Pressure Pulsation Analysis of Oscillating Water Column Rotor Eccentricity Based on the Pulsation Tracking Network Method

Abstract

An oscillating water column (OWC) is typical of axial rotor turbines, which are used to convert ocean wave energy into electrical energy. This device impacts downstream pressure pulsations when its rotor becomes eccentric. This study compared the details of pressure pulsations downstream of eccentric and non-eccentric rotors under three operating conditions: low flow A, high-efficiency flow B, and high flow C. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on the pulsation tracking network (PTN) method were used for the OWC device to compare the experimental results. The results indicate downstream pressure pulsations were mostly dominated by the blade frequency in non-eccentric low-flow cases. In the other eccentric operating conditions, downstream pressure pulsations were mainly dominated by the 2-, 3.6-, 6-, and 7-times rotation frequencies and the 0.5-times blade frequency. The phase change of downstream pressure pulsations in eccentric and non-eccentric conditions is consistent with the flow direction. The phase change is relatively uniform and steady before eccentricity and becomes turbulent after eccentricity, which affects its steadiness. In this study, the OWC device did not significantly change with or without rotor eccentricity at a 1-time blade frequency intensity; however, at a 1-time rotation frequency, the OWC device showed a significant increase in the pressure pulsation amplitude after rotor eccentricity. The study of the dominant frequency, amplitude, and phase of pressure pulsations in OWC devices with eccentric rotors can help prevent excessive pressure pulsations that can lead to incidents.