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An Experimental Study of a Conventional Cylindrical Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter: Fixed and Floating Devices

Author

Listed:
  • Wanan Sheng

    (Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, South East Technological University, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland)

  • George Aggidis

    (School of Engineering, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK)

Abstract

Oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converters (WECs) are very popular types of wave energy converters due to their practical implementations, their versatility in deployment in different marine environments, and their high reliability in wave energy conversion. In development, different forms of OWCs have been proposed and advanced, such as fixed OWCs (on the shoreline, on breakwaters, or bottom standing) and floating OWCs (the spar and the backward-bent duct buoy, BBDB). In reality, a special type of OWC, the cylindrical OWC, is the simplest OWC in terms of its structural design and possible analytical/numerical solutions. However, such a simple OWC has not seen any practical applications because a cylindrical OWC is inefficient in wave energy absorption when compared to other types of OWC WECs. To study the simplest cylindric OWC, an experiment was carried out in a wave tank, and the relevant results are presented in this paper, with the aims of (i) analyzing the experimental data and exploring why such an OWC is inefficient in terms of wave energy absorption; (ii) providing experimental data for those who want experimental data to validate their numerical models; and (iii) establishing a baseline model so that comparisons can be made for improvements to the simple cylindrical OWC. As an example, an innovative solution was applied to the simple OWC such that its hydrodynamics and energy extraction performance can be significantly improved (the corresponding results will be presented in a separate paper).

Suggested Citation

  • Wanan Sheng & George Aggidis, 2025. "An Experimental Study of a Conventional Cylindrical Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter: Fixed and Floating Devices," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-28, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:500-:d:1573767
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sheng, Wanan, 2019. "Power performance of BBDB OWC wave energy converters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 709-722.
    2. Liu, Zhen & Zhang, Xiaoxia & Xu, Chuanli, 2023. "Hydrodynamic and energy-harvesting performance of a BBDB-OWC device in irregular waves: An experimental study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    3. Falcão, António F.O. & Gato, Luís M.C. & Henriques, João C.C. & Borges, João E. & Pereiras, Bruno & Castro, Francisco, 2015. "A novel twin-rotor radial-inflow air turbine for oscillating-water-column wave energy converters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P2), pages 2116-2125.
    4. Sheng, Wanan, 2019. "Motion and performance of BBDB OWC wave energy converters: I, hydrodynamics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 106-120.
    5. López, I. & Pereiras, B. & Castro, F. & Iglesias, G., 2016. "Holistic performance analysis and turbine-induced damping for an OWC wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1155-1163.
    6. Yang, Shaohui & Zhu, Wenzheng & Tu, Yongqiang & Cao, Gengning & Chen, Xiaokun & Du, Zhichang & Fan, Jianyu & Huang, Yan, 2024. "Study on the influence of heave plate on energy capture performance of central pipe oscillating water column wave energy converter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    7. Portillo, J.C.C. & Collins, K.M. & Gomes, R.P.F. & Henriques, J.C.C. & Gato, L.M.C. & Howey, B.D. & Hann, M.R. & Greaves, D.M. & Falcão, A.F.O., 2020. "Wave energy converter physical model design and testing: The case of floating oscillating-water-columns," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    8. Falcão, António F.O. & Henriques, João C.C. & Cândido, José J., 2012. "Dynamics and optimization of the OWC spar buoy wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 369-381.
    9. Taherian Haghighi, Ali & Nikseresht, Amir H. & Hayati, Mohammad, 2021. "Numerical analysis of hydrodynamic performance of a dual-chamber Oscillating Water Column," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
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    1. Eric Gubesch & Nagi Abdussamie & Irene Penesis & Christopher Chin, 2025. "Experimental Investigations of Moored OWC Wave Energy Converters in Cyclonic Conditions: Survivability Versus Operational Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-37, May.

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