumder and G.D.Kale.Proposed to be published from Springer. Please reply to this post or contact us if you are interested to submit one of your paper in this book.

Interested to feature your call for paper here ? Kindly reply to this email or contact us.

Thanks,

Mrinmoy Majumder,Founder-Author,Find me in Research Gate,Linked In. Subscribe to the newsletter.

Please acknowledge or cite this idea when you use it for your project and reply to this post or contact us if you want to claim .

Citation : Majumder,M,Research Idea : Selection of Suitable Wave Converters for Shoreline Protection by Multi-Criteria Decision Making Method,Baipatra,Retrieved from http://baipatra.ws/?p=88 on 16/09/2018.