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

TL;DR

This paper investigates how to tune an oscillating water column seawater pump to resonate with polychromatic waves, using wave tank experiments and numerical modeling to develop a practical tuning criterion.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical model validated with experiments for tuning an OWC seawater pump to polychromatic waves, advancing wave energy device optimization.

Findings

Numerical model accurately predicts pump behavior with polychromatic waves.

Tuning criterion effectively enhances resonance with complex wave spectra.

Experimental validation confirms model's practical applicability.

Abstract

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.