Study on Shape Geometry of Floating Oscillating Water  Column Wave Energy Converter for Low Heave Wave  Condition

Muhamad Jalani Aiman; Nur Izzati Ismail; Mohd Rashdan Saad; Yasutaka Imai; Shuichi Nagata; Mohd Kamarul Huda Samion; Ernie Abd Manan; Mohd Rosdzimin Abdul Rahman

Authors

Muhamad Jalani Aiman Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sg. Besi, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nur Izzati Ismail Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sg. Besi, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mohd Rashdan Saad Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sg. Besi, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Yasutaka Imai Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University, Japan
Shuichi Nagata Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University, Japan
Mohd Kamarul Huda Samion Hydraulic and Instrumentation Laboratory, National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Malaysia
Ernie Abd Manan Hydraulic and Instrumentation Laboratory, National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Malaysia
Mohd Rosdzimin Abdul Rahman Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sg. Besi, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Keywords:

Wave energy converter, shape optimization, floating OWC, BBDB, primary conversion efficiency

Abstract

The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) is one of the most promising Wave Energy Converter (WEC) concepts in terms of practicality, survivability, and efficiency. One of the potential OWC types is the Backward Bent Duct Buoy (BBDB). The objective of this research is to investigate the performance of different BBDB shapes in low heave wave conditions. Three different bottom corner shapes were chosen for the experiments in a 3D wave basin. Wave height of 0.15m with period of 1s to 5s were used in regular wave conditions. Results show that different BBDB bottom corner shapes produce different pneumatic output characteristics. It was found that the highest primary conversion efficiency of the BBDB was produced by the BBDB with a round bottom corner shape with an efficiency of 1.47 follow by BBDB with a square bottom corner shape with an efficiency of 1.24 and BBDB with 45o bottom corner shape with the efficiency of 0.86. Thus, the round bottom corner shape is proposed to be the most efficient shape in low wave heave wave conditions.