IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v119y2018icp741-753.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluation of air compressibility effects on the performance of fixed OWC wave energy converters using CFD modelling

Author

Listed:
  • Simonetti, I.
  • Cappietti, L.
  • Elsafti, H.
  • Oumeraci, H.

Abstract

This study presents an evaluation of the error induced by neglecting the effect of air compressibility in modelling Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converters. A compressible two phases CFD model in the open-source software package OpenFOAM® is validated and then used to simulate a fixed OWC device, detached from the sea bottom. A comparative analysis of the results obtained by simulating the device at full-scale (1:1) and at four smaller scales (1:50, 1:25, 1:10 and 1:5) is performed in order to assess the scale effects associated with air compressibility. Indeed, for the air pressure levels considered in the simulations (up to 350 Pa at model scale 1:50), the effect of neglecting the air compressibility results in an overestimation up to about 15% for the air pressure in the OWC chamber and the subsequent air volume flux, but less than 10% for the capture width ratio. This overestimation increases with increasing pressure level. Results are analysed in terms of dimensionless parameters and a new parameter, strongly related to the compressible effects, is proposed and used to provide generalized equations delivering correction factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Simonetti, I. & Cappietti, L. & Elsafti, H. & Oumeraci, H., 2018. "Evaluation of air compressibility effects on the performance of fixed OWC wave energy converters using CFD modelling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 741-753.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:119:y:2018:i:c:p:741-753
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.12.027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148117312235
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2017.12.027?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. López, I. & Pereiras, B. & Castro, F. & Iglesias, G., 2014. "Optimisation of turbine-induced damping for an OWC wave energy converter using a RANS–VOF numerical model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 105-114.
    2. Vyzikas, Thomas & Deshoulières, Samy & Giroux, Olivier & Barton, Matthew & Greaves, Deborah, 2017. "Numerical study of fixed Oscillating Water Column with RANS-type two-phase CFD model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(PB), pages 294-305.
    3. Elhanafi, Ahmed & Macfarlane, Gregor & Fleming, Alan & Leong, Zhi, 2017. "Scaling and air compressibility effects on a three-dimensional offshore stationary OWC wave energy converter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 1-20.
    4. López, I. & Pereiras, B. & Castro, F. & Iglesias, G., 2016. "Holistic performance analysis and turbine-induced damping for an OWC wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1155-1163.
    5. Elhanafi, Ahmed & Fleming, Alan & Macfarlane, Gregor & Leong, Zhi, 2017. "Underwater geometrical impact on the hydrodynamic performance of an offshore oscillating water column–wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 209-231.
    6. Gomes, R.P.F. & Henriques, J.C.C. & Gato, L.M.C. & Falcão, A.F.O., 2012. "Hydrodynamic optimization of an axisymmetric floating oscillating water column for wave energy conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 328-339.
    7. Zhang, Yali & Zou, Qing-Ping & Greaves, Deborah, 2012. "Air–water two-phase flow modelling of hydrodynamic performance of an oscillating water column device," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 159-170.
    8. Nunes, Guilherme & Valério, Duarte & Beirão, Pedro & Sá da Costa, José, 2011. "Modelling and control of a wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 1913-1921.
    9. Simonetti, I. & Cappietti, L. & Elsafti, H. & Oumeraci, H., 2017. "Optimization of the geometry and the turbine induced damping for fixed detached and asymmetric OWC devices: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1197-1209.
    10. Falcão, António F.O. & Henriques, João C.C. & Cândido, José J., 2012. "Dynamics and optimization of the OWC spar buoy wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 369-381.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Simonetti, I. & Cappietti, L. & Elsafti, H. & Oumeraci, H., 2017. "Optimization of the geometry and the turbine induced damping for fixed detached and asymmetric OWC devices: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1197-1209.
