Preliminary design of wave energy utilization model simulation for buoy type seawater pumps

Abstract

This study aims to obtain a preliminary design of simulation of a wave-powered seawater pump model with a buoy & vertical motion piston. The concept works are the mechanism of pumping seawater through the piston push and the apparent motion of the buoy up and down by the waves. The hypothesis, that the flow rate and pumping head as research variables were strongly influenced by wave height and period (H & T). Also, it was estimated that it was influenced by the weight and dimensions of the buoy (W & A) and the diameter of the piston tube. Preliminary experiments are carried out to see the performance of the test model and select the experimental variable magnitudes that are adjusted to the capacity of the available equipment and the scale of the model for similarity needs to the prototype conditions. This study will use a wave flume of 15 m long, 30 cm wide, and 50 cm effective height. The wave characteristics of the model to be used are the wave period in 3 variations (T1: 1.3 seconds, T2: 1.4 seconds, T3: 1.5 seconds), the range of wave heights in 3 variations (4 cm, 5 cm, and 6 cm) and water depth in 3 variations (d1: 25 cm, d2: 27 cm, d3: 29 cm). From the simulation design of this model, it is expected that the equation of the discharge and the height of the pumping head will be formulated in the form of dimensionless parameter relationships.