Wave-to-Wire Model of an Oscillating-Water-Column Wave Energy Converter and Its Application to Mediterranean Energy Hot-Spots

Lorenzo Ciappi, Lapo Cheli, Irene Simonetti, Alessandro Bianchini, Giampaolo Manfrida and Lorenzo Cappietti
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Lorenzo Ciappi: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Florence, Italy
Lapo Cheli: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Florence, Italy
Irene Simonetti: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Florence, Italy
Alessandro Bianchini: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Florence, Italy
Giampaolo Manfrida: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Florence, Italy
Lorenzo Cappietti: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Florence, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-28

Abstract: Oscillating water column (OWC) systems are among the most credited solutions for an effective conversion of the notable energy potential conveyed by sea waves. Despite a renewed interest, however, they are often still at a demonstration phase and additional research is required to reach industrial maturity. Within this framework, this study provides a wave-to-wire model for OWC systems based on an impulse air turbine. The model performs a comprehensive simulation of the system to estimate the attendant electric energy production for a specific sea state, based on analytical models of the primary (fixed chamber) and secondary (air turbine) converters coupled with the tertiary converter (electric generator). A rigid piston model is proposed to solve the hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, and hydrodynamics of the chamber, in a coupled fashion with the impulse turbine aerodynamics. This is solved with a novel method by considering the cascades as sets of blades, each one consisting of a finite number of airfoils stacked in the radial direction. The model was applied for two Mediterranean sites located in Tuscany and Sardinia (Italy), which were selected to define the optimal geometry of the turbine for a specified chamber. For each system, the developed analytical wave-to-wire model was applied to calculate the performance parameters and the annual energy production in environmental conditions typical of the Mediterranean Sea. The selected impulse turbines are able to convert 13.69 and 39.36 MWh/year, with an efficiency of 4.95% and 4.76%, respectively, thus proving the interesting prospects of the technology.

Keywords: oscillating water column; chamber; impulse turbine; analytical model; waves; wave-to-wire (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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