Professional Documents
Culture Documents
lf EWARO
BREAKWATER
POWER ~NOULE
, HARROUREMlRAIKf
#UTTERFlY VALVE
hOAS LIME
is reported that the efficiency of wave power extraction array by these units. For this proposed prototype array,
from irregular waves is greater than from regular waves model studies have been carried out during the present
having a period the same as the significant wave period of research.
the irregular wave, when the wave period is relatively long. In this finite size array, there may be some end effect and
Malmo and Reitan [ 15-171 theoretically studied the it may change the results obtained by experiment. But the
hydrodynamic performance behavior of a MOWC in a study of the end effect is not within the scope of the present
channel using linear wave theory for different boundary study, because of the limitation on available experimental
conditions in the regions between absorber and channel facilities. But, of course, from a practical point of view, the
wall. It is confirmed that MOWCs in an array were more effects need to be investigated.
efficient than in isolation. McIver and Evans [ 181 developed In the physical modelling of this finite size array, a repre-
an approximate theory for OWCs set into a reflecting wall. sentation has been made of a single device using the images
Optimum spacing of the devices was predicted by exploiting method. In this, a number of sources of equal strength are
the relationship between this approximate theory and the placed in a straight line with spacing between the adjacent
point absorber theory of Evans [19]. Clear advantages in sources S, however, this has been replaced by a single
building the devices together rather than keeping them in source and two walls. Placing the source at the centre
isolation were reported. between the two walls, the spacing between the walls is
Whittaker and Stewart [20] have done experimental stu- now S.
dies on the efficiency of OWC in a fully reflecting coastline The model scale ratio is selected by considering the cap-
and concluded that the maximum power output can increase ability of the wave maker to produce waves of the required
by a factor of two when compared to a device in isolation. period and height. According to Kaldenhoff [21], a model
Most of the theoretical works reported so far in this field between 1:20 and I:60 or larger, if the laboratory facility
are based mainly on linear wave theory assumptions. How- permits, is recommended as a standard practice. In this
ever, for the design of a structure with a higher wave input, a study, a 1:50 model of the existing prototype was fabricated
theoretical prediction of hydrodynamic characteristics may using perspex material.
not be accurate and therefore, one would have to resort to The caisson model is fitted with wing walls on both sides
experimental investigations. to have channel width (5) of 40,60,80 and 100 cm (Fig. 4)
A detailed survey of the existing literature shows that with a fixed harbour width of 20 cm. By using the wing
studies pertaining to hydrodynamic performance character- walls, the spacing S is varied. Starting from an S value of
istics of an array of MOWC wave energy caissons are 100 cm, we reduce the S value, the wing walls are cut on
scarce. A detailed experimental program is warranted to both sides appropriately. Perspex sheets of 8 mm thickness
formulate a suitable mathematical model. Hence it has were used for fabrication. For rigidity, adequate stiffeners
been decided that detailed experimental investigations are were provided. While the prototype caisson of the fabricated
carried out to evaluate the hydrodynamic characteristics. 1:50 model has an inverted bell shaped dome above the
Experimental measurements on wave-induced forces, OWC chamber, a horizontal plate covers the chamber in
wave-induced air pressures inside the OWC and the effi- the model. However, the volume of air inside the chamber
ciency of the power absorption have been conducted. In of model is made equal to the scaled down volume of the air
view of the scope of this paper, some typical results on chamber of the prototype. The base of the model is firmly
efficiency have been discussed. fitted with a force balance. Alteration of the orifice opening
area (a) is carried out by moving a cover plate on the top of
the OWC chamber to simulate different damping conditions
3 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS inside the OWC air chamber.
