WaveRush: A New Concept for a Breakwater Wave Energy Converter

Ocean wave energy is one of several renewable sources of energy found in the ocean. The energy in the oscillatory ocean waves can be used to drive a machinery that converts the energy to other forms. Depending on the type and their location with respect the coast and offshore, a number of devices have been and are being developed to extract the wave energy for conversion into electricity. The most common devices are referred to as the oscillating water column (OWC), hinged contour device, buoyant moored device, hinged flap and overtopping device. Particularly popular are OWCs and moored floating bodies. The idea of integrating breakwater and wave energy converters emerged in the Indian wave energy program. Graw (1996) discussed this idea and pointed out the advantage of shared costs between the breakwater and the wave energy device. Because long waves are usually experience stronger reflection at coasts and breakwaters, they provide good conditions for the operation wave energy devices which work efficiently when the reflection is high. There are examples that OWC devices have been installed in water as shallow as 3 m. This paper reviews the options of integrating OWCs with different kinds of breakwaters like the perforated or non-perforated caisson breakwater, and non-gravity piled and floating types. The purpose of each of the concepts will also be highlighted.

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Hydrodynamic analysis of U-shaped OWC with varying bottom profiles integrated with Π-breakwater

Muduli,

Karmakar

2024

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part M:

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In the present study, the fixed U-OWC integrated with Π-shaped breakwater is analysed considering three different bottom profiles (straight, inclined, and curved) of the interior chamber of the U-OWC. The hydrodynamic performance is assessed based on the theoretical maximum efficiency, radiation susceptance and conductance, reflection, transmission and dissipation coefficients and force coefficient on the top lip wall of U-OWC and front face of breakwater. The influence of geometric variations such as width of U-channel, draft of U-OWC, draft and width of breakwater and distance between the two structures on the hydrodynamic performance is analysed using Boundary Element Method (BEM). The study depicts that the presence of a wider U-channel width impairs the energy conversion efficiency of the U-OWC and increasing the draft of the U-OWC improves the efficiency of the device. Further, changing the bottom profile of the internal chamber of U-OWC changes the natural frequency of the device without hampering the efficiency. In addition, as the distance between the two structures is increased, transmission of waves decreases. The influence of wave force on the breakwater is noted to be maximum when the leading U-OWC structure has a curved bottom. The study on the variation of the bottom profile of the fixed U-OWC integrated with breakwater will be helpful in the design and analysis of efficient hybrid floating breakwater system.

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WaveRush: A New Concept for a Breakwater Wave Energy Converter

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Wave Energy Convertors

Wave Energy Convertors

Conceptual Design of OWC Wave Energy Converters Combined With Breakwater Structures

Hydrodynamic analysis of U-shaped OWC with varying bottom profiles integrated with Π-breakwater

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