• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2018

In order to evaluate the performance of the floating wave power, which is an axisymmetric oscillating water column type, linearized free surface boundary condition considering the influence of PTO (power takeoff) was derived and a finite element numerical model was established. Numerical experiments were carried out by varying cylinder length, skirt length, and depth of water, which are design parameters that can change the resonance of water column in cylinder and heave resonance of the float, which is considered to affect the power generation efficiency. Finally, the basic data necessary for the optimum design of the power generation system were obtained. As a result, the efficiency of the power generation system is dominated by the heave motion resonance of the float rather than the water column resonance in the cylinder, and the resonance condition for the heave motion can be changed efficiently by attaching the skirt to the outside of the buoy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.123-124
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• 2007

파력발전은 파랑에너지를 이용하여 유용한 에너지를 얻어내는 것인데, 본 논문에서는 그 가운데 진동수주 (Oscillating Water Column)형을 연구 대상으로 취하였다. 이는 외해에서의 파랑에너지를 공기실에 유입 집중시켜 공기실 내 수면의 승강운동을 증폭시키고 이로 인해 발생한 공기실 내의 공기 흐름을 터빈의 구동력으로 사용하는 것을 말한다. 적지 선정과정에서 채택된 곳의 설계파고를 바탕으로 원하는 정격출력인 500kW를 얻어낼 수 있도록 유량과 임펄스 터빈의 최적 직경을 산출하고자 하였는데 개념설계된 파력발전장치의 덕트가 쌍동형 형태를 취하고 있으므로 한 터빈당 250kW급을 목표 발전용량으로 하였다. 지난 연구를 통해서 기 작성된 터빈 성능도표를 활용하여, 본 연구에서는 1차적으로 임펄스 터빈의 개략적인 직경 및 유량을 구하고, 터빈의 자기 기동 특성을 고려하여 최종적인 형상을 구체적으로 도출하였다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.225-243
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• 2014

As the economic matters are involved, applying the WEC, which is used for controlling waves as well as utilizing the wave energy on existing breakwater, is preferred rather than installing exclusive WEC. This study examines the OWC mounted on a pressurized air chamber floating breakwater regarding the functionality of both breakwater and wave-power generation. In order to verify the performance as a WEC, the velocity of air flow from pressurized air chamber to WEC has to be evaluated properly. Therefore, numerical simulation was implemented based on BEM from linear velocity potential theory as well as Boyle's law with the state equation to analyze pressurized air flow. The validity of the obtained values can be determined by comparing the previous results from numerical analysis and empirically obtained values of different shapes. In the actual numerical analysis, properties of wave deformation around OWC system mounted on fixed type and floating type breakwaters, motions of the structure with air flow velocities are investigated. Since, the wind power generating system can be hybridized on the structure, it is expected to be applied on complex power generation system which generates both wind and wave power energy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.305-314
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• 2017

Ocean wave energy harvesting is still too expensive despite developing a variety of wave energy converter (WEC) devices. For the cost-effective wave energy harvesting, it can be an effective measure to use existing breakwaters or newly installed breakwaters for both wave control and energy harvesting purposes. In this study, we investigated the functionality of both breakwater and wave-power generator for the oscillating water column (OWC)-type wave energy converter (WEC) installed in a pneumatic floating breakwater, which was originally developed as a floating breakwater. In order to verify the performance of the breakwater as a WEC, the air flow velocity from air-chamber to WEC has to be evaluated properly. Therefore, air flow velocity, wave transformation and motion of floating structure was numerically implemented based on BEM from linear velocity potential theory without considering the compressibility of air within the chamber. Air pressure, meanwhile, was assumed to be fluctuated by the motions of structure and the water level change within air-chamber. The validity of the obtained values can be determined by comparing the previous results from the numerical analysis for different shapes. Based on numerical model results, wave transformation characteristics around OWC system mounted on the fixed and floating breakwaters, and motions of the structure with air flow velocities are investigated. In summary, all numerical results are almost identical to the previous research considering air compressibility. Therefore, it can be concluded that this analysis not considering air compressibility in the air chamber is more efficient and practical method.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.465-468
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• 2006

