For over three decades the "Pendulor" wave energy device has had a significant influence in this field, triggering several research endeavours. It includes a top-hinged flap propelled by the standing waves produced in a caisson with a back wall on the leeward side. However, one of the main disadvantages which impedes its progress is the enormous expense involved in the construction of the custom made typical caisson structure, about a little more than one-quarter of the wave length. In this study, the influence of such design parameters on the performance of the device is investigated, via numerical modelling for a device arranged in an array configuration, for irregular waves. The potential wave theory is applied to derive the frequency-dependent hydrodynamic parameters by making a distinction in the fluid domain into a separate sea side and lee side. The Cummins equation was utilised for the development of the time domain equation of motion while the transfer function estimation methods were used to solve the convolution integrals. Finally, the device was tested numerically for irregular wave conditions for a 50 kW class unit. It was observed that in irregular wave operating conditions, the caisson chamber length could be reduced by 40% of the value estimated for the regular waves. Besides, the device demonstrated around 80% capture efficiency for irregular waves thus allowing provision for avoiding the employment of any active control.
The Archimedes screw turbine (AST) is the most sustainable mini-hydropower extraction method that offers number of economic, social, and environmental advantages. Nowadays, many researchers are interested in AST development as it is considered a new technology. Currently, a lot of researchers are conducting experimental testing of the screws, comparing their reliability with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. Almost all of them are lab-scale testing models that claiming an average 80% efficiency for low pitch angles. In the case of a real site with a small inclination angle, the length of the screw is large enough to cause severe problems, specially related to bending of the screw. Therefore, this research was conducted to analyze the CFD flow field in a real site-scale AST with the maximum possible inclination of 45 degrees. In addition, the design was done without the upper and lower reservoir as it was conceived as a run-of-river flow system. The simulated real scale AST result showed a maximum efficiency of around 82% for a 5.2 m hydraulic head and 0.232 m3/s discharge. Many researchers claim above 80% efficiency for low inclination angle ASTs with reservoirs. This CFD study indicates that even higher inclination angle ASTs can achieve 80% efficiency in run-of-river; real-scale applications.
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