scholarly journals A Numerical Study on Hydrodynamic Performance of an Inclined OWC Wave Energy Converter with Nonlinear Turbine–Chamber Interaction based on 3D Potential Flow

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Seok Kim ◽  
Bo Woo Nam ◽  
Kyong-Hwan Kim ◽  
Sewan Park ◽  
Seung Ho Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Numerical Method ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Potential Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Hydrodynamic Performance ◽  
Hydrodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Energy Converter

In this study, a time-domain numerical method based on three-dimensional potential flow was developed to analyze the hydrodynamic characteristics of an inclined oscillating-water-column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC). A finite element method was applied to solve the potential flow around and inside the OWC chamber. A turbine–chamber interaction was considered to take into account the pressure drop inside the OWC chamber, which is a nonlinear function of airflow speed via turbine operation. The instantaneous pressure drop was updated on the free-surface boundary condition inside the chamber in the time-domain to account for the coupling effect between the turbine and the chamber. The present numerical method was verified by comparing it with the model test results. The hydrodynamic characteristics of an inclined OWC chamber in terms of potential flow, such as the water column motion and the three-dimensional flow distribution around the chamber, were investigated. In terms of hydrodynamic performance, the energy conversion efficiency of the chamber showed a nonlinear response characteristic dependent on the incident wave height. In addition, numerical calculations were carried out to clarify the relationship between the main geometric parameters and the hydrodynamic response of the inclined OWC chamber.

Nonlinear Time-Domain Simulation of the Heaving-Buoy Type Wave Energy Converter by Using Three-Dimensional Potential Numerical Wave Tank Under Irregular Wave Conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Jae Kim ◽  
Weoncheol Koo ◽  
Moo-Hyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Hydrodynamic Performance ◽  
Numerical Wave Tank ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Wave Tank ◽  
Type Wave ◽  
Numerical Wave

Abstract The aim of this paper is to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance of a heaving buoy type wave energy converter (WEC) and power take-off (PTO) system. To simulate the nonlinear behavior of the WEC with PTO system, a three-dimensional potential numerical wave tank (PNWT) was developed. The PNWT is a numerical analysis tool that can accurately reproduce experiments in physical wave tanks. The developed time-domain PNWT utilized the previously developed NWT technique and newly adopted the side wall damping area. The PNWT is based on boundary element method with constant panels. The mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian method (MEL) and acceleration potential approach were adopted to simulate the nonlinear behaviors of free-surface nodes associated with body motions. The PM spectrum as an irregular incident wave condition was applied to the input boundary. A floating or fixed type WEC structure was placed in the center of the computational domain. A hydraulic PTO system composed of a hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic motor and generator was modeled with approximate Coulomb damping force and applied to the WEC system. Using the integrated numerical model of the WEC with PTO system, nonlinear interaction of irregular waves, the WEC structure, and the PTO system were simulated in the time domain. The optimal hydraulic pressure of the PTO condition was predicted. The hydrodynamic performance of the WEC was evaluated by comparing the linear and nonlinear analytical results and highlighted the importance accounting for nonlinear free surfaces.

scholarly journals Effect of Dissipation on the Moonpool-Javelin Wave Energy Converter

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1444
Author(s):  
Dan Yu ◽  
Keyi Wang ◽  
Yeqing Jin ◽  
Fankai Kong ◽  
Hailong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Potential Flow ◽  
Wave Force ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Hydrodynamic Performance ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Viscous Term ◽  
Cfd Method ◽  
The Time Domain

In this work, the hydrodynamic performance of a novel wave energy converter (WEC) configuration which combines a moonpool platform and a javelin floating buoy, called the moonpool–javelin wave energy converter (MJWEC), was studied by semianalytical, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and experimental methods. The viscous term is added to the potential flow solver to obtain the hydrodynamic coefficients. The wave force, the added mass, the radiation damping, the wave capture, and the energy efficiency of the configuration were assessed, in the frequency and time domains, by a semianalytical method. The CFD method results and the semianalytical results were compared for the time domain by introducing nonlinear power take-off (PTO) damping; additionally, the viscous dissipation coefficients under potential flow could be confirmed. Finally, a 1:10 scale model was physically tested to validate the numerical model and further prove the feasibility of the proposed system.

Constraint Matrix Method Used in Wave Energy Converter

2014 ◽  
Vol 1030-1032 ◽  
pp. 497-500
Author(s):  
Lin Feng Song ◽  
Li Ping Sun ◽  
Shang Mao Ai ◽  
Jia Yu Qian
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Potential Flow ◽  
Matrix Method ◽  
Rigid Bodies ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Constraint Matrix ◽  
Motion Mechanism

In order to research the motion mechanism of floating multi-bodies, constraint matrix method (CMM) and potential flow theory are used. Compared to the other method, CMM is easier to model and faster in calculating. The Pelamis wave energy converter is modeled by deriving the system to separate rigid bodies. CMM is used to simulate the Pelamis wave energy converter in time domain with code in house by FORTRAN, some important conclusions are got.

Power Take-Off Selection for a U-Shaped OWC Wave Energy Converter

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Romolo ◽  
João C. C. Henriques ◽  
Luís M. C. Gato ◽  
Giovanni Malara ◽  
Valentina Laface ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Domain Model ◽  
Ocean Engineering ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Natural Period ◽  
Air Pocket ◽  
Air Turbine

Abstract The REWEC3 (Resonant Wave Energy Converter) is a fixed oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC) incorporated in upright breakwaters. The device is composed by a chamber containing a water column in its lower part and an air pocket in its upper part. The air pocket is connected to the atmosphere via a duct hosting a self-rectifying air turbine. In addition, a REWEC3 includes a vertical U-shaped duct for connecting the water column to the open sea (for this reason it is known also as U-OWC). The working principle of the system is quite simple: by the action of the incident waves, the water inside the U-shaped duct is subject to a reciprocating motion, which induces alternately a compression and an expansion of the air pocket. The pressure difference between the air pocket and the atmosphere is used to drive an air turbine coupled to an off-the-shelf electrical generator connected to the grid. The main feature of the REWEC3 is the possibility of tuning the natural period of the water column in order to match a desired wave period through the size of the U-duct. The REWEC3 technology has been theoretically developed by Boccotti, later tested at the natural basin of the Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL, Italy), and finally proved at full scale with REWEC3 prototype built in the Port of Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy). The objective of this paper is to select and optimize a turbine/generator set of a U-shaped OWC installed in breakwaters located in the Mediterranean Sea, such as the Port of Civitavecchia, where the first prototype of REWEC3 has been realized, or the Port of Salerno or Marina delle Grazie of Roccella (Italy). The computations were performed using a time domain model based on the unsteady Bernoulli equation. Based on the time-domain model of the power plant, the following data is computed for the turbines: i) the ideal turbine diameter; ii) the generator feedback control law aiming to maximize the turbine power output for turbine coupled to the REWEC3 device for Mediterranean applications.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document