Experimental and numerical investigation of wave loads on land-based multi-chamber OWC converters

Abstract

Capturing more wave energy in a cost-effective principle has become a challenging task. Multi-chamber oscillating water column (OWC) devices are gradually gaining favour due to their potentially efficient characteristics. However, there is relatively limited research on dynamic analysis which is crucial for the safety and survival of multi-chamber OWC devices. In the study, model experiments of the hydrodynamic pressures for single-, dual- and three-chamber devices were conducted at a wave flume. A two-dimensional fully nonlinear numerical model for the interaction between waves and the OWC devices was established based on the higher-order boundary element method. The numerical results well cross-validated the experimental data. The wave forces and moments exerted on the devices were numerically calculated. The results indicate that the multi-chamber configurations not only generally reduce the wave loads on front and rear walls in high-frequency waves, but also avoid the sloshing motion of the water column inside the chamber, which induces large wave loads on the converter. However, the additional internal walls impose a redoubled burden on the junction of the top ceiling and the rear wall. The OWC converters sustain the horizontal forces much more than vertical forces. The front lip (i.e., the bottom edge of the front wall), the rear wall and the connection between the seabed and the device are relatively dangerous positions for configurations with any number of chambers.