Froude scaling is adopted for physical modelling, which A 2 m wide, 30 m long regular wave flume, at the Ocean
allows for the correct reproduction of gravitational and Engineering Centre, Indian Institute of Technology,
fluid inertial forces. Model tests were designed to simulate Madras, India was used. A mild steel mobile wall of 10 m
the conditions of the proposed prototype caissons in array. length was used to get the desired centre to centre spacing
The principle of the images method has been adopted in between the caisson using the principle of the images
order to avoid fabrication of a number of models (Fig. 3) and method. A 1: 10 slope rubble beach was provided on the
to simulate the condition of the array. other side of the flume in order to dissipate the energy of
Mathematically, the principle of the images method for the waves (Fig. 5). A false bottom with a 1:50 slope was
wave energy caissons provides for an infinite number of provided. The model was kept at a distance of 22 m from the
units, but practically, the number of units is limited to a wave generator (Fig. 6). The false bottom which starts from
finite value. For the present case, the proposed number of the edge of the force balance extends for a length of 12 m
units is about 14, each of length of approximately 21 m such towards the wave maker. Water depth at the toe of the
that a breakwater of 300 m length has been replaced as an model was 24.0 cm (Fig. 6). The wave generator is a
64 K. Thiruvenkatasamy ana S. Neelamani
0; WAVE
reciprocating wedge type plunger, administered by a A Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik (HBM)-Pl l-Inductive
variable frequency motor. The wave period range used is type pressure transducer of range & 0.5 bar was provided at
from 0.8 to 2.0 s. Wave heights up to 9.4 cm were the inner face of the top of the dome to measure air pressure.
generated. Care was taken to coliect the data before any A suitable fixing method (with water proofing arrange-
reflected wave from the plunger arrived back at the test ments) to hold the pressure transducer in position was
section. adopted. The transducer was connected to a multi-channel
carrier frequency amplifier for the conversion of transducer
3.3 Instrumentation and method of analysis signals into voltages. The real time histories of the measured
dynamic pressures were determined using the calibration
Churchill type wave probes were used to measure the water coefficients of the pressure transducer.
surface elevation inside the OWC chamber and the incident A 12 bit A/D converter was used for the conversion of
and reflected waves. These consist of two stainless steel analog signals into digital data. Each set of data acquired is
wires of 1.5 mm diameter kept 12.5 mm apart. The wave for a period of 15 s, at a sampling frequency of 20 Hz. The
probe is capable of measu~ng water surface elevation with data collection was started only after ensuring that there was
an accuracy of 0.01 mm. a stable and periodic action of waves on the model. Prior to
On the eficiency of wave energy caissons in array 65
___
f 1 values of each record were evaluated using a computer pro-
gram. In order to avoid errors in this process of analysis, the
peak positive and negative values were found for each cycle
and the average of these values was used for analysis.
.I__,
the opened condition of the orifice pertains to partially
opened conditions, due to the presence of the turbine.
3 Closing and opening the orifice are the two extreme situations
with regard to the OWC functioning. The orifice has to be
2\
closed, if the turbine requires protection against the severe
3 dynamic pressures present during the monsoon condition.
*________________- I Therefore, tests were performed for the closed and opened
condition of the orifice apart from two partially opened
conditions. The maximum damping inside the air chamber
occurs under the closed condition and minimum under the
opened condition.
Steel slots
WAVE
WOVl
goncmtor
,Hovable rtrrl wall of 101 kngfb 7
damping), 0.81% (partially opened), 2.42% (partially was mounted on a trolley which was moved over the length
opened), and 4.03% (fully opened condition; mini- of the flume on rails. The wave elevation of a partially
mum damping, without turbine). reflected wave train in the flume was obtained as a wave
5. Spacing ratio, Sib: 2, 3, 4, and 5. envelope. Knowing the maximum wave height (HI) and
minimum wave height (Hz) of the envelope, the incident
wave height (H) and reflected wave height (H,) were
3.6 Incident and reflected wave measurement
obtained as
The water surface elevation of the incident wave was mea- H = (H, + Hz)/2 (1)
sured at the model location in the absence of a model for
H, = (H, - Hz)/2 (2)
predetermined sets of different wave period and amplitude
combinations. Waves of a set were generated twice and the Then the reflection coefficient (K,) is obtained as
average value of H was taken as the incident wave height for
K, = H,IH (3)
that particular combination. The repeatability of the wave
height was ensured. The wave period was calculated from The accuracy of this method depends upon the horizontal
the time history of the incident wave elevation by dividing movement of the trolley. This method yields good results if
the total data collection duration by the number of occurring the wave heights are relatively large in comparison with the
wave cycles. undulations in the rails and the trolley. In the present facil-
For the measurement of a reflected wave, a wave probe ity, there were no noticeable undulations.
