Power Enhancement of WEC Array via Wave Runup in Channel

When waves pass through a channel, wave elevation is observed to increase, a phenomenon known as wave runup. Attempts are made to utilize the wave runup along a channel supported on a floating platform to enhance the energy generation from the array of point absorber WECs. Such floating platforms could be integrated into the floating breakwater, floating pier or other floating platforms utilized as floating cities for efficient ocean space utilization. The channel is created by modelling two vertical walls supported on a floating platform with WECs deployed in the channel. The performance of the wave farm in terms of energy generation and interaction factor are assessed. The paper investigates the effect of channel widths and depths on the power absorption of the arrays. A three-stepped floating platform with varying depths along the channel is then studied to obtain optimal depths along the channel where the highest energy is harvested. Thereafter, three arrays of WECs deployed in a larger three-stepped channel floating platform are considered and the effectiveness of such configuration in harvesting energy is assessed. The wave elevation surrounding the wave farm is presented to show the effect the wave runup has on energy generation. The results show that the energy generation of wave energy converters when the arrays are placed in a three-stepped channel floating platform could be increased significantly. A q-factor above 1.0 could be achieved for wave periods greater than 6s and the array can generate greater energy for omnidirectional waves.

Wave Field Characteristics of Small Faults around the Loose Circle of Rock Surrounding a Coal Roadway

The geological conditions of coal roadway excavation are complicated. Seismic advanced detection is strongly influenced by the loose circle of fractured rock surrounding the competent coal seam. However, the three-dimensional wave field characteristics of small fault advanced detection in the condition of the loose circle of coal roadway have not examined. In this paper, numerical modeling and field tests were conducted to address this knowledge gap. The results indicate that when a seismic source near the tunnel face is excited, the body waves and a Love channel wave propagate in the tunneling direction toward the small fault, then produces reflected body waves whose amplitude is relatively weak, and a reflected Love channel wave whose amplitude is relatively strong. When reflected body waves and the reflected Love channel wave enter the loose circle of surrounding rock, the former's signal is unrecognizable in seismic record; but the latter converts to a Love wave whose amplitude is strong in the loose circle of coal seam. The Love wave which has a large interval from other wave trains in the time domain is easily recognizable in seismic record, which makes it suitable for advanced detection of small fault. The signal-to-noise ratio of seismic record of X component is higher than those of Y component and Z component.

A Theoretical Investigation of Channel Wave Multipath Propagation in a Coal Seam

This study investigates the mechanism of channel wave multipath propagation to determine features of a channel wave in a coal seam. For this purpose, deduction formulas were used for different time delays and propagation paths and, subsequently, a multipath fading channel wave pattern was built. MATLAB software was used to simulate the model. To this end, the characteristics of the coal seam and the surrounding rock were considered. The simulation results were compared with results obtained from the model contained in COMSOL software to verify the accuracy of the model. According to the results obtained from the simulation, the proposed model shows a good match with the COMSOL model, which is a common simulation comparison standard. In addition, the channel wave energy approximates to exponential decay at a constant distance from the source, and the multipath propagation considerably affects its energy attenuation. Furthermore, the multipath reflections’ travel time derivation is accomplished properly in the coal seam.

Investigation of Pressure Rise and Flame Acceleration Characteristics in a Single Channel of Wave Rotor Combustor with Spoilers

A simplified single channel wave rotor combustor (WRC) experimental rig was established, in which the spoilers with different blockage ratios (BR) could be conveniently installed and disassembled. The spoilers were firstly used for WRC to improve the pressure rise. The effects of different blockage ratios on the pressure rise and flame acceleration characteristics in a single channel of the WRC were investigated. The addition of spoilers could remarkably improve the pressure rise and flame propagation speed in a single channel of the WRC. While the blockage ratio of the spoiler increases, both pressure rise and mean flame propagation speed are improved. When the spoilers with a blockage ratio of 38.91% are used, the peak pressure increases by 200% compared to that of WRC without the spoilers. When the spoilers of different blockage ratios (23.35%, 31.13%, and 38.91%) are used, it is found that the flame propagation speed is significantly improved with the increasing of the blockage ratio. Specifically, the maximum flame propagation speed reaches 55 m/s, and the maximum mean flame propagation speed is 36.95 m/s. Furthermore, combustion becomes more intense, and the flame is brighter around the spoiler.