Evaluation of a Wells Turbine Model for Ocean Wave Energy Conversion using Oscillating Water Column

Abstract

Wave energy of oceans has a large potential to harness energy all over the world. Most of the wave energy extracting devices are based on the oscillating water column (OWC) technique. This study done on a small scale describes the designing of a Wells turbine to be used in an Oscillating Water Column power plant and laboratory-based test for evaluating such turbines. The test shows how RPM varies with respect to flow coefficient and gives the idea to choose turbine specification for given wave power. In this study, maximum rpm was found 396 at flow coefficient 0.425 by using a 35 cm diameter turbine whose mass inertia was 450 gm. This study shows that for large power output, the turbine size should be large in diameter and flow coefficient should be in the range of 0.4 to 0.5 for efficient turbine operation. Though power output was found small, among the various processes of conversion of wave energy, the oscillating water column (OWC) by employing Wells turbine can be a prominent and bright source of renewable energy source.