I I
VOLTAGE
I
7 L-I STABILIZER k==+=
X ( From the
J
force balance )
1
-0WC Osdllations
l-i
) WAVE --_) . AID
From COMPUTER
wave Incidentand MONITOR CARD
4.3 Effect of wave steepness Fig. 8. Time histories of the incident wave and absorbed power by
the OWC (S/b = 3, d/L = 0.164, H/L = 0.016).
-e.wl
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 6.0 6.0
0.00 0.03 0.06 0.09
t (set)
H/L
12.0, I I
= 0.0
a
z -6.0
HI L
._._ Fig. 10. Effect of wave steepness on efficiency: (a) S/b = 5, a/A =
a/A = 0.81% 0.81%, d/L = 0.164. (b) S/b = 4, a/A = 0.81%. diL = 0.164.
2 6.0-
A plot showing the variation of efficiency of OWC with 4.6 Effect of damping (or) a/A
relative water depth (d/L) for four different a/A values is
given in Fig. 11. A study of this plot shows that the effi- Figure 13 shows the effect of damping on the efficiency of the
ciency is highly nonlinear, since the measured data points OWC for three different H/L values (H/L = 0.018, 0.011,
show significant scatter. It is observed that the average effi- 0.005). For each a/A, the corresponding average damping
ciency of the OWC for alA = 0.81% is found to be 50%; coefficients [(P X A)lv, where P is the air pressure inside the
On the efficiency of wave energy caissons in array 69
a/A = 0.0
l 50
A
x A
z A
A
%
5 CONCLUSIONS
d
ia*
B- ,,..,~.,,,....,,,,,.,,..,,.,,,,,,,..,,,.,,,.4.,
(q#) 4 A
ratio, Sib = 3 with the present configuration for a/A of
2.42%
3. In general, it is found that, for lower S/b, the loss of
0-m 0.6 e. 16 6.16 0.a 6.S
d/L energy excluding reflection dominates and for higher
Fig. 11. Effect of relative water depth on efficiency (S/b = 4). S/b, the energy loss due to reflection dominates.
4. The efficiency is found to increase up to alA =
0.81%. Further increase in a/A results in a reduction
OWC and v is the vertical velocity of the OWC water of the efficiency for all the conditions studied. An
surface] are given. It is found that the efficiency increases efficiency of about 65% is attained for a/A =
up to a/A = 0.81%. A further increase in a/A results in 0.81%. For the present structural configuration, an
efficiency reduction. This is due to the fact that, with area ratio (a/A) of about 1.0% is found to be the
increase in a/A from 0.81% to 4.03%, even though OWC optimum for efficient power absorption.
water surface oscillations are increasing, there is a consider- 5. The efficiency decreases with increase in wave steep-
able pressure reduction, which in turn results in reduced ness, due to a greater blow up period for higher HIL
efficiency. This plot confirms that an a/A value of 0.81% values than for lower H/L values.
is the optimum orifice opening area ratio. Otherwise the 6. The percentage of energy reflection decreases with
average optimum damping for the present set-up is about increasing relative water depth (d/L). The average
285 Ns/m. energy reflection is found to be about 30%.
70 K. Thiruvenkutasamy and S. Neelamani
HA_ - 0.810
14. Goda, Y., Random Seas and Design of Maritime Structures. 2 EFFICIENCY COMPUTATION
University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 1985.
