Numerical Methods to Predict Characteristics of Air Chamber for Fixed Terminator Type of Wave Energy Converter

Abstract

The numerical methods for analyzing a fixed terminator type of wave energy conversion device are described under the condition that the linear water wave theory is applicable. Two methods are proposed in order to calculate the device characteristics of an air chamber. One uses the flow rate and the gage pressure in the air chamber directly, because the interaction between the oscillating water column and the turbine is found to be controlled only by the flow rate and the pressure drop through the turbine in this system. The other method uses the equation of the floating body motion in a manner similar to the equivalent floating body approximation. The relations between these two methods are also examined. The hydrodynamic performance with frequency from zero to infinity is required in the simulation of irregular waves. However, resonances occur when the air chamber breadth is equal to an integral multiple of a half wavelength. Therefore the impulse response function is modified in order to eliminate the effects of the resonance frequency. Finally, it is confirmed that these solutions give good agreement with the experimental data.