Experimental study to optimize the efficiency of the Oscillating Water Column wave energy converter by enhancing the air chamber design

Elmallah, Mamdouh (2025) Experimental study to optimize the efficiency of the Oscillating Water Column wave energy converter by enhancing the air chamber design. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 14 (3). pp. 196-205. ISSN 2582-8185

One of the most active uses of renewable energy is wave energy conversion. One of the most popular techniques for converting wave energy is the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device. This study looks at how the shape, design, and oscillating water column wave energy converter affect the airflow response. The chamber geometry is just as crucial as the turbine design, despite the fact that the majority of research concentrates on the turbine design to optimize the oscillating water column (OWC)'s performance. Optimizing the air velocity entering the turbine is the primary goal of this study since it will increase the device's output power and efficiency. Experimental investigations are performed in the wave tank laboratory to study the effects of air chamber designs, such as rectangular, cylindrical, and conical 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, and a maximum of 4.5 m/s in the conical air chamber.