    2. Simonetti, I. & Cappietti, L. & Oumeraci, H., 2018. "An empirical model as a supporting tool to optimize the main design parameters of a stationary oscillating water column wave energy converter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 1205-1215.
    3. Windt, Christian & Davidson, Josh & Ringwood, John V., 2018. "High-fidelity numerical modelling of ocean wave energy systems: A review of computational fluid dynamics-based numerical wave tanks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 610-630.
    4. Zhu, Guixun & Samuel, John & Zheng, Siming & Hughes, Jason & Simmonds, David & Greaves, Deborah, 2023. "Numerical investigation on the hydrodynamic performance of a 2D U-shaped Oscillating Water Column wave energy converter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    5. Elhanafi, Ahmed & Macfarlane, Gregor & Ning, Dezhi, 2018. "Hydrodynamic performance of single–chamber and dual–chamber offshore–stationary Oscillating Water Column devices using CFD," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 82-96.
    6. Elhanafi, Ahmed & Kim, Chan Joo, 2018. "Experimental and numerical investigation on wave height and power take–off damping effects on the hydrodynamic performance of an offshore–stationary OWC wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 518-528.
    7. Liu, Zhen & Xu, Chuanli & Kim, Kilwon & Choi, Jongsu & Hyun, Beom-soo, 2021. "An integrated numerical model for the chamber-turbine system of an oscillating water column wave energy converter," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    8. Opoku, F. & Uddin, M.N. & Atkinson, M., 2023. "A review of computational methods for studying oscillating water columns – the Navier-Stokes based equation approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    9. Chen, Jing & Wen, Hongjie & Wang, Yongxue & Wang, Guoyu, 2021. "A correlation study of optimal chamber width with the relative front wall draught of onshore OWC device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    10. Elhanafi, Ahmed & Macfarlane, Gregor & Fleming, Alan & Leong, Zhi, 2017. "Experimental and numerical investigations on the hydrodynamic performance of a floating–moored oscillating water column wave energy converter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 369-390.
    11. Liu, Zhen & Xu, Chuanli & Qu, Na & Cui, Ying & Kim, Kilwon, 2020. "Overall performance evaluation of a model-scale OWC wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1325-1338.
    12. Gomes, R.P.F. & Henriques, J.C.C. & Gato, L.M.C. & Falcão, A.F.O., 2020. "Time-domain simulation of a slack-moored floating oscillating water column and validation with physical model tests," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 165-180.
    13. Peymani, Milad & Nikseresht, Amir H. & Bingham, Harry B., 2024. "A 3D numerical investigation of the influence of the geometrical parameters of an I-beam attenuator OWC on its performance at the resonance period," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    14. Guo, Bingyong & Ringwood, John V., 2021. "Geometric optimisation of wave energy conversion devices: A survey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    15. Ciappi, Lorenzo & Simonetti, Irene & Bianchini, Alessandro & Cappietti, Lorenzo & Manfrida, Giampaolo, 2022. "Application of integrated wave-to-wire modelling for the preliminary design of oscillating water column systems for installations in moderate wave climates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 232-248.
    16. Altunkaynak, Abdüsselam & Çelik, Anıl, 2022. "A novel Geno-Nonlinear formula for oscillating water column efficiency estimation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    17. Teixeira, Paulo R.F. & Didier, Eric, 2021. "Numerical analysis of the response of an onshore oscillating water column wave energy converter to random waves," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    18. Gubesch, Eric & Abdussamie, Nagi & Penesis, Irene & Chin, Christopher, 2022. "Maximising the hydrodynamic performance of offshore oscillating water column wave energy converters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    19. Falcão, António F.O. & Henriques, João C.C., 2016. "Oscillating-water-column wave energy converters and air turbines: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1391-1424.
    20. Carlos Perez-Collazo & Deborah Greaves & Gregorio Iglesias, 2018. "A Novel Hybrid Wind-Wave Energy Converter for Jacket-Frame Substructures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:119:y:2018:i:c:p:741-753. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.