• 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.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.621-625
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• 2007

Oscillating wave amplitude in a bottom-mounted owe chamber designed for wave energy converter is investigated by applying characteristic wave conditions in Korean coastal water. The effects of shape parameters of OWC chamber in a view of wave energy absorbing capability are analyzed. Both experimental and numerical approaches are adopted and their results are compared to optimize the shape parameters which can result in a maximum power production under given wave distribution. The experiment was carried out in a wave flume under 2-D assumption of OWC chamber. In numerical scheme, the potential problem inside the chamber is solved by use of the Green integral equation associated with the Rankine Green function, while outer problem with the Kelvin Green function taking account of fluctuating air pressure in the chamber. Air duct diameter, chamber width, and submerged depths of front skirt and back wall of chamber changes the magnitude and peak frequency of wave absorption significantly.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.2 s.69
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• pp.22-28
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• 2006

The motion and wave drift forces of floating BBDB (backward-bent duct buoy) wave energy absorbers in regular waves are calculated, taking account of the oscillating surface-pressure due to the pressure drop in the air chamber above the oscillating water column, within the scope of the linear wave theory. A series of model tests has been conducted in order to order to verify the motion and time mean wave drift force reponses in regular waves at the ocean engineering basin, MOERI/KORDI. The pneumatic damping through an orifice-type duct for the BBDB wave energy device are deducted from experimental research. Numerical simulation for motion and drift force responses of the BBDB wave energy device, considering pneumatic damping coefficients, has been carried out, and the results are compared with those of model tests.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.597-601
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• 2013

Recently, many studies about the wave power generation system for the marine structure as the hybrid form in linked with the original features have been made of. Of these, the wave power generation system using oscillating water column(OWC) has function to convert wave energy to electrical energy with original function of the break water structure. In this type of generation system, it is important to make the flow of sea water as much as possible without loss. Output characteristics of wave power generation system depending on entrance section were described in the paper. Also, flow quantity changing with entrance section, velocity of sea water and output of wells turbine were measured by simulating OWC wells turbine model in break water, one of the general marine structure. Finally, entrance section was suggested to enhance the energy conversion efficiency based on the results of simulation.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.27-31
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• 2013

The structure of a variable liquid column oscillator(VLCO) is analogous to that of the tuned liquid column damper used to suppress oscillatory motion in large structures like tall buildings and cargo ships. The VLCO is a system for absorbing the high kinetic energy of the accelerated motions of multiple floating bodies using an air-spring effect produced the installation of inner air chambers. Thus, a VLCO can improve the energy efficiency of the activating object type of wave energy converters made by the Pelamis Company. In this research, an experiment was performed in two cases: with the top valves closed and open. The floating bodies were connected by hinges. The effect of the internal flow was estimated by comparing the results for the closed and open valves.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2010

The water elevation inside the air chamber and bi-directional air flow in the duct of Oscillating Water Column wave energy converter is one of the most important factors to evaluate the operating performance. The numerical wave tank based on the commercial software Fluent 6.2 in the present paper is employed to generate the incident waves. The numerical wave tank consists of the continuity equations, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the two-phase VOF function. The oscillating amplitude of water column in the chamber and bi-directional air flow in the duct installed on the top of the chamber are calculated, and compared with experimental data to verify the validation of the present NWT. The nozzle effects of the chamber-duct system on the relative amplitudes of the inner free water surface and air flow rate in the duct are investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2012

Oscillating water column is the most widely used ocean energy converting systems all over the world. The operating performance is influenced by the efficiencies of the two converting stages in the OWC chamber-turbine integrated system. In order to consider the effects of the turbine, the orifice model are carried out. The VOF based Numerical Wave Tank (NWT) is utilized to simulate the water column oscillation inside the chamber and the results are compared with corresponding experimental data. This paper reviews the state of the art in interaction among wave elevation inside the chamber and air flow rate in the duct, which are considered the turbine effects. Effects of incident wave conditions and several shape parameters on the operating performance of OWC chamber are investigated numerically. The effects of the impulse turbine on the integrated system and interaction among the wave elevation, pressure and air flow velocities variations are investigated.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.53-58
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• 2012

An experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of a backward bent duct buoy (BBDB) was performed in a 2D wave tank. The BBDB is one of the promising oscillating water column (OWC) types of floating wave energy converters. Two different corner-shaped BBDBs (sharp-corner and round-corner) were used to measure the maximum chamber surface elevations and body motions for various incident wave conditions, and their hydrodynamic characteristics were compared. In order to investigate the effect of the pneumatic pressure inside the chamber, the heave and pitch angle interacted with elevations were compared for both open chamber and partially open chamber BBDBs. From the comparison study, the deviation in the chamber surface elevations between the two shapes of BBDBs was found to be significant near the resonance period, which may be explained by viscous energy loss. It was also found that the pneumatic pressure noticeably affected the chamber surface elevation and body motions.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.31-38
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• 1991

Due to the structural complexity and the mutual interference of "water columns", the estimations of absorption power for a large wave energy conversion devices of flosting type in ocean could not achieve the desired results. Thus, in this paper the authors will propose a new methodology based on the three dimensional source ditribution method. We distributed the source to the device and the thin & light plate in "water column", And from the behaviour of this plated, the power and the pressure in water column are calculated. But, yet method should be proved to be valid by experiment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2011

Recently, many studies have been attempted to save the cost of production and to build the ocean energy power generating system. The low-reflection structure with the wall-typed curtain which has a wave power generation system of OWC is known as the most effective energy conversion system. A three-dimensional numerical model was used to understand the characteristics of velocity of flows about compressed air and to estimate the pressure acting on the low-reflection structure due to the short-period waves. The three-dimensional numerical wave flume which is the model for the immiscible two-phase flow was applied in interpretation for this. The numerical simulation showed well about the changes in velocity of compressed air and the characteristics of pressure according to the change in the wave height and depth of the curtain wall. Additionally, the results found that there was the point of the maximum velocity of the compressed air when the reflection coefficient is at its lowest point.