A RANS-VoF numerical model to analyze the output power of an OWC-WEC equipped with wells and impulse turbines in a hypothetical sea-state

Abstract

Wave energy is a renewable source with significant amount in relation to the global demand. A good concept of a device applied to extract this type of energy is the onshore oscillating water column wave energy converter (OWC-WEC). This study shows a numerical analysis of the diameter determination of two types of turbines, Wells and Impulse, installed in an onshore OWC device subjected to a hypothetical sea state. Commercial software FLUENT, which is based on RANS-VoF (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations and Volume of Fluid technique), is employed. A methodology that imposes air pressure on the chamber, considering the air compressibility effect, is used. The mathematical domain consists of a 10 m deep flume with a 10 m long and 10 m wide OWC chamber at its end (geometry is similar to that of the Pico’s plant installed in Azores islands, Portugal). On the top of the chamber, a turbine works with air exhalation and inhalation induced by the water free surface which oscillates due to the incident wave. The hypothetical sea state, represented by a group of regular waves with periods from 6 to 12 s and heights from 1.00 to 2.00 m (each wave with an occurrence frequency), is considered to show the potential of the presented methodology. Maximum efficiency (relation between the average output and incident wave powers) of 46% was obtained by using a Wells turbine with diameter of 2.25 m, whereas efficiency was 44% by an Impulse turbine with diameter of 1.70 m.