Abstract
The hydrodynamic performance of the wave power extraction of an innovative modified breakwater-integrated Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converter is both numerically and experimentally presented in this study. The modified OWC device comprises a non-conventional perforated wall in front of a typical OWC chamber. The air-water two-fluid model, considering the fluid compressibility involved in FLOW-3D solver, is employed for the numerical simulations of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the OWC devices. The numerical simulations of the hydrodynamic performance of the OWC device are first validated by the experimental measurements with a scaled model. The effects of the geometry of the OWC chamber on the hydrodynamic efficiency are then discussed by numerical simulations using a full-scale OWC device under regular waves. The numerical and experimental results show that the present modified device can form a U-type flow pattern by the oscillating water column, thus developing better performance in extracting pneumatic power, when compared with the typical OWC device which does not have the perforated front wall. The results indicate that the present modified OWC device can not only promote the efficiency of the pneumatic power extraction, but can also reduce the wave force acting on the structure.
Highlights
IntroductionIn Taiwan, more than 80% of electricity comes from thermal power generation, and fossil fuels are dependent on imports
This study proposes an innovative modified breakwater-integrated Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converter for the purpose of efficiently extracting the wave power and being capable of reducing the wave force on the structure
Both numerical simulation and experimental investigation are carried out to examine the hydrodynamic performance of both the present and the typical OWC devices, the typical OWC device being the model without the perforated front wall
Summary
In Taiwan, more than 80% of electricity comes from thermal power generation, and fossil fuels are dependent on imports. A large number of techniques of wave energy converter (WEC) have been proposed, in which the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device has been the most studied and implemented. The incident wave motion through the submerged open can cause water column oscillation in the confined chamber, and the OWC exhales and inhales air to drive a self-rectifying turbine coupled to a power generator. There are other WEC devices integrated with the breakwaters proposed for overtopping wave energy conversion [8,9,10]. The present modified OWC device is anticipated to work for promoting the efficiency of the WEC in general, and enduring the large wave force impact on the structure during storms
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