Experimental study to investigate the effect of using a cylindrical air chamber design in OWC wave energy converter

Wave energy conversion is one of the most active aspects of renewable energy. The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device is one of the most widely used wave energy conversion methods. This study examines the effect of, Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter, shape and design on the airflow response. Although most studies focus on the turbine design to maximize the performance of the oscillating water column OWC, the chamber geometry is as important as the turbine design. The main objective of this research is to optimize the Air Velocity entering the turbine, which will boost the device efficiency and output power. Experimental investigations are performed in the wave tank laboratory to study the effects of air chamber designs, such as rectangular and cylindrical air chambers with different cross-sectional areas. The results demonstrate a considerable increase in air velocity flow from 3.1 m/s in the rectangular air chamber to 3.5 m/s in the cylindrical air chamber.