• 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.

• 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 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.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.615-619
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• 2009

This paper is investigated to variation of wave power generation operation rate, operating capacity and output with the wave conditions represented by wave height-period window. By the use of the long-term wave data from 1979 to 2002 which is provided by Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute(KORDI), we calculated the monthly variation of significant wave height(Hs), zero-up crossing period(Tz) and distribution of wave appearance rate. And using the same wave data, it was charted the Hs-Tz and wave-energy scatter diagrams.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2015

This paper proposes a floating-type wave energy conversion system that consists of a mechanical part (yo-yo vibrating system, motion rectifying system, and power transmission system) and electrical part (power generation system). The yo-yo vibrating system, which converts translational input to rotational motion, is modeled as a single degree-of-freedom system. It can amplify the wave input via the resonance phenomenon and enhance the energy conversion efficiency. The electromechanical model is established from impedance matching of the mechanical part to the electrical system. The performance was analyzed at various wave frequencies and damping ratios for a wave input acceleration of 0.14 g. The maximum output occurred at the resonance frequency and optimal load resistance, where the power conversion efficiency and electrical output power reached 48% and 290 W, respectively. Utilizing the resonance phenomenon was found to greatly enhance the performance of the wave energy converter, and there exists a maximum power point at the optimum load resistance.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

In this study, we suggested the wave power generator using horizontal motions of the wave for use in the coastal sea. The length of the horizontal movement of the wave in the vicinity of the sea surface is larger than the length of the vertical reciprocating movement of the wave, hence the proposed device has a wave power transmission plate. In addition, because the motion of the wave is maximum to the sea surface, by arranging the buoyancy tanks at the top of the wave power transmission plate, it is always capable of vertical movement in accordance with the sea surface. To confirm the usefulness of the proposed wave power generator, we constructed a mathematical model of the wave power generator and carried out simulation using bondgraph. Furthermore, the efficiency was verified by measuring the degree of electrical energy production through a preliminary experiment.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

The authors are developing a motion of floater body type wave energy converter of the float-counterweight system. This consists of the driving pulley, wire, float and counterweight suspended from idler pulleys and rachet mechanism. Though it has succeeded in solving the major structural strength problem in which the floats would slam against adjacent structure(s) by wave load acting horizontally. In order to overcome this problem. We propose a new system in which the wire transmitting the power is wound around the pulleys and the float receiving the wave power is pulled by the wire from both its upper and lower ends to avoid the occurrence of slackening during the wave cycle. In the paper, we developed the dynamics model for the proposed system. Energy gain has been calculated for realistic wave conditions and compared with the original float-counterweight device. The important differences from the float-counterweight system are that (1) both upward and downward motions of water surface can be utilized without problem. (2) slackening of energy gain and wire tension are effectively suppressed, and (4) for the same time averaged energy gain, the maximum wire tension is fairly lowered.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.345-357
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• 2011

Recently, as part of diversifying energy sources and earth environmental issues, technology development of new renewable energy using wave energy is actively promoted and commercialized around Europe and Japan etc. In particular, OWC(Oscillating Water Column) wave power generation system using air flow induced by vertical movement of the water surface by waves in an air-chamber within caisson is known as the most efficient wave energy absorption device and therefore, is one of the wave power generation apparatus the closest to commercialization. This study examines air flow velocity, which operates turbine(Wells turbine) directly in oscillating water column type wave power generation structure from two-and three-dimensional numerical experiments and discusses optimal shape of oscillating water column type wave power generation structure by estimating the maximum flow rate of air according to change in shape. The three-dimensional numerical wave flume was applied in interpretation for this study which is the model for the immiscible two-phase flow based on the Navier-Stokes Equation. From this, it turned out that size of optimal shape appears differently according to the incident wave period and air flow is maximized at the period where minimum reflection ratio occurs.

• 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.