Numerical Investigation of Optimal Hydrodynamic Performance by Changing the Orifice Ratio and Relative Opening of a Land-Fixed Rectangular-based OWC

Abstract

The energy that can be extracted from the ocean is inexhaustible. An oscillating water column (OWC) is a wave energy converter that extracts this energy. A numerical investigation has been conducted by altering relative opening (α) and orifice ratio (τ) to assess the maximal energy of a land-fixed rectangular-based OWC model in a nonlinear wave field. The power of OWC has also been evaluated by the wave steepness (H/L) alteration. The numeric analysis has been imposed to obtain the optimal power using Fluent software in a three-dimensional tank. Validation of the present numeric model’s result correlates with the printed empirical data. The Finite Volume Method (FVM) solves RANS equations, and the relevant waves are generated at the inlet of the numerical tank by the inlet velocity approach. The efficiency (η) increases with relative openings (α) increase. The efficiency (η) decreases with wave steepness (H/L) increase. The η reaches the optimum shown in the study at H/L = 0.02 and τ = 1.03% for entire values of α. The excellent energy of around 71.3% is attained at α =75% and H/L = 0.02. This study is a highly relevant source of information that finds the optimal efficiency of a land-fixed rectangular base OWC and gives prior knowledge of the performance of OWC before the real-life experiment.