Experimental and numerical investigation on a novel dual-chamber OWC-WEC integrated with an energy-focusing breakwater

IF 4.5 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Coastal Engineering Pub Date : 2025-06-26 DOI:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2025.104814

Xiangyu Zhang , Robert Mayon , Feng Zhou , Dezhi Ning

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

To overcome the application and commercialization challenges associated with Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converters (WEC), it is crucial to improve energy conversion efficiency while minimizing Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) costs. A novel integration of a cylindrical dual-chamber OWC-WEC and a parabolic-type breakwater was proposed, and a breakthrough in wave-to-wire energy conversion efficiency was achieved. A series of scaled experiments in a 3D wave basin and numerical simulations based on nonlinear higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM) were conducted, respectively. Initially, the Capture Width Ratio (CWR) of cylindrical single-chamber and dual-chamber OWCs were compared. The CWR in the dual-chamber OWC was 33.7 % higher than that in the single-chamber model. The performance of these two systems in both regular and irregular incident wave conditions was then investigated with the energy concentration attribute of a parabolic breakwater. In specific wave conditions, the elevation of the free surface within the chamber exceeded three times the incident wave amplitude, and a higher air pressure was produced compared to the results without the energy focusing breakwater. The output power in the case of the dual-chamber system outperformed the single-chamber system and the maximum increase in wave-to-wire efficiency reached 62.1 %. In the dual-chamber system, the inner chamber produced more power than the outer chamber because of the larger aerodynamic pressure generated inside the inner chamber. Furthermore, as the wave height increased from 0.05 m to 0.075 m, the dual-chamber OWC structure exhibited the improved stability and resulted in the increased energy production. In irregular wave conditions, the dual-chamber OWC system achieved better performance than the single-chamber system, although the output power and wave-to-wire efficiency are lower compared with the regular wave condition results.

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结合能量聚焦防波堤的新型双室OWC-WEC试验与数值研究

为了克服与振荡水柱（OWC）波浪能转换器（WEC）相关的应用和商业化挑战，提高能量转换效率，同时最大限度地降低资本支出（CAPEX）成本至关重要。提出了一种新型的圆柱形双室OWC-WEC与抛物型防波堤相结合的方案，实现了波线能量转换效率的突破。基于非线性高阶边界元法（HOBEM）进行了数值模拟，并在三维波盆中进行了一系列的尺度实验。首先，比较了圆柱形单腔和双腔OWCs的捕获宽度比（CWR）。双腔OWC模型的CWR比单腔OWC模型高33.7%。利用抛物型防波堤的能量集中特性，研究了两种系统在规则和不规则入射波条件下的性能。在特定的波浪条件下，腔室内自由面高程超过入射波幅值的3倍，产生的气压比没有能量聚焦防波堤的结果更高。双腔系统的输出功率优于单腔系统，波线效率的最大增幅达到62.1%。在双腔室系统中，由于内腔室内部产生的气动压力较大，因此内腔室产生的功率大于外腔室。当波高从0.05 m增加到0.075 m时，双腔OWC结构的稳定性有所提高，能量产量也有所增加。在不规则波条件下，双室OWC系统的输出功率和波线效率低于规则波条件下的结果，但性能优于单室OWC系统。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Coastal Engineering 工程技术-工程：大洋

CiteScore

9.20

自引率

13.60%

发文量

审稿时长

3.5 months

期刊介绍： Coastal Engineering is an international medium for coastal engineers and scientists. Combining practical applications with modern technological and scientific approaches, such as mathematical and numerical modelling, laboratory and field observations and experiments, it publishes fundamental studies as well as case studies on the following aspects of coastal, harbour and offshore engineering: waves, currents and sediment transport; coastal, estuarine and offshore morphology; technical and functional design of coastal and harbour structures; morphological and environmental impact of coastal, harbour and offshore structures.