• 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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• 2009.11a
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• pp.600-605
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• 2009

A general purpose viscous flow solver Ansys CFX is used to study a Savonius type wave energy converter in a 3D numerical viscous wave tank. This paper presents the results of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the effect of blade configuration on the performance of 3 bladed Savonius rotors for wave energy extraction. A piston-type wave generator was incorporated in the computational domain to generate the desired incident waves. A complete OWC system with a 3-bladed Savonius rotor was modeled in a three dimensional numerical wave tank and the hydrodynamic conversion efficiency was estimated. The flow over the rotors is assumed to be two-dimensional (2D), viscous, turbulent and unsteady. The CFX code is used with a solver of the coupled conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy, with an implicit time scheme and with the adoption of the hexahedral mesh and the moving mesh techniques in areas of moving surfaces. Turbulence is modeled with the k.e model. Simulations were carried out simultaneously for the rotor angle and the helical twist. The results indicate that the developed models are suitable to analyze the water flows both in the chamber and in the turbine. For the turbine, the numerical results of torque were compared for all the cases.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.41-52
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• 1990

Due to the constantly varying sea-state with which any wave energy conversion device must contend in order to extract energy efficiently , the ability to control the device's position relative to the incident waves is critical in achieving the creation of a truly functional and economical wave energy device. In this paper, the authors will propose methodology based on the theory of a variable structure system to utilize a three dimensional source distribution as a model to estimate anticipated surge, sway and yaw of a wave energy conversion device relative to varying angles and characteristics of incident waves and there from derive a feedback to a sliding mode controller which would reposition the device so as to maximize its ability to extract energy from waves in constantly varying ocean conditions.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.15-24
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• 2009

The results of a simulation study of variable liquid column oscillations in U-tanks with a novel control scheme are presented. The configuration under investigation is analogous to that of the tuned liquid-column damper used to suppress oscillatory motion in large structures like tall buildings and cargo ships. However, by virtue of an adequate controller, the response of amplitude of the U-tanks becomes larger in a desired frequency range. The motion of wave energy conversion system equipped with a variable liquid column oscillator is described by a series of nonlinear differential equations. The equations describe the motion of body under ocean wave excitation, and the motion of liquid with an air-spring effect caused by the compression and expansion of air in vertical liquid columns and air chambers. It is shown that the effect of the air-spring has a vital role to maintain the natural frequency of oscillation in the system to synchronize with the frequency of the ocean wave, thus the system provides the most effective mode for energy extraction from the ocean.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.549-552
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• 2002

The objective of this study is to clarify the detailed performances of the impulse type radial turbine and to present an optimum configuration of the turbine. The impulse type radial turbine has been manufactured and investigated experimentally under steady and sinusoidally oscillating flow conditions by model testing. Then, the starting characteristics under sinusoidally flow conditions have been evaluated by a numerical simulation using a quasi-steady analysis. As a result, the running and starting characteristics of the impulse type radial turbine for wave energy conversion have been clarified. Furthermore, the recommended configuration is presented, especially for setting angles of inner and outer guide vanes.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.421-428
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• 2003

The aerodynamic characteristics of the Wells turbine for wave energy conversion have been investigated by the numerical simulation to reproduce hysteretic behaviors. The pressure distributions on the suction surface of the blade were investigated to find out the cause of the hysteretic mechanism. The results have shown that the hysteretic behavior is associated with streamwise vertical flow appearing near the suction surface and become more obvious. as the tip clearance and solidity change. Also it has shown that such phenomena occur due to different behaviors of wakes in the accelerating and decelerating flow process. The CFD analysis shows a good agreement with experimental results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2006

An OWC-type Wave Energy Conversion passes through 3 steps energy conversion process. This paper deal with the internal oscillating flow and effect of shape of air chamber and duct at setting place of turbine by numerical analysis using commercial CFD code, FLUENT. Air chamber and duct in OWC-type wave energy conversion are adopting sudden expanded and contracted form for high-efficiency. So, whole oscillating flow from OWC-type chamber to outlet duct through duct was solved by steady and unsteady analysis in order that flow efficiency of air chamber and duct was made better.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.31 no.1 s.117
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• pp.29-33
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• 2007

An OWC-type Wave Energy Conversion passes through 3 steps energy conversion process. This paper deal with the internal oscillating flow and effect of shape of air chamber and duct at setting place of turbine by numerical analysis using commercial CFD code, FLUENT. Air chamber and duct in OWC-type wave energy conversion are adopting sudden expanded and contracted form for high-efficiency. So, whole oscillating flow from OWC-type chamber to outlet duct through duct was solved by steady and unsteady analysis in order that flow efficiency of air chamber and duct was made better.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.630-634
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• 2007

In the past, the use of wave energy has mainly been focused on conversion of large wave energy resources in the far offshore areas. However, with the technological improvement of converting wave energy into electricity, the energy resources at much shallow waters are now considered as a site for possible installation of the devices that obtain energy from the waves. In this respect, the wave energy resources on the east coast of Korea, where the sea is milder than the open ocean, were investigated using the field measurement data obtained at three different locations along the coast. For all the locations, the wave power was greater in winter season, compared to summer season. The estimated wave power varied from 2 to 4.5 kW/m on average, depending on the measurement locations.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2003

This paper represents the effect of rotor geometry on the performance of a small-scale Wells turbine for wave energy conversion. In this study, four kinds of blade profile were selected from previous studies with regard to the blade profile of the Wells turbine. The experimental investigations have been performed for two solidities by model testing under steady flow conditions, and then the effect of blade profile on the running and starting characteristics under sinusoidal flow conditions have been investigated by a numerical simulation using a quasi-steady analysis. In addition, the effect of sweep on the turbine characteristics has been investigated for the cases of CA9 and HSIM 15-262123-1576. As a result, a suitable choice of these design factors has been suggested.