The wave power absorbing performance of a bottom-mounted oscillating water column (OWC) chamber structure is studied. The potential problem inside the chamber is solved by making use of the Green integral equation associated with the Rankine Green function while the outer problem with the Kelvin Green function taking account of fluctuating air pressure in the air chamber. The absorbed wave power, wave elevation inside the chamber, reflection coefficient and wave loads are calculated for various values of a parameter related to the fluctuating air pressure. The present methods can also be used for the design of a OWC breakwater which can absorb and reflect the incoming wave energy at the same time.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.388-397
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• 2010

A two-dimensional time-domain, potential-theory-based fully nonlinear numerical wave tank (NWT) was developed by using boundary element method and the mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian (MEL) approach for free-surface node treatment. The NWT was applied to prediction of primary wave energy conversion efficiency of a bottom-mounted oscillating water column (OWC) wave power device. The nonlinear free-surface condition inside the chamber was specially devised to represent the pneumatic pressure due to airflow velocity and viscous energy loss at the chamber entrance due to wave column motion. The newly developed NWT technique was verified through comparison with given experimental results. The maximum energy extraction was estimated with various chamber-air duct volume ratios.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.242-252
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• 2018

It is well known that an Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter (OWC-WEC) is one of the most efficient wave absorber equipment. This device transforms the vertical motion of water column in the air chamber into the air flow velocity and produces electricity from the driving force of turbine as represented by the Wells turbine. Therefore, in order to obtain high electric energy, it is necessary to amplify the water surface vibration by inducing resonance of the piston mode in the water surface fluctuation in the air chamber. In this study, a new type of OWC-WEC with a seawater channel is used, and the wave deformation by the structure, water surface fluctuation in the air chamber, air outflow velocity from the nozzle and seawater flow velocity in the seawater channel are evaluated by numerical analysis in detail. The numerical analysis model uses open CFD code OLAFLOW model based on multi-phase analysis technique of Navier-Stokes solver. To validate model, numerical results and existing experimental results are compared and discussed. It is revealed within the scope of this study that the air flow velocity at nozzle increases as the Ursell number becomes larger, and the air velocity that flows out from the inside of the air chamber is larger than the velocity of incoming air into the air chamber.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.845-852
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• 2007

An OWC-type Wave Energy Conversion passes through 3 steps energy conversion process. This paper deal with the impulse turbine with staggered blade to improved performance by numerical analysis using commercial CFD code, FLUENT Maximum value of axial airflow velocity during exhalation is higher than that during inhalation This paper deal with special-type of Impulse Turbine so-called "Staggered Blade" for more efficiency to making air flow direct to on pressure side. Also, this paper has proposed special-type turbine with self-pitched blade more efficient.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2014

In an oscillating water column (OWC)-type wave energy conversion system, the performance of the OWC chamber depends on the chamber shape, as well as the incident wave direction and pressure drop produced by the turbine. Although the previous studies on OWC chambers have focused on wave absorbing performance in ideal operating conditions, incident waves do not always arrive normally to the OWC chamber in real sea conditions, especially in fixed devices. The present study deals with experiments and numerical calculations to investigate the effects of wave direction on the performance of the OWC chamber. The experiments were carried out in a three-dimensional wave basin for five different wave directions, including the effect of turbine using the corresponding orifice. The wave elevation inside the chamber was measured at the center point under various incident wave conditions. The numerical study was conducted by using a numerical wave tank-based volume-of-fluid model to compare the results with experimental data and to reveal the detailed flows around the chamber.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.318-328
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• 1991

The present paper describes the experimental study on the fixed-type wave-energy conversion system, consisting of the OWC-type wave-energy absorbing chamber and the duct for the air turbine. For simplicity, a screen of wire mesh was employed in place of an air turbine in order to simulate its effects on OWC chamber. Experiments were performed at the towing tank in regular waves with the frequency range of 0.22-0.75Hz. Comparison wish the numerical prediction using a potential flow-based method [4] was made to validate the capability of numerical code. It was shown that the agreements between measured and calculated results are quite good, giving a confidence in prediction method. Simulation of air turbine using a wire-mesh screen was successful, at least in a qualitative sense, to investigate the inter action between the OWC chamber and an air turbine. Results also showed that the effects of a wire-mesh screen on chamber efficiency are negligible, and the present model can be effectively utilized for the practical use in ocean waves with the frequency range under 0.3Hz.