Abstract
Based on the two-dimensional linear wave theory, the effects of the front wall thickness and the bottom profile of an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device on its efficiency were analyzed. Using the potential flow approach, the solution of the associated boundary value problem was obtained via the boundary element method (BEM). Numerical results for several physical parameters and configurations were obtained. The effects of the front wall thickness on the efficiency are discussed in detail, then, various configurations of the chamber bottom are presented. A wider efficiency band was obtained with a thinner front wall. In a real scenario having a thinner front wall means that such a structure could have less capacity to withstand the impact of storm waves. Applying the model for the case of the Mutriku Wave Energy Plant (MWEP), findings showed that the proposed bottom profiles alter the efficiency curve slightly; higher periods of the incoming water waves were found. This could increase the efficiency of the device in the long-wave regime. Finally, the numerical results were compared with those available in the literature, and were found to be in good agreement.
Highlights
It has been suggested that wave power has the potential to provide most of the world’s electricity needs in the short term [1]
Numerical results based on the boundary element method (BEM) discussed in the previous section are presented
It is observed that around 480 nodes (240 quadratic elements) are enough to ensure convergence of the numerical results within three decimal places and to avoid numerical instabilities that arise when the front wall thickness w tends to zero
Summary
It has been suggested that wave power has the potential to provide most of the world’s electricity needs in the short term [1]. Regarding its performance, the initial expectations have not been met because of the poor design in some of the chambers that provide moderately different pressure at the inlet of their turbines [8] This is because the breakwater that houses the Wells turbines was manly designed to maximizing the protection of Mutriku harbour and not for wave energy harnessing. A 2D BEM model for analyzing the OWC’s response in general bathymetry regions was carried out by [27] They showed that the effects of the bottom slope and curvature on the OWC performance could be important, especially when the wave climate leads the site-specific optimal design to low resonance frequencies
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