• Journal of Advanced Research in Ocean Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.66-77
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• 2018

This paper presents a parametric study on an oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC). This OWC has been planned for installation in the breakwaters on isolated islands located away from the mainland. Both a numerical analysis and a model experiment are utilized for determining a proper conceptual design for this purpose. Various design parameters, including the configurations and dimensions, are evaluated through the numerical analysis, which is based on a potential flow theory, and several design concepts are then selected as candidates. The model experiment using a 2D wave flume is conducted to evaluate the effects of the design parameters and compare the performances of the candidates. Based on the overall results of the numerical analysis and model experiment, a conceptual design of the OWC WEC applicable to a breakwater is selected.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.317-321
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• 2015

Many kinds of generation systems have been developed to use ocean energy. Among these, with the use of an oscillating water column (OWC) for power generation is attracting attention. The OWC-type wave power generation system converts wave energy into electricity by operating a generator turbine with the oscillating water level in a column of water. There are two ways to convert wave power into electricity using an OWC. One uses a cross-flow turbine using the water level inside the OWC. The other method uses the flow of air in a Wells turbine, which depends on the water level. An experiment was carried out using a 2-D wave tank in order to minimize the number of empirical tests. The design factors were taken from Koo et al. (2012) and the experimental environment assumed by free surface motion. This paper deals with characteristics of two types of wave energy conversion systems combine with a breakwater. One model uses an air-driven Wells turbine and a cross-flow water turbine. The other type uses a cross-flow water turbine. Wave energy converters with OWCs have mostly been studied using air-driven Wells turbines. The efficiency of the cross-flow turbine was about 15% higher than that of the other model, and the water level of the OWC internal chamber for the cross-flow water turbine and air-driven Wells turbine was less than about 40% lower than the one using only the cross-flow water turbine.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.470-475
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• 2019

This paper deals with a 30kW grid-connected PCS (Power Conversion System) for an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave-power generation system. Wave power generation in marine energy is suitable for Korea with the characteristics of a peninsula with three sides facing the sea. In the case of coastal disasters, wave generators can act as a breakwater to reduce damage, and can be integrated with other marine power generation systems to increase efficiency. Wave power generation systems are classified into various types, such as oscillating bodies, OWC, and overtopping according to the operation principle, and they can also be classified into two types according to the installation method: a fixed structure and floating structure. This paper proposes a 30kW grid-connected PCS topology and model for OWC wave power generation that is structurally stable with a turbine and generator that are relatively easy to maintain, and then provide a control method required for grid connection, including DC link voltage control. Simulation verification was performed to verify the proposed PCS.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.138-144
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• 2004

Pneumatic damping through a orifice type duct for OWC type wave energy device is studied experimentally. Forced oscillation tests are made to measure chamber pressure and velocity of air flaw through orifice. Pneumatic damping coefficient are deducted from the experimental research, and discussion are made far the influence of frequency, heave amplitude, and orifice size. Finally two formula are proposed for the estimation of non-dimensional pneumatic damping coefficient by regression analysis. The proposed formula proves to be a reliable method far practical application.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2012

A time-domain simulation of a land-based Oscillating Water Column (OWC) with various irregular waves as a form of PM spectrum is performed by using a two-dimensional fully nonlinear numerical wave tank (NWT) based on the potential theory, mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian (MEL) approach, and boundary element method. The nonlinear free-surface condition inside the OWC chamber was specially devised to describe both the pneumatic effect of the time-varying pressure and the viscous energy loss due to water column motions. The quadratic models for pneumatic pressure and viscous loss are applied to the air and free surface inside the chamber, and their numerical results are compared with those with equivalent linear ones. Various wave spectra are applied to the OWC system to predict the efficiency of wave-energy take-off for various wave conditions. The cases of regular and irregular waves are also compared.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 2005

The effect of frequency and amplitude of the OWC (Oscillating Water Column) motion on the nonlinear reaction forces in an air duct are studied experimentally. Experimental owe model is idealized as a simple circular cylinder with an orifice type air duct located at the middle oj the top rid. Reaction forces due to forced heave oscillation are measured and analyzed. By subtracting the effect of inertia forces and restoring forces, pneumatic damping force and added spring force are deduced. The effects of the frequency and amplitude of the heave motion are discussed. Also, the effects of solidity of the duct on the reaction forces are discussed.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.4 s.71
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

A numerical analysis is made to investigate the wave absorption efficiency of a OWC-type wave power generator. Energy absorption by an OWC(Oscillating Water Column) air-chamber is computed in regular waves, taking account of the oscillating surface-pressure, due to pressure drop, across the duct of the air chamber. The problem is formulated in the scope of potential theory and solved by the Localized Finite Element Method(LFEM), based on the classical variational principle. The efficiency of energy absorption is investigated by. changing wave conditions, sea-bottom slope and pressure drop coefficient.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.202-205
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• 2002

The motion of a floating body with multiple owe chambers in waves is studied taking account of fluctuating air pressure in the chambers. The atmospheric pressure drop in one chamber is interrelated with the drop in the other chamber. Velocity potential in the water due to the free surface oscillating pressure patches is calculated by making use of the hybrid Green integral equation. The chamber motion in the frequency domain is calculated for various values of parameters related to the atmospheric pressure drop in the multiple chambers.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.4 s.59
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• pp.8-14
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• 2004

Pneumatic damping through an orifice-type duct for an OWC-type wave energy device is studied experimentally. Forced oscillation tests are used to measure chamber pressure and velocity of air-flow through an orifice. Pneumatic damping coefficients are deducted from the experimental research, and the influence of frequency, heave amplitude, and orifice size are discussed. Finally, two formulas are proposed for the estimation of non-dimensional pneumatic damping coefficient by regression analysis. The proposed formula proves to be a reliable method for practical application.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Recently Oscillating Water Column (OWC) plants have been widely employed in wave energy conversion applications. It is necessary to investigate the chamber and optimize its shape parameters for maximizing air flow and energy conversion due to wave conditions. A 2D numerical wave tank based on a Fluent and VOF model is developed to generate the incident waves and is validated by theoretical solutions. The oscillating water column motion in the chamber predicted by the numerical method is compared with the available experimental data. Several geometric scales of the chamber are calculated to investigate the effect of the shape parameters on the oscillating water column motion and wave energy conversion.