前板可旋转的双垂板结构水动力特性的理论研究

振荡水柱波能转换装置的最大转换效率往往受到腔内水柱共振机制的直接影响。通过对装置的基本结构进行简化,提出了一种前墙可绕固定轴旋转的双垂板式结构系统,旨在通过前墙的旋转运动进一步加剧水柱的振荡,从而对腔内水柱的共振机制进行调节和控制。基于线性波理论,采用匹配特征函数展开法对波浪与双垂板结构的相互作用进行理论研究,针对流场在结构物尖角附近的奇异性特征,将公共界面上的速度分布基于切比雪夫多项式近似展开,并应用区域间的速度与压力连续条件进行求解。通过分析结构的几何参数对反射透射系数、平均波面高程、前墙旋转振幅以及前墙与水面间相位差的影响,深究其共振机理,为振荡水柱波能转换装置的效率优化机制提供理论依据。结果表明,在所研究的波浪频率范围内,前墙的自由旋转运动会加剧板间的平均波面高程,应用于波浪能转换装置中能进一步拓宽高效频率带宽。     

基于介电弹性体的漂浮式振荡水柱发电分析

为解决海洋监测微型传感器供能问题,设计新型波浪能捕获装置,在海面振荡浮筒气室产生空气气柱,驱动介电弹性体形变发电为传感器供能。建立振荡浮子式气柱数值模型,研究新型振荡水柱发电计算理论。利用水动力仿真软件AQWA求解浮子所受波浪力作用振荡幅值、辐射阻尼和附加质量。基于Simulink软件分别计算波浪作用下浮子位移和气室内水柱位移,根据两者的位移差计算气室体积变化所产生的空气压强、介电弹性体发电薄膜形变量和系统输出电能,单次循环周期最大发电量达到24.6 mJ。分析波浪周期、发电薄膜几何参数等对输出电能的影响。     

Numerical study of the motions and drift force of a floating OWC device

The motion and the drift force of a floating OWC (oscillating water column) wave energy device in regular waves are studied taking account of the oscillating surface-pressure due to the pressure drop across the duct of the air chamber. The potential problem inside the chamber is formulated by making use of the Green integral equation associated with the Rankine-type Green function while the outer problem with the Kelvin-type Green function. The added mass, wave damping and excitation coefficients as well as the motion and drift force of the OWC device are calculated for various values of parameter related to the pressure drop.     

半球形多向波聚合波道振荡水柱气室优化设计

为了解决振动水柱式波浪能转换装置收集多向波浪问题,本文设计了半球形多向聚合波道振荡水柱气室结构,以适合远海单点波浪能采集和发电。在规则波正向入射条件下,基于流体仿真分析软件(FLUENT)、流体动力学连续性假设和粘性不可压缩流体动量守恒的运动方程(Navier-Stokes方程)建立半球形振荡气室和三维数值波浪水槽模型。仿真结果表明:增设气室后壁,合理设计波道开口角度实现多向迎波捕获波浪能,优化前壁形状可降低波浪触底反射带来的能量耗散,同时提高了气室内空气压强和出气口速度,有效提升波浪能俘获效率,为后续发电的二次能量转换提供高效的空气动力。     

Experimental study of the hydrodynamic performance of an onshore wave power device in the presence of an underwater mound

The hydrodynamic functioning of an oscillating water column (OWC) in the presence of an underwater tri-dimensional mound (UTDM) through large-scale ocean engineering basin experiments is described. Experiments are carried out with both regular and irregular waves and are compared to numerical models. The analysis is based on the measurements of the wave amplification in the water column for the OWC performance and on surface deformation upwave and over the UTDM for the wave transformation due to both UTDM and OWC. A significant increase of the capture-width ratio due to wave focusing above the mound is observed experimentally. This wave focusing is also well described numerically with a refraction–diffraction model. The wave amplification in the water column for both regular and irregular waves is compared to results from a linear potential model based on an integral matching method. Linear behaviour of the hydrodynamic response of the device is verified for both open and partially closed conditions, in particular for irregular waves.     

