A Numerical Investigation of the Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter Systems

This work focuses on the geometry effects over performance of oscillating water column (OWC)-type wave energy converter (WEC) systems and searches for OWC geometries that enhance efficiencies under same conditions. To analyze hydrodynamic performances WEC systems, an in-house smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code based weakly compressible fluid approach is utilized. The efficiency enhancement studies determined device are carried out with a two-step modification procedure. first step starts validation free-surface elevation orbital velocity time histories. Then, three-by-three simulation matrix depends geometrical design parameters chamber length front wall draft run at three different conditions, produces maximum determined. In second step, corner regions obtained optimal chamfered, another tested condition yields energy. It observed in this index can still be improved by 4.3% only chamfering back face chamber. scrutinize physical grounds increase, correlation between time-averaged vorticity presented. Finally, best configuration also examined periods, where suggested shows better respect to base results all