Experimental Study on Primary and Secondary Conversion Efficiencies of a Fixed Oscillating Water Column Type Wave Energy Converter

Abstract

In this paper, the 2-D wave tank tests for the fixed oscillating water column (OWC) type wave energy converter with an impulse turbine were conducted to obtain the experimental data needed to establish this design method. Firstly, the steady air flow test for a single impulse turbine was conducted to grasp the characteristic of the turbine without the effect of water waves. Secondly, the oscillating air flow tests by water waves were carried out to obtain the performance of the OWC type wave energy converter with the same impulse turbine in waves. As the results, the effects of the air chamber length and wave length on the generating efficiency corresponding to product of the primary and secondary conversion efficiencies are clarified.