Experimental investigation on the dynamic response of a moored wave energy device under regular sea waves

This paper attempts to provide a better understanding of the hydrodynamic behaviour of a floating multi-resonant oscillating column wave energy device which combines the concept of a floating breakwater and a wave energy device. Experiments were conducted on a 1:20 scale model of the floating wave energy device moored by six mooring lines to study the dynamics of the device under regular waves for various scopes. The effect of non-dimensionalized wave frequency parameter on the motion response and mooring force are reported and discussed in detail in this paper.     

Analytical and experimental investigation on the hydrodynamic performance of onshore wave-power devices

The hydrodynamic performance of the oscillating water column type shoreline-mounted wave-power device is numerically studied within linear wave theory by using a boundary element method based on the Wehausen and Laitone 3D shallow water Green's function. In order to verify the numerical model, a 1:12 physical model with different bottom slopes was constructed and tested in a wave basin under regular wave conditions. The effects of the bottom slope on the hydrodynamic performance are investigated by both analytical and experimental methods.     

Hydrodynamic simulation of a floating wave energy converter by a U-tube rig for power take-off testing

Floating oscillating-bodies constitute an important class of offshore wave energy converters. The testing of their power take-off equipment (PTO) (high-pressure hydraulics, linear electrical generator or other) under realistically simulated sea conditions is usually regarded as a major task. A laboratory rig, consisting of a U-tube enclosing an oscillating column of water driven by a time-varying air-pressure, was devised to simulate the hydrodynamics of an oscillating buoy absorbing energy from sea waves, especially the inertia and the resonant frequency of the oscillating body. The PTO force is applied (by means of a piston) on one of the ends of the U-tube oscillating water column, whereas the other end is subject to a controlled time-varying air pressure. This is found to provide a reasonably realistic way of testing the PTO system (including its control) at an adequate scale (say about 1:5 to 1:4), which would avoid the use of a much more expensive experimental facility (very large wave tank) or testing in real wind-generated sea-waves. The matching conditions that the U-tube geometry and the driving time-varying air pressure must meet to ensure an adequate simulation are derived. These conditions leave some freedom to the U-tube rig designer and operator, allowing practical and engineering issues to be taken into account.     

非对称垂荡式振荡水柱波能转换装置的水动力性能

为提升波能转换装置的经济竞争力,针对非对称垂荡式振荡水柱（OWC）波能转换装置,基于势流理论和匹配特征函数展开法,通过引入盖根堡多项式近似表征结构尖角附近的流场奇异性行为,深入研究后墙吃水深度（非对称）、墙体厚度和线性弹簧系数对垂荡式OWC装置的波能转换效率、透射系数、气室内平均液面高程等水动力参数的影响规律。研究结果显示,后墙吃水深度及墙体厚度的增加会提升装置在长波区域的高效转换能力,并且显著提高结构物整体阻波防浪性能;线性弹簧的出现,能调节水柱振荡和结构垂荡运动响应之间的相位差,从而有效拓宽垂荡式OWC装置的高效频率带。     

An experimental investigation into the wave power extraction of a floating box-type breakwater with dual pneumatic chambers

The oscillating water column (OWC) device is in a leading position for wave power extraction but has not achieved fully commercial at the current stage. In addition to enhancing the OWC performance, installing OWCs on floating breakwaters, which owns the merits of both cost-sharing and offshore power supply, is a practicality with high economic viability. In this study, a series of wave-flume experiments were conducted in regular waves to examine the wave power extraction of a floating box-type breakwater with dual pneumatic chambers. The flow characteristics of the orifices used to simulate the PTOs was pre-calibrated through another series of experiments, so the power extraction in this study can be obtained with only the pressure measurement. The effects of wave period, chamber draft, water depth and arrangement of chambers on the power extraction were examined. Our experimental results showed that the power extraction was mainly due to the water column oscillation inside the chamber, and differentiation in the designed natural periods of dual chambers could widen the efficiency bandwidth of power extraction. The front chamber always played the main role in power extraction and its natural period should be designed against the dominating period of the wave spectrum; in contrast, the power extraction of the rear chamber was only a supplement and its natural period should be designed against longer waves which were more easily transmitted, thus a PTO of small power capacity maybe more realistic. It was also worth noting that the water column oscillation was more dependent on the wave period rather than controlled by the wave scattering under different water depths.     

波浪能振荡浮子转换方式实验装置的研究与设计

针对阵列式振荡浮子波浪能转换设备,提出一种在实验室进行测试研究的实验装置。该实验装置由一组阵列柱形水槽组成,水槽液面在水动力系统的驱动下,按照计算机设定的函数做升降运动;对该装置模型——柱形阵列水槽的假设,依据波浪理论进行了论证;对装置的工作原理、结构设计、技术参数、控制电路和操作运行等做了较详细的说明;对实验装置实际运行和测试情况做了介绍。结果表明:该实验装置设计合理可行,模拟波浪高度,远高于现有的造波水池,构成了一种专用的模拟造波装置;该装置为不同形式振荡浮子式波浪能转换设备的研制提供了一种多功能、大振幅、高效灵活的实验平台。     

Wave-power absorption by a periodic linear array of oscillating water columns

This paper describes a theoretical analysis of the ocean wave energy absorption by a periodic linear array of oscillating water columns (OWCs) of arbitrary planform. The analysis is based on classical linear water wave theory and uses the expressions for the wave field resulting from time-harmonic pressure distributions on the free surface. The water depth is assumed finite and constant. The cases of oblique and normal incidence are analysed. A linear power take-off mechanism is assumed, but a complex characteristic constant (allowing for phase control) and air compressibility are considered. Special analytical expressions are derived for OWCs of rectangular and circular planforms. Numerical results for circular chambers show that the hydrodynamic interaction can substantially change the maximum energy absorption, depending on array and chamber geometry and on angle of incidence.     

Experimental and theoretical study of a cylindrical oscillating water column device with a quadratic power take-off model

The wave power extraction by a cylindrical oscillating water column (OWC) device with a quadratic power take-off (PTO) model was studied experimentally and theoretically. In the experiment, a scaled model OWC was tested in a wave flume, with an orifice being used to simulate a quadratic PTO mechanism. In the theoretical analysis, the quadratic PTO model was linearized based on Lorenz's principle of equivalent work, which allows us to perform a frequency domain analysis using an eigen-function matching method. The effects of higher harmonic components and the spatial non-uniformity of the surface velocity inside the chamber were discussed. A semi-analytical model was proposed to understand the viscous loss affecting the measured capture length. Our treatment of the quadratic PTO model was validated by comparing quasi-linear theoretical capture length and the laboratory measurement. Our results also showed that the effects of spatial non-uniformity and viscous loss could be noticeable for shorter waves.     

Numerical modeling of a wave energy converter based on U-shaped interior oscillating water column

The paper presents a concept of a wave energy converter and the numerical model to calculate the hydrodynamic responses in waves and the power produced by the power take off system. The system consists of an asymmetric floater with an interior U-tank partially filled with water and two lateral air chambers connected by a duct. The motion of the U-shaped oscillating water column, mainly induced by the rolling of the floater, forces the air through the duct where a Wells turbine is installed to absorb the wave energy.The wave-floater hydrodynamics is calculated with a Green's function panel method, while the oscillating water column motions hydro-mechanics are derived from the one-dimensional Euler's equation. The dynamics of the Wells turbine is realistically represented by one additional differential equation on the unknown air pressure fluctuation. This equation is derived assuming small amplitude motions of the water column and assuming the linear isentropic relation is valid for the air thermodynamics in the air chambers. The Wells turbine is characterized by a drastic drop of efficiency above a critical pressure value due to stalling on the blades. The effect of a by-pass valve to prevent stalling is introduced in the numerical model in a simplistic way. The numerical model is implemented and tested for a wave energy converter with a displacement of 1150 t, including 490 t for the interior water column, and an installed turbine with 2.3 m of diameter. An analysis of the influence of changing different design parameters on the system efficiency is also presented.     

Natural frequencies of vertical cylindrical oscillating water column devices

This paper deals with the evaluation of the natural frequencies in heave motion of a single floating Oscillating Water Column device along with the natural frequencies of the water column inside the oscillating chamber. Two types of OWCs are examined, a simple-type device, consisting of a partially immersed toroidal body and a novel-type device, consisting also of a partially immersed toroidal body supplemented however by a coaxial interior truncated cylinder moving in phase with the outer chamber, thus forming a floating unit. Numerical results are given concerning the three boundary value problems, namely, the diffraction, the motion- and the pressure- dependent radiation problems, obtained through an analytical solution method using matched axisymmetric eigenfunction expansion formulations. The effect of the air pressure distribution inside the oscillating chamber on the natural frequencies in heave motion of the two examined types of OWCs and on the natural frequency of the water column motion inside the chamber, is presented and discussed thoroughly. It is demonstrated that the heave natural frequencies are strongly dependent on the type of the examined OWC and the device’s inner air pressure and should be taken into consideration when designing a floating OWC device.     

