The influence of three-dimensional effects on the performance of U-type oscillating water column wave energy harvesters

G. Malara, R.P.F. Gomes, F. Arena, J.C.C. Henriques, L.M.C. Gato and A.F.O. Falcão

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 111, issue C, 506-522

Abstract: This paper studies the dynamics and power extraction of a U-Oscillating Water Column (U-OWC) device. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, based on the boundary integral equations method, is implemented. The U-OWC width and wave direction are analysed and compared with a two-dimensional model based on the eigen-function expansion method. Results show that as the device width increases, the power extraction per unit width tends to the two-dimensional value. For small converter widths, which are expected to be implemented in practical applications, three-dimensional effects are relevant and provide a systematic improvement in power output per unit width, due to their influence in the device hydrodynamic characteristics.

Keywords: Wave energy; Oscillating water column; U-OWC; Hydrodynamics; BIEM; Parametric analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:111:y:2017:i:c:p:506-522

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.04.038

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