Experimental study on critical performances of an innovative floating oscillating water column device

Abstract

This study introduces and evaluates an innovative oscillating water column device. The design features twelve identical bent-duct buoys arranged in a circular compact array around a central moon pool. Depending on the orientation of the duct opening, the array forms two patterns: back-bent-duct-buoy (B-BDB) and front-bent-duct-buoy (F-BDB). The models were constructed and tested in the wave tank with a scale ratio 1:10 following the Froude similitude criterion. Both regular and irregular wave scenarios were employed to test the floating models with mooring lines in cross arrangement. The time histories of critical performance parameters were presented, especially focusing on the phase difference analysis. The kinematic responses, tensions in mooring lines, hydrodynamic and aerodynamic behaviors, and energy-harvesting performances of the modules on one side of the symmetrical model in regular and irregular wave scenarios were analyzed to reveal the operating mechanism of the models. Peak capture width ratios of 0.22 and 0.28 were obtained for the B-BDB and F-BDB models, respectively.