Simulation of wave power devices

Classical frequency and time domain models of a single degree of freedom wave power device are presented. In the time domain, a convolution integral is conventionally used to represent the fluid dynamic radiation force, characterised by added mass and damping in the frequency domain. This integral is replaced by an approximate ordinary differential equation (ODE) model which is faster and more convenient in simulations. A time domain model of the fluid dynamics of an oscillating water column (OWC) device is derived to illustrate the technique. Digital simulations of the OWC are used to compare the accuracy of the classical and ODE models. The simulation of the ODE model runs about six times as fast as the classical model based on convolution, yet characterises the fluid dynamics accurately.     

On the tuning of a wave-energy driven oscillating-water-column seawater pump to polychromatic waves

Performance of wave-energy devices of the oscillating water column (OWC) type is greatly enhanced when a resonant condition with the forcing waves is maintained. The natural frequency of such systems can in general be tuned to resonate with a given wave forcing frequency. In this paper we address the tuning of an OWC sea-water pump to polychromatic waves. We report results of wave tank experiments, which were conducted with a scale model of the pump. Also, a numerical solution for the pump equations, which were proven in previous work to successfully describe its behavior when driven by monochromatic waves, is tested with various polychromatic wave spectra. Results of the numerical model forced by the wave trains measured in the wave tank experiments are used to develop a tuning criterion for the sea-water pump.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of non-predictive phase-control strategies for a point-absorbing wave energy converter

Phase control may substantially increase the power absorption in point-absorber wave energy converters. This study deals with validation of dynamic models and latching control algorithms for an oscillating water column (OWC) inside a fixed vertical tube of small circular cross-section by small-scale testing. The paper describes experimental and numerical results for the system's dynamics, using simple and practical latching control techniques that do not require the prediction of waves or wave forces, and which will be relevant to any type of point-absorbing devices.In the experimental set-up, the upper end of the tube was equipped with an outlet duct and a shut-off valve, which could be controlled to give a latching of the inner free surface movement. The pressure drop through the open valve is used as a simplified measure of the energy extraction. The control was realized by using the real-time measurement signals for the inner and outer surface displacement.A mathematical model of the system was established and applied in numerical simulation. In the case the OWC's diameter is much smaller than the wavelength and the wave amplitude much smaller than the draft, the free surface movement inside the tube can be described as an oscillating weightless piston. For this hydrodynamic problem an analytical solution is known. In addition, the mathematical model includes the effects of viscous flow losses, the air compressibility inside the chamber and the pressure drop across the valve. Experimental results were used to calibrate some of the model parameters, and the total model was formulated as a coupled system of six non-linear, first-order differential equations. Time-domain integration was used to simulate the system in order to test the control strategies and compare with experimental results.     

Investigations on 3D effects and correlation between wave height and lip submergence of an offshore stationary OWC wave energy converter

Understanding the hydrodynamic interactions between ocean waves and the oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter is crucial for improving the device performance. Most previous relevant studies have focused on testing onshore and offshore OWCs using 2D models and wave flumes. Conversely, this paper provides experimental results for a 3D offshore stationary OWC device subjected to regular waves of different heights and periods under a constant power take–off (PTO) damping simulated by an orifice plate of fixed diameter. In addition, a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model based on the RANS equations and volume of fluid (VOF) surface capturing scheme was developed and validated against the experimental data. Following the validation stage, an extensive campaign of computational tests was performed to (1) discover the impact of testing such an offshore OWC in a 2D domain or a wave flume on device efficiency and (2) investigate the correlation between the incoming wave height and the OWC front wall draught for a maximum efficiency via testing several front lip draughts for two different rear lip draughts under two wave heights and a constant PTO damping. It is found that the 2D and wave flume modelling of an offshore OWC significantly overestimate the overall power extraction efficiency, especially for wave frequencies higher than the chamber resonant frequency. Furthermore, a front lip submergence equal to the wave amplitude affords maximum efficiency whilst preventing air leakage, hence it is recommended that the front lip draught is minimized.