15. Malmo, 0. and Reitan, A., Wave power absorption by an
The hydrodynamic efficiency of the OWC is defined as
oscillating water column in a channel. Journal of Fluid
Mechanics, 1985, 158 153-175.
16. Malmo, 0. and Reitan, A., Wave power absorption by an
oscillating water column in a reflecting wall. Applied Efficiency(q) = ~j~~~~ S
Ocean Research, 1986, 8( 1) 42-48.
17. Malmo, 0. and Reitan, A., Wave-power absorption by a
finite row of oscillating water columns in a reflecting wall.
Applied Ocean Research, 1986, l?(2) 105-109.
18. McIver, P. and Evans, D. V., An approximate theory for the
performance of a number of wave-energy devices set into a Appendix B.l: Incident power (P,)
reflecting wall. Applied Ocean Research, 1988, lO(2) 58-65.
19. Evans, D. V., Some analytical results for two and three The instantaneous incident wave power per crest width of S
dimensional wave energy absorbers. Power from Sea is given by,
Waves, ed. B. M. Count. Academic Press, London, 1980.
0
20. Whittaker, T. J. T. and Stewart, T. P., An experimental study
of nearshore and shoreline oscillating water columns with Pins, inc = _dp*u*dz*S
I
harbours. European Wave Energy Symposium, 21-24
July,Edinburgh, UK, 1993. where,
21. Kaldenhoff, H., Breakwaters-Layout and Design. Short pgH coshk(d + z)
Term Course at the Ocean Engineering Centre, Indian Insti- cos(kx - wt)
= 2 cosh(kd)
tute of Technology, Madras, India, 1990.
22. Holman, J. P. and Gajda, Jr, W. J., Experimental Methodsfor
Engineers. McGraw-Hill International Editions, New York, Hgk coshk(d + z)
u = 2w cosh(kd) cos(b - 4
1989.
p = pressure intensity due to an incident wave, u =
horizontal water particle velocity of the incident wave,
APPENDIX A UNCERTAINITY ANALYSIS p = density of water, g = acceleration due to gravity,
H = wave height, d = water depth, k = wave number, w =
The uncertainty WR of a computed variable R in an experi- angular wave frequency, t = time, x = co-ordinate
ment which is a function of variables XI, X2,. . .X, each in the X-direction, z = co-ordinate in the Zdirection, T =
having uncertainities WI, W2,. . . W, is given as[22] wave period, A = OWC water plan area and L = wave length.
To estimate the uncertainty in the computation of efficiency pT, inc = o Pins, incdt
Parameter Uncertainty
Appendix B.2: Absorbed power (P,)
1. Incident wave height W,IH = + 2.5%
2. Air pressure inside the OWC WdP = + 1.234%
3. Oscillations inside the OWC W,/x = t 2.5% Instantaneous absorbed power by the OWC is given by,
4. Overall width of the caisson WsIS = ? 0.125% Pins, abs = Pi * vi * A
5. Harbour width Wdb = 2 0.25%
6. OWC chamber length W& = + 0.323% where, pi is the instantaneous air pressure inside the cham-
7. OWC area W,lA = -c 0.408% ber and vi is the vertical velocity of OWC oscillations.
8. Water depth Wdd = + 0.208% Ui-Ui-1
9. Incident wave period WTIT = 2 0.381% Vi =
10. Wave length WLIL = * 0.777% At
11. Incident power WdP, = 2 8.98% ai is the water surface elevation inside the OWC, at the ith
12. Absorbed power W&P, = -t 2.84% instant, ai- is the water surface elevation inside the OWC
13. Efficiency WAq = 2 9.4% at the (i - I)th instant, and At is the sampling interval.
72 K. Thiruvenkatasamy and S. Neelamani